Could what I am eating be a factor in HS outbreaks?

I hope you guys had a chance to read our first blog! If so, please share your thoughts on the posts regarding our weekly blogs on HS on our IG page @anubuttah!

This week, I wanted to start looking at the factors of what could be causing my Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) outbreaks. I began doing some research and surprisingly, I found out that food is actually a key factor! We all know that we have to watch what we are eating to maintain a healthy weight (BMI). However, it is even more important to be conscious of your diet to reduce the number of regular flare-ups for someone dealing with HS! I found a long list of foods that you should be avoiding if you have been diagnosed with HS. Take a look below: 

Foods to Avoid

1. Table Sugar

2. Corn Syrup

3. High Fructose Corn Syrup

4. Soda & other sugary drinks like fruit juice

5. Bread, rice, or pasta made from white flour

6. White flour

7. Boxed cereals

8. Dairy

9. Sugary foods

(biscuits, cookies, cake, doughnuts, pastries, crackers made from refined flour, potato chips, candy, chocolate bars, sugary protein bars)

10. Brewer's yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae)

(beer, wine, fermented spreads, some soy sauces, some stock cubes, some dried or canned soups, some bread, cake, pizza, gravies, dip, kinds of vinegar & salad dressings)

11. Nightshades

(eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes & tomato products, peppers, paprika, chili powder, pepper containing spice blends)

**Tobacco also should be avoided. 

I know you're reading this list and are thinking, "Dang, what can I eat?!". Trust me, that was my exact reaction! So, instead of quitting cold turkey...maybe start by removing one, two, or even three items from your diet and see if it makes a difference. Who knows, maybe the so-called "experts" could have gotten it wrong, and there may be an even deeper root cause of HS outbreaks.

For now, let us digest this list of foods to avoid, and next week we will look into what foods can actually HELP our HS flare-ups! Stay tuned...:)