Hidradenitis suppurativa in girls. Credit score: Evelyn Frias
What occurs on the pores and skin typically begins a lot deeper. In girls dwelling with persistent irritation, ache, and recurrent pores and skin lesions, the foundation of the issue could also be linked to hormonal, immune, and metabolic imbalances.
That is the case with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a situation that goes far past dermatology and severely impacts high quality of life. On this context, vitamin emerges as a key device—not as a miracle remedy, however as a strong ally to cut back signs, management flares, and regain well-being.
A paper explaining this has been revealed within the Journal of Translational Medication.
Hormones and pores and skin: An inflammatory connection under the floor
HS disproportionately impacts girls, particularly throughout reproductive age. Hormonal fluctuations associated to the menstrual cycle, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and metabolic circumstances like weight problems can worsen the illness.
Hormones equivalent to androgens activate the inflammasome, selling a persistent inflammatory cascade within the pores and skin. This hormonal imbalance not solely triggers lesions but in addition impacts the emotional well-being of sufferers.
The hyperlink to psychological well being is simple: bodily signs mix with excessive ranges of hysteria, despair, and sexual dysfunction, exacerbating the illness’s impression on every day life. Thus, understanding and modulating hormonal and metabolic components—together with weight-reduction plan—is crucial to enhance the medical course of HS.
Your plate can also be medication: The therapeutic function of meals
An anti-inflammatory weight-reduction plan is greater than a pattern—it is a science-backed technique for managing HS. Present proof reveals that the Mediterranean weight-reduction plan—wealthy in greens, fruits, legumes, fatty fish, olive oil, and low in pink meat and sugars—can modulate systemic irritation and scale back illness severity.
Areas concerned by HS in girls. Credit score: Evelyn Frias
Analysis highlights that girls with HS who comply with a Mediterranean or hypocaloric weight-reduction plan considerably enhance their signs. That is linked to reductions in physique mass index (BMI), inflammatory markers equivalent to TNF-α, and optimistic adjustments in intestine microbiota.
As well as, a very-low-calorie ketogenic weight-reduction plan (VLCKD) has proven advantages in girls with HS and weight problems. In a single research, a 12-week intervention with VLCKD not solely decreased HS severity (measured with the IHS4 rating), but in addition improved metabolic perform. One of these weight-reduction plan lowers circulating insulin and will assist management hyperandrogenism, which is particularly useful for sufferers with related PCOS.
One other essential discovering includes the function of the intestine microbiota and its metabolites. Folks with HS have been proven to expertise intestine dysbiosis, with decrease variety of useful micro organism and a better presence of pro-inflammatory species.
This imbalance promotes the manufacturing of compounds like trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), linked to greater systemic irritation and higher illness severity. A weight-reduction plan excessive in prebiotic fiber, polyphenols, and low in processed meats could assist restore microbial steadiness.
Moreover, vitamin may also help scale back the load of superior glycation end-products (AGEs)—pro-inflammatory compounds—particularly by limiting ultra-processed meals and high-heat cooking strategies. AGEs have been related to worsening of inflammatory pores and skin circumstances like HS.
Dietary patterns and interventions in HS. Credit score: Gabriela Cucalon/ESPOL
Vitamin as a part of an built-in therapy strategy
Though there is no “one-size-fits-all” weight-reduction plan for HS, what’s clear is that adapting dietary patterns to every affected person’s inflammatory, hormonal, and metabolic wants is essential for long-term medical management. This requires skilled dietary steering, with personalised plans that transcend weight administration to incorporate intestine well being, hormone regulation, and emotional well-being.
It is not sufficient to deal with the pores and skin—we should deal with the entire physique. Correct vitamin generally is a highly effective device to revive high quality of life, improve medical therapy response, and provides sufferers again management over their well being.
Addressing HS in girls means trying past pores and skin lesions. Weight loss program, metabolism, microbiota, and hormones are deeply interconnected on this illness. Vitamin isn’t a minor complement, however a elementary pillar within the complete therapeutic strategy these sufferers deserve.
Extra data:
Anna Dattolo et al, Past the pores and skin: endocrine, psychological and dietary points in girls with hidradenitis suppurativa, Journal of Translational Medication (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-06175-1
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