Hidradenitis suppurativa is a tough condition to live with. Not only do you have to deal with painful bumps and wounds in areas you sweat a lot, but it takes a toll on self-esteem too. Many people with HS try to look for ways to manage their flare-ups to help them feel great again. One of the solutions is seeking out the best cream for hidradenitis suppurativa.
Topical creams and lotions are miracle products for sensitive, irritated skin. They are especially handy for those who get breakouts because of conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and HS.
Most of them have to do with the fact that they are emollient and rich, making application very soothing for inflamed skin. But more importantly, these products contain antibacterial properties that fight possible infections or ingredients that help treat acne and other bumps and blemishes.
Here are some of the best creams and lotions you can use to help manage your hidradenitis suppurativa so that you can look good and feel awesome about your skin again!
4 Over the Counter Cream for Hidradenitis Suppurativa
1. Beauty Facial Extreme Anti-Acne Buttocks and Thigh Treatment
One of the most common areas where hidradenitis suppurativa can surface is on the butt and groin areas. These are parts of the body with many sweat glands, so it’s easy for acne to form when there are ingrown hairs in the area.
Beauty Facial Extreme created a lotion-type treatment to help you get your confidence back so you can go to the beach worry-free! Their anti-acne treatment, designed for the butt and thigh area, is excellent for zapping away pimples and blemishes.
The formula contains alpha-hydroxy acids (or AHAs) to gently exfoliate thick layers of dead skin cells prone to clogging up the hair follicles. This makes sure that you have fewer chances of breaking out. It also ensures that new, healthier skin with a clearer complexion resurfaces.
This lotion is made with benzoyl peroxide, which is known to treat active acne and prevent future breakouts on the skin. It is also formulated to help eliminate any hyperpigmentation and acne scars that could make people feel insecure even after the active pimples have subsided.
Infused with emollient ingredients, applying this cream on irritated, inflamed skin feels very soothing and calming. It’s a great way to moisturize and pamper the skin while targeting those pesky little pimples and clogged hair follicles to eliminate them.
The only downside of this product is its smell. It has a strong and overwhelming scent, almost like perished coffee beans. However, for its effectiveness and acclaim, I’d say it’s worth tolerating.
Pros
- Targets pimples, blackheads, and ingrown hairs in the butt and thigh areas
- Has AHAs that exfoliate dead skin cells, so they don’t clog the hair follicles
- Treats and prevents acne with benzoyl peroxide
- Formulated to help with getting rid of dark spots from old acne
- Has emollient ingredients that moisturize the skin and make it soft and supple
Cons
- The smell can be too strong and overwhelming
An acne-free complexion in the butt and thigh areas might sound like a pipe dream to those with HS, but with this treatment by Beauty Facial Extreme, it’s possible! You can use this as your go-to hidradenitis suppurativa cream whenever you feel and notice flare-ups on your skin, or even just when you feel like moisturizing and eliminating dark spots.
2. Emuaid MAX Maximum Strength First Aid Ointment
A good topical cream for hidradenitis suppurativa should be made from natural soothing ingredients that can heal the skin and kill germs and bacteria. EmuaidMAX first aid ointment, designed for skin and nail fungus, does both.
This doctor-recommended ointment works wonders on your skin, penetrating its deeper layers to kill 99.99% of fungi, bacteria, and germs. While it was originally designed for those with ingrown toenails and other skin conditions around the feet, it’s a terrific cream to use for HS, eczema, and psoriasis.
It’s a wonderful healing cream because it contains ingredients like allantoin and emu oil, which are calming and nourishing. These ingredients can relieve itching and pain as soon as you apply it to the skin. This makes it an amazing option for those with hidradenitis suppurativa and those who tend to get unbearable pain that needs tending to quickly.
The cream is also great for repairing and strengthening the skin. It contains bacillus ferment and vitamin E that help promote the growth of stronger and healthier skin through cell turnover. It also has tea tree oil that helps soothe any existing pimples, zits, and blemishes.
This ointment is recommended by doctors all over the world. It’s a treatment given to those with HS and people suffering from eczema, psoriasis, athlete’s foot, ringworm, and jock itch.
If you’re using this ointment as a hidradenitis suppurativa treatment cream, do note that it could take some time before seeing this work its magic to eliminate active breakouts. While it’s excellent for soothing itching and killing bacteria that can wreak more havoc on the skin, it could take weeks of religious use to see its effect on current pimples and bumps.
Pros
- Penetrates deep in the skin to kill 99.99% of bacteria and fungus that can cause acne
- Contains healing ingredients that can relieve itching
- Promotes the reparation of irritated skin and prevents further damage
- Contains bacillus ferment, tea tree oil, and vitamin E for skin strengthening
- Recommended by physicians around the world for sensitive skin conditions
Cons
- Takes a while to see results when it comes to acne control
This Maximum Strength variant is great for HS that materializes through painful clusters of cysts and pimples. It’s also recommendable for those with boils and psoriasis. It’s a good, heavy-duty response to your skin being incredibly irritated and inflamed.
3. Vitalee Nanomed Dermalean HC
If you’re looking for a cream made specifically for the pain and discomfort brought about by awful hidradenitis suppurativa breakouts, then Dermalean is for you.
Dermalean HC is a go-to for HS and other skin conditions prone to sebaceous cysts and abscesses. It helps to reduce inflammation from these dreaded flare-ups that make the skin red and swollen. More importantly, it soothes and alleviates the pain brought upon by the clusters of pimples and lesions, which makes HS tolerable when it is acting up.
The cream also has anti-aging properties that strengthen the skin and promote its elasticity. It is also an excellent formula for soothing and strengthening the skin because of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It makes for a full rejuvenation of the skin to make it healthier, even if it often faces difficulties because of hidradenitis suppurativa.
It is also formulated with alpha arbutin, which is known to lighten dark spots and break down melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. That makes it a big help for clearing up the skin once flare-ups subside. There is also reservatrol, an antioxidant that calms redness and brightens the complexion.
This cream is ideal for unclogging apocrine glands, or the glands that produce these HS flare-ups in the first place. Because it strengthens, soothes, and unclogs skin filled with grime, it is a great all-around product that can be recommended for other skin conditions as well, like eczema and chronic dry skin.
Dermalean is a pretty well-known cream in the HS community, but many know it for its strong, unpleasant smell. However, it seems that the scent is worth putting up with, if only for its dramatic effect on HS skin.
Pros
- Alleviates pain and discomfort brought on by HS
- Has anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties for full rejuvenation of the skin
- Contains alpha-arbutin and reservatrol, which brighten and strengthen the skin
- Helps unclog the apocrine glands for less HS breakouts
- Suitable for skin with HS, eczema, dryness, or psoriasis
Cons
- Its smell is unpleasant for some people
Severe hidradenitis suppurativa is no match for Dermalean. It has all the benefits of a cream that can help manage stubborn and painful HS, from skin-strengthening to calming down the inflammation.
4. Emuaid Argentum Metallicum First Aid Ointment
Emuaid also offers a more lightweight, gentle version of their first aid ointment for those with mild HS and skin conditions. Just like the Maximum Strength version, this simple, basic Regular Strength variant kills 99.99% of bacteria, yeast, and mold that can cause inflammation and irritation on the skin.
Like the stronger variant, this ointment contains allantoin, which can help soothe irritation, especially for distractingly itchy skin. It is also infused with ceramides and emu oil, which nourish and moisturize the skin. The fact that it is emollient adds on to the cream’s soothing properties. Because of this, it helps to reduce the pain of the breakouts as well.
This cream is suitable for all types of mildly severe skin conditions, such as eczema, bedsores, contact dermatitis, and common burns and blisters. Because these conditions can happen to anyone, it’s an excellent cream to have on-hand or stored in the medicine cabinet just in case things go wrong.
One thing that makes this ointment (and this brand in general) a dream for those with sensitive skin and hidradenitis suppurativa is that it is non-steroidal and made with natural ingredients. It’s formulated with its users in mind, so it doesn’t contain any fragrances, parabens, petrochemicals, lanolin, and any other potentially harmful ingredients. Doctors also recommend it.
It’s important to note that this Regular Strength variant of Emuaid’s first aid ointment won’t be as effective as the Maximum Strength one when it comes to severe HS. It’s great for mild itches and at-home cuts, burns, and adverse reactions on the skin, but if you’re looking for something more heavy-duty, I suggest you check out the stronger version.
Pros
- Kills 99.99% of bacteria and germs that can make HS worse
- Contains allantoin, ceramides, and emu oil for nourishment and calming
- Reduces pain, itching, and inflammation of distracting breakouts
- Suitable for mild skin conditions, like dermatitis, bedsores, burns, and blisters
- Non-steroidal and made with natural ingredients
Cons
- Won’t be so effective when it comes to severe cases of hidradenitis suppurativa
This is a highly efficacious soothing and bacteria-killing cream for those dealing with sensitive skin conditions. It seems to be a great fit for those in the early hidradenitis suppurativa stages, where there are a few lesions that may be irritating and itchy, but do not yet make up incredibly painful clusters of pus-filled acne.
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What to Look for When Buying Cream for Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Recommended by Doctors
Always remember that when it comes to skin conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa, doctors are your best counselor and confidante. They know your specific case the most, and will know what to recommend to you when it comes to skincare products to help soothe and treat your HS.
If you plan on going shopping on your own and don’t feel the need to consult your doctor, make sure you go for a trusted brand that is clinically proven to work and dermatologist-approved. Some of these brands include Emuaid and Vanicream.
Gentle, Skin-safe Formula
Having hidradenitis suppurativa almost automatically means you have sensitive skin that you always have to watch out for. This is why it’s vital to ensure that the formulations you’re choosing from are gentle, mild, and skin-safe when looking for creams to help treat HS.
Always look for options that are not formulated with potentially harmful ingredients, like parabens, artificial dyes and fragrances, sulfates, or lanolin. If you can, ensure that the formula has soothing ingredients to help calm and relax inflamed skin. It’s great not just for HS, but for sensitive skin in general.
Ingredients that Target Acne or Bumps
It’s also a bright idea to look for creams and lotions that have some ingredients meant to target active acne and blemishes. These ingredients include benzoyl peroxide and tea tree oil, both known to treat and properly dry out pimples without drying out the rest of the skin.
While hidradenitis suppurativa isn’t necessarily a type of acne, it still manifests on the skin similarly. Sebaceous cysts and redness are only some of the things they have in common. This is why skin with HS may react positively to ingredients that we know are good for combating active acne.
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What is the Best Treatment for Hidradenitis Suppurativa
While there is no permanent cure for hidradenitis suppurativa, there are many treatments you can try and lifestyle changes you can adopt to help make it more bearable.
One way to do it is to look for personal care products that can help soothe and treat the breakouts caused by HS. Look for an antibacterial soap for hidradenitis suppurativa patients. Or you should find a specially-made hidradenitis suppurativa deodorant that can get rid of odors emitted by cuts and lesions in the underarms draining fluid.
It might also be a good idea to look for treatments that can help treat acne and dry them out, especially if your HS manifests not in clusters of painful cysts but just one or few pimples at a time. You can opt to use essential oils (like tea tree oil) or calamine lotion for hidradenitis suppurativa, in the hopes that these can get rid of the acne quickly.
You can also try to make changes in how you eat. Commit to something like a hidradenitis suppurativa diet, if you will. Avoid foods that can cause inflammation in the body, like sugar, meat, and dairy. Try seeing if eliminating inflammation-causing foods can help lessen your breakouts.
These are things you can keep in mind when it comes to treating your HS and improving your quality of life as someone who has to deal with it daily. Of course, it is always best to consult with your trusted dermatologist or doctor to see if these changes and personal care products are aligned with the hidradenitis suppurativa treatment guidelines they recommend for your particular case.
Conclusion
Dealing with HS every single day is no joke. It’s hard work always being on top of it, especially when you’re just trying to enjoy life. You always have to be conscious of how your skin’s condition is, and make sure you’re equipped with the best cream for hidradenitis suppurativa anywhere you may be, in case of an unexpected flare-up.
Hopefully, this list lessens the hassle of having to do extensive research on what topical creams can help in your journey to finding your favourite one for managing HS. I wish you luck in managing hidradenitis suppurativa, and confidence in how you look and feel.