Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy It SmellsSkin HygieneLifestyle ChangesAt-Home RemediesWhen to See a DoctorFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why It Smells
Skin Hygiene
Lifestyle Changes
At-Home Remedies
When to See a Doctor
Frequently Asked Questions
People withHidradenitis suppurativa(HS) often experience painful and swollen lesions in the armpit, groin, anal, abdominal folds, or breast areas. These lesions or areas of inflammation can turn intocystsorboilsfilled withpusthat can leak or seep.
When these cysts or boils erupt, there may be a noticeable odor. The pus smell comes from the bacteria that have been trapped under the skin inside the boil. These bacteria, called anaerobic bacteria, live without oxygen and can thrive under the skin before they erupt.
Tunnels or sinus tracts under the skin can appear at the open wound after a cyst burst. Sweat and bacteria become trapped in these tracts and cause infection andinflammation. This can cause more pus and odor. Over time, as these areas heal, they can become hardened or scarred.
In this article, you’ll learn the causes of odor and the stages of HS, how to manage the odor, and tips for keeping healthy skin while living with HS.
Why Does Hidradenitis Suppurativa Smell?
Sweat, bacteria, and skin tissues that are infected and inflamed all contribute to the smell that occurs with HS.
HS begins as tender spots of inflammation that look like pimples or boils. Up to half of those with HS will experience a burning sensation, itching, warmth, or excessive sweating within 12 to 48 hours before the spot forms.
A typical painful nodule will last seven to 15 days. During this time, the boil may erupt, creating painful deep abscesses, or holes. The pus that erupts from the boil can be foul-smelling.Draining of the boilmay continue for days.
Where Does Hidradenitis Suppurativa Occur?Common places where HS boils occur are the:ArmpitsGroinAnal areaBreastareaButtocksPubicregionChestScalpBehind the earsEyelid
Where Does Hidradenitis Suppurativa Occur?
Common places where HS boils occur are the:ArmpitsGroinAnal areaBreastareaButtocksPubicregionChestScalpBehind the earsEyelid
Common places where HS boils occur are the:
There are three stages of HS. These stages have varying intensities of HS odor.Treatmentis used to prevent or slow progression to the third stage for as long as possible.
Hurley stage 1: In this stage, there may be few occurrences of boils or abscesses. Other symptoms such as itching, fatigue, or discomfort in spots on the skin may be more common.
Hurley stage 3: In stage 3, HS is widespread across the body. Multiple tunnels can form under the skin as can recurrent abscesses and scar tissue. Abscesses will continue to erupt and drain.
In severe cases, the interconnected scar tissue can cause disfiguration or problems with mobility.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Acne Inversa) Overview
Managing Hidradenitis Suppurativa Odor With Proper Skin Hygiene
Managing odor from HS starts with keeping up with your prescribed medication to lessen symptoms and curtail disease progression. Typical medications for HS include:
Taking proper care of your skin can also help prevent flare-ups (times when symptoms worsen). Since boils are the cause of the odor, taking steps to prevent or minimize their appearance can help with HS odor.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
The Importance of Skin HygieneA skin hygiene routine with HS requires careful choices in products and taking actions to prevent skin irritation. Irritation of the skin leads to more flare-ups.In HS, certain factors are known to cause flare-ups and more inflammation and pain around boils.
The Importance of Skin Hygiene
A skin hygiene routine with HS requires careful choices in products and taking actions to prevent skin irritation. Irritation of the skin leads to more flare-ups.In HS, certain factors are known to cause flare-ups and more inflammation and pain around boils.
Avoidsoapswith irritants and harsh chemicals to help reduce irritation. Some dermatologists (physicians specializing in conditions of the skin, hair, and nails) may recommend that you use a wash withbenzoyl peroxideand avoid types of antiperspirants.
Certain ingredients in products like antiperspirants are known irritants. Deodorants that contain aluminum salts are known to aggravate HS.
Preventing skin abrasions can help with HS skin health as well. Being gentle with the skin while cleansing is important. Avoid loofahs or other abrasive washing methods.
Finding cosmetics and lotions that are free of fragrance and chemicals can also help reduce irritation of the skin.
When boils do form and erupt, it’s important to care for the open wounds properly. Wound care can include:
What to Eat When You Have Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Managing Hidradenitis Suppurativa Pus Odor With Lifestyle Changes
While a skincare routine that avoids irritants and properly cares for open wounds is important to managing HS and the pus odor that accompanies the disease, other lifestyle changes have been shown to improve symptoms and delay progression as well.
Lifestyle changes to consider with HS include:
Though research is ongoing on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to treat HS, many have found anecdotal reliefthrough at-home remedies.
Finding ReliefCommon at-home practices for HS relief include:Using warm compresses on boils to relieve painConsumingzincsupplements to help reduce the number of boils and help with healingTakingmagnesium sulfate, orEpsom salt, bathsto help with wound care and healing
Finding Relief
Common at-home practices for HS relief include:Using warm compresses on boils to relieve painConsumingzincsupplements to help reduce the number of boils and help with healingTakingmagnesium sulfate, orEpsom salt, bathsto help with wound care and healing
Common at-home practices for HS relief include:
Which Homeopathic Remedies Work for Hidradenitis Suppurativa?
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you’re experiencing an increase in HS lesions or boils or their occurrence becomes more frequent, talk to your healthcare provider. A healthcare provider can adjust medications or suggest new treatment options that may work for your situation.
Keeping an open dialogue with your healthcare provider can help manage flare-ups with HS and keep HS from progressing, which can help with HS odor.
Summary
Living with HS can be difficult, but there are ways to manage the disease and recurring lesions. Seeking help from a healthcare provider early on can help prevent excessive scarring and slow progression of the condition.
While it may take some trial and error to determine what works best for you, it’s possible to find a skin-care routine that minimizes flare-ups and odor with HS. This may include prescription drugs, magnesium sulfate baths, or swapping lotions and antiperspirants with harsh chemicals for ones that are natural.
A Word From Verywell
Although HS has no known cure, there are ways to manage flare-ups to minimize its impact on your life. Working with a healthcare provider to establish a skincare routine that reduces irritation and flares can help manage odor that often occurs with HS.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhile you can’t prevent a boil from draining and creating an odor, keeping a wound clean can help prevent further smells.The odor from HS occurs when boils erupt or leak and is quite common in the second and third stages of the disease.Treating body odor from HS requires proper treatment of the disease itself. This can include prescription medications, avoiding skin irritants such as harsh deodorants, and making lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking.
While you can’t prevent a boil from draining and creating an odor, keeping a wound clean can help prevent further smells.
The odor from HS occurs when boils erupt or leak and is quite common in the second and third stages of the disease.
Treating body odor from HS requires proper treatment of the disease itself. This can include prescription medications, avoiding skin irritants such as harsh deodorants, and making lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Guet-Revillet H, Jais JP, Ungeheuer MN, et al.The microbiological landscape of anaerobic infections in hidradenitis suppurativa: A prospective metagenomic study.Clin Infect Dis. 2017;65(2):282-291. doi:10.1093/cid/cix285NORD (National Organization of Rare Diseases).Hidradenitis Suppurativa.Napolitano M, Megna M, Timoshchuk EA, et al.Hidradenitis suppurativa: From pathogenesis to diagnosis and treatment.CCID. 2017;10:105-115. doi:10.2147/CCID.S111019Lee EY, Alhusayen R, Lansang P, Shear N, Yeung J.What is hidradenitis suppurativa?.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(2):114-120.American Academy of Dermatology.Hidradenitis suppurativa diagnosis and treatment.Kurzen H, Kurzen M.Secondary prevention of hidradenitis suppurativa.Dermatol Reports. 2019;11(2):8243. doi:10.4081/dr.2019.8243Genetic and rare diseases information center (Gard) – an ncats program.Hidradenitis suppurativa.Shirah BH, Shirah HA.The clinical pattern of axillary hidradenitis suppurativa among Saudi Arabians: Mode of presentation and treatment challenges.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2017;10(2):95-100. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_80_16Seyed Jafari SM, Hunger RE, Schlapbach C.Hidradenitis suppurativa: Current understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and suggestion for treatment algorithm.Front Med. 2020;7:68. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00068Smith MK, Nicholson CL, Parks-Miller A, Hamzavi IH.Hidradenitis suppurativa: An update on connecting the tracts.F1000Res. 2017;6:1272. doi:10.12688/f1000research.11337.1American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hidradenitis suppurativa: Tips for managing.Gupta M, Mahajan VK, Mehta KS, Chauhan PS.Zinc therapy in dermatology: A review.Dermatol Res Pract. 2014;2014:709152. doi:10.1155/2014/709152Narla S, Lyons AB, Hamzavi IH.The most recent advances in understanding and managing hidradenitis suppurativa.F1000Res. 2020;9:1049. doi:10.12688/f1000research.26083.1Patel K, Liu L, Ahn B, Silfvast-Kaiser AS, Paek SY.Hidradenitis suppurativa for the nondermatology clinician.Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. 2020;33(4):586-591. doi:10.1080/08998280.2020.1793643
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Guet-Revillet H, Jais JP, Ungeheuer MN, et al.The microbiological landscape of anaerobic infections in hidradenitis suppurativa: A prospective metagenomic study.Clin Infect Dis. 2017;65(2):282-291. doi:10.1093/cid/cix285NORD (National Organization of Rare Diseases).Hidradenitis Suppurativa.Napolitano M, Megna M, Timoshchuk EA, et al.Hidradenitis suppurativa: From pathogenesis to diagnosis and treatment.CCID. 2017;10:105-115. doi:10.2147/CCID.S111019Lee EY, Alhusayen R, Lansang P, Shear N, Yeung J.What is hidradenitis suppurativa?.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(2):114-120.American Academy of Dermatology.Hidradenitis suppurativa diagnosis and treatment.Kurzen H, Kurzen M.Secondary prevention of hidradenitis suppurativa.Dermatol Reports. 2019;11(2):8243. doi:10.4081/dr.2019.8243Genetic and rare diseases information center (Gard) – an ncats program.Hidradenitis suppurativa.Shirah BH, Shirah HA.The clinical pattern of axillary hidradenitis suppurativa among Saudi Arabians: Mode of presentation and treatment challenges.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2017;10(2):95-100. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_80_16Seyed Jafari SM, Hunger RE, Schlapbach C.Hidradenitis suppurativa: Current understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and suggestion for treatment algorithm.Front Med. 2020;7:68. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00068Smith MK, Nicholson CL, Parks-Miller A, Hamzavi IH.Hidradenitis suppurativa: An update on connecting the tracts.F1000Res. 2017;6:1272. doi:10.12688/f1000research.11337.1American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hidradenitis suppurativa: Tips for managing.Gupta M, Mahajan VK, Mehta KS, Chauhan PS.Zinc therapy in dermatology: A review.Dermatol Res Pract. 2014;2014:709152. doi:10.1155/2014/709152Narla S, Lyons AB, Hamzavi IH.The most recent advances in understanding and managing hidradenitis suppurativa.F1000Res. 2020;9:1049. doi:10.12688/f1000research.26083.1Patel K, Liu L, Ahn B, Silfvast-Kaiser AS, Paek SY.Hidradenitis suppurativa for the nondermatology clinician.Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. 2020;33(4):586-591. doi:10.1080/08998280.2020.1793643
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Guet-Revillet H, Jais JP, Ungeheuer MN, et al.The microbiological landscape of anaerobic infections in hidradenitis suppurativa: A prospective metagenomic study.Clin Infect Dis. 2017;65(2):282-291. doi:10.1093/cid/cix285NORD (National Organization of Rare Diseases).Hidradenitis Suppurativa.Napolitano M, Megna M, Timoshchuk EA, et al.Hidradenitis suppurativa: From pathogenesis to diagnosis and treatment.CCID. 2017;10:105-115. doi:10.2147/CCID.S111019Lee EY, Alhusayen R, Lansang P, Shear N, Yeung J.What is hidradenitis suppurativa?.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(2):114-120.American Academy of Dermatology.Hidradenitis suppurativa diagnosis and treatment.Kurzen H, Kurzen M.Secondary prevention of hidradenitis suppurativa.Dermatol Reports. 2019;11(2):8243. doi:10.4081/dr.2019.8243Genetic and rare diseases information center (Gard) – an ncats program.Hidradenitis suppurativa.Shirah BH, Shirah HA.The clinical pattern of axillary hidradenitis suppurativa among Saudi Arabians: Mode of presentation and treatment challenges.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2017;10(2):95-100. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_80_16Seyed Jafari SM, Hunger RE, Schlapbach C.Hidradenitis suppurativa: Current understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and suggestion for treatment algorithm.Front Med. 2020;7:68. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00068Smith MK, Nicholson CL, Parks-Miller A, Hamzavi IH.Hidradenitis suppurativa: An update on connecting the tracts.F1000Res. 2017;6:1272. doi:10.12688/f1000research.11337.1American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hidradenitis suppurativa: Tips for managing.Gupta M, Mahajan VK, Mehta KS, Chauhan PS.Zinc therapy in dermatology: A review.Dermatol Res Pract. 2014;2014:709152. doi:10.1155/2014/709152Narla S, Lyons AB, Hamzavi IH.The most recent advances in understanding and managing hidradenitis suppurativa.F1000Res. 2020;9:1049. doi:10.12688/f1000research.26083.1Patel K, Liu L, Ahn B, Silfvast-Kaiser AS, Paek SY.Hidradenitis suppurativa for the nondermatology clinician.Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. 2020;33(4):586-591. doi:10.1080/08998280.2020.1793643
Guet-Revillet H, Jais JP, Ungeheuer MN, et al.The microbiological landscape of anaerobic infections in hidradenitis suppurativa: A prospective metagenomic study.Clin Infect Dis. 2017;65(2):282-291. doi:10.1093/cid/cix285
NORD (National Organization of Rare Diseases).Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
Napolitano M, Megna M, Timoshchuk EA, et al.Hidradenitis suppurativa: From pathogenesis to diagnosis and treatment.CCID. 2017;10:105-115. doi:10.2147/CCID.S111019
Lee EY, Alhusayen R, Lansang P, Shear N, Yeung J.What is hidradenitis suppurativa?.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(2):114-120.
American Academy of Dermatology.Hidradenitis suppurativa diagnosis and treatment.
Kurzen H, Kurzen M.Secondary prevention of hidradenitis suppurativa.Dermatol Reports. 2019;11(2):8243. doi:10.4081/dr.2019.8243
Genetic and rare diseases information center (Gard) – an ncats program.Hidradenitis suppurativa.
Shirah BH, Shirah HA.The clinical pattern of axillary hidradenitis suppurativa among Saudi Arabians: Mode of presentation and treatment challenges.J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2017;10(2):95-100. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_80_16
Seyed Jafari SM, Hunger RE, Schlapbach C.Hidradenitis suppurativa: Current understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and suggestion for treatment algorithm.Front Med. 2020;7:68. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00068
Smith MK, Nicholson CL, Parks-Miller A, Hamzavi IH.Hidradenitis suppurativa: An update on connecting the tracts.F1000Res. 2017;6:1272. doi:10.12688/f1000research.11337.1
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hidradenitis suppurativa: Tips for managing.
Gupta M, Mahajan VK, Mehta KS, Chauhan PS.Zinc therapy in dermatology: A review.Dermatol Res Pract. 2014;2014:709152. doi:10.1155/2014/709152
Narla S, Lyons AB, Hamzavi IH.The most recent advances in understanding and managing hidradenitis suppurativa.F1000Res. 2020;9:1049. doi:10.12688/f1000research.26083.1
Patel K, Liu L, Ahn B, Silfvast-Kaiser AS, Paek SY.Hidradenitis suppurativa for the nondermatology clinician.Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings. 2020;33(4):586-591. doi:10.1080/08998280.2020.1793643
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