Turmeric for Hidradenitis Suppurativa Questions
I've had HS since age 15. Slowly developed for the worse. Didnt get a proper diagnose until a few years ago because well, I hid it, and only went to the doctor after my 1000th infection, when it got so bad I was immobile for days. I had it recurring in one and the same spot for nearly 20 years now. 2 years ago a new spot joined the club and in no time got way more severe. I never opted for surgery until my youngest lump of misery became life threatening with sepsis, knowing it would likely return anyway... 4 months post-op. My 20 year old spot has surprisingly not returned so far and seems to heal well. But the bigger, younger spot has already shown small infections coming up and going again... (Surgeon expected that to be the other way around) Anyway... it's not letting the wound heal well. I don't know my adult life without this painful misery coming up and going whenever it seems to want to. And so here I am, willing to try anything new. Just started this week with the tumeric-pepper water mix three times a day. How quickly, realistically, should I be noticing any effects of it? My current infection seems to have paused a bit but still hurts and doesnt shrink either. Changing my diet is up next, but that will be more challenging... I guess at this stage I have little choice but to try both?
Any advice?
California
03/07/2026
Hi Skylark,
Have you tried colloidal silver (CS) for the hydradenitis suppurativa (HS). I ask this because CS is known for its potent antimicrobial effects, pro wound healing properties and anti inflammatory effects which would all be relevant in HS.
I can only tell you that if I tried CS for myself, I would wet a clean cotton cloth and apply it to the affected area and secure it in place with one of those stretchy Ace wraps for an hour 3 times a day. The silver is most active in a topical application while it is wet. The cloth should be dry in about an hour.
Art
Amsterdam
03/10/2026
Hi Art, thank you for the suggestion. I've read up about it a bit and keep finding that it is best to be careful with the dosage? Some suggest to merely put some drops on it.
I ordered a bottle of cs just now to try it. I truly wish for something that works at this point... I'll report back my experience if you're curious.
Skylark.
California
03/10/2026
Hi Skylark,
From experience, I have found that I get the best results with the wet cloth method I described in my previous reply and that is simply because the colloidal silver (CS) is most active when wet. I did not refer to oral dosing if that is what you meant by dosing. If I were using it on myself and I was concerned about how much to apply, I would start at the drops and if that didn't work I would move up to the spray and then if that didn't help I would move up to the cloth wet with CS with the stretchy wrap over it. Here is a link to a case report of a 14 year old boy with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) where they used textiles coated with silver. In his case because it was his groin area, they used silver coated boxer underwear. So this is a dry form, but being underwear he was wearing them for many hours per day to good effect :
Please keep us updated on your progress.
Art
Art
Amsterdam
04/11/2026
Hi Art, and everyone else reading.
Thank you for your advice!
The only colloidal silver I could find was already liquid. Hence my confusion on the amount to use. Anyway, It's been a month since I went all out to tackle this. Made progress, and feel it's time to report back my findings!
I've tried your method with CS, but problematically (I could have seen that coming) it is very unpractical for me to apply as such daily. Because it is a bit of a hassle to get it stuck on, and then leave it uninterrupted for a bit.
I managed for two weeks, trying to bend my daily routine around it, but that wasn't easy.
None the less, I noticed that the lump on the edge of my wound did not grow any further. If anything, it softened a bit. After two weeks, it seemed to have even shrunk a bit.
Next to this I continued making sure I got at least a solid dose of Turmeric powder each day. Mixing the water twice a day with black pepper. But fiured that I actually like the taste so much, I started putting it in my meals instead.
I changed my diet to a degree. Much easier than sticking on and wearing cloths around.
My everyday morning breakfast consists of three to five (depending on size) fried eggs in olive oil. Used to garnish it with fresh onion and goat cheese for the lower lactose, as I already knew I have some sort of lactose intolerance. But ditched the goat cheese as well.
Instead now, I put three cloves of garlic in the pan with olive oil before anything else. Then onion. Fry my eggs through it and then when finished, add a ton of turmeric and a very decent dash of black pepper. Truly delicious, as if my body is begging for it. I don't miss the cheese!
Focused as well on lowering my evening sugar-cravings. I've been limiting my sugar intake severely. Added more fruits to my diet as well.
Processed foods are hard to avoid, luckily we have much stronger regulations on what additives are allowed in food here in the EU, compared to the US. But I cannot avoid it entirely due to financial limitations.
Anyway, anyhow...
I kept searching for something that would be more convenient for me than wearing wet cloths of CS, despite the fact that it seemed to be working.
I found two things that struck me as potentially "quick and easy applicants" that both seemed to have worked for me.
Rubbing Alcohol... It stings right where it should. (all my advice was found on this platform btw) Alcohol tends to not only disinfect but also dry out the skin. Usually bad, but I think one of the reasons for HS in my case is that I have very oily, naturally very well moisturized skin. Often making my groin and cleft, where this occurs, moistly places... So, to be a little dryer where moist can do harm, seemed like a good idea.
I did this, as it was quickly and cheaply accessible. Just rubbed it on the wound twice a day and clearly, the infection did not like that! =) It feels like the alcohol literally just burns the infection away, layer by layer, each time you apply it.
Changed my shower gel for antibacterial soap as well. At least, in the private areas.
Mean while I was waiting for a flask of pure tea tree oil. On which I read, that diluted with olive oil, it could do some miracles for HS as well. Once the oil arrived I made my own mix, as lightly diluted as considered safe for the skin.
This, because once applied to the skin, much like the alcohol, it works into the skin quickly, sticks on by itself, but sticks to nothing else, smells great, doesn't stain and most importantly, after doing the alcohol for as long as the lump was still there, but shrinking, And the tea tree mix for two weeks now...
My wound feels completely the same all over now. There is no lump but the hardened bit that is the wound itself. I haven't had any pain for well over three weeks now. This, since the post-op wound started getting infected again, hasn't happened yet, leading me to conclude that I seem to have found a mix of changes to my daily routine that truly work... Albeit with the smallest infection I have had for ages. The results speak for themselves.
I will continue my dietary changes and new breakfast / dinner routine, adding turmeric and black pepper anytime I can. And continue applying the tea tree oil mix for as long as the scars are healing.
Truly crazy, how something that can negatively impact your life for so long, for which doctors offer no real solutions... can just be tackled by a selection of stuff almost anyone has in their kitchen, and some easily available extra's...
Many thanks and kind regards!
Skylark
California
04/11/2026
Hi Skylark,
I'm glad to hear the colloidal silver (CS) got you going on the right path and you are now better!
You could have used DMSO at a 45% to 50% concentration with the CS, but that would have been a little risky given the area of application.
In any case, I am glad you are finding your answer to a long term problem.
Thank you for the feedback!
Art
