Finding the right soaps and bodywashes when you’re living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can be a challenge. This chronic inflammatory skin condition, which starts at the hair follicles, causes painful lesions where skin rubs against skin. This means that daily hygiene is crucial for anyone living with HS.

Read on to discover recommendations on which cleansers may work best for managing HS.

What Kind of Soap Is Good for Hidradenitis Suppurativa?

If you live with HS, choosing a soap that soothes and cleans without irritating your sensitive skin can make all the difference in managing symptoms and effectively treating wounds. Here, we’ll break down what to look for in a soap and highlight specific ingredients that might work best for you.

Types of Cleansers

Even for people without a skin condition like HS, the soap and body wash aisle at a drugstore can be daunting. Those with hidradenitis suppurativa face the added difficulty of knowing that the wrong soap could have a major impact on their physical well-being.

Knowing what properties to look for in a soap can be a helpful starting point. But remember, your doctor is the best point of contact in your individual hidradenitis suppurativa treatment.

Nonsoap Cleansers

For sensitive skin, nonsoap cleansers may be better than traditional soaps. These cleansers are ideal for people with HS because they clean without stripping the skin of essential moisture. These products are also known as synthetic detergents or syndets, and they are usually available over the counter. The National Eczema Association offers a tool for finding products that they recommend, including nonsoap cleansers.

“I’ve been using Cetaphil cleanser and bodywash,” wrote one myHSteam member. “It’s really been helping.”

Antibacterial Cleansers

Antibacterial cleansers help manage HS by reducing odor and bacteria that can cause infections. Options include antibacterial soap or medical-grade antibacterial wash containing chlorhexidine, a common skin disinfectant. Cleveland Clinic recommends Hibiclens, which is available both by prescription and over the counter.

Zinc pyrithione, found in products like Head & Shoulders, also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be helpful in managing HS lesions.

As one member wrote, “I can control my flare-ups daily with a pink surgical wash called chlorhexidine wash 5 percent. I use it every day in the shower, but find it best to apply for 10 minutes directly to sores, then wash it off. It dries them up very quickly.”

Antimicrobial and Antiseptic Cleansers

Antimicrobial washes like benzoyl peroxide cleansers and chlorhexidine washes are often used in managing HS symptoms and affected areas. They work by reducing bacteria on the skin. Studies suggest they may help reduce bacterial resistance, which may make antibiotic therapies more effective. Brands like PanOxyl (benzoyl peroxide) and Hibiclens are commonly recommended. Hibiclens, also called Hibiscrub, is both an antimicrobial and antibacterial cleanser.

One member shared, “I shower every day using Hibiscrub on my body. Since using this ‘presurgery’ wash, my flare-ups have been very infrequent.”

Some members, however, find medicated washes to be unhelpful or irritating to their HS symptoms. One member wrote, “The body wash my doctor has me using makes it worse. Showers are the only relief I get.”

Talk to your dermatologist about topical treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa. They can help you determine how to introduce these cleansers gradually, since frequent use can cause dryness.

Tea Tree Oil Cleansers

Tea tree oil, known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, is a common ingredient in many natural cleansers for HS. However, some dermatologists caution against its use, as it can cause irritation in sensitive skin or allergic reactions in some people. Even if you’re using a warm compress with tea tree oil-based cleansers, an initial test is a good idea.

One approach to ensuring a new product is safe for your skin is to apply some to the same small spot of skin twice a day for seven to 10 days. If your skin doesn’t become discolored, itchy, or swollen, the product is likely safe to use.

Some myHSteam members have had success with washes that contain tea tree oil. “I’ve been using a medicated soap and Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Body Wash daily, which helps,” wrote one member. Another shared that they started using an all-natural tea tree bodywash, noting it “it helps with odors.”

Other Soaps and Cleansers

Members have also suggested other products that may help reduce HS lesions:

• Acne bar soap
• African black soap
• Crusader Safety Soap
• Dial antibacterial soap
• Carbolic soap

Always talk to your dermatology team before trying these or other topical products.

What To Avoid in Soap for HS

It’s important to avoid soaps with harsh ingredients that can irritate your skin. Talking to your dermatologist is the best way to determine what ingredients disagree with your skin, but there are also some general guidelines to follow about substances to avoid in your topical skin care routine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified five types of ingredients in cosmetics that can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Of these, fragrances, preservatives, and dyes, in particular, may be found in soaps.

Fragrances and Dyes

Most dermatology guides recommend avoiding products — especially deodorants and creams — with fragrances or dyes. These products contain extra chemical ingredients that are known to irritate the skin.

Parabens

Parabens are used in some cosmetic products as preservatives. They help prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast. These preservatives have been known to cause irritation and allergic rashes in some people.

Loofahs and Washcloths

These can harbor bacteria and cause friction that irritates HS lesions. Use your hands for cleansing instead.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myHSteam, the social network for people with hidradenitis suppurativa and their loved ones, more than 44,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Which soaps have helped you manage your hidradenitis suppurativa symptoms? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.