Firstly, let me thank the HS-USA and the forum moderators for this website. The amount of information here is simply overwhelming. As a long-time sufferer of HS, I have found this forum to be the most concise depository of info available online.

A couple of years ago, based on a suggestion from a renowned cardiologist, I started taking fish oil (EPA/DHA) on a regular basis to fight internal inflammation, including my stage II HS.  I can attest that omega 3 made my condition much worse than it used to be. During the entire time, I didn't have a single acne on my face or anywhere else in my body, my skin looked better than always, but the boils got really worse.

During my prolonged use of Omega 3s (almost two years, 3-4 grams/day), I had lesions the size of a golf ball under my arms that simply refused to heal. During that same time, I was also taking CoQ10 and vitamin E (in gelatine capsules).

I stopped all these supplementation for a month and almost immediately my condition improved considerably. As a test, I started taking omega 3 after a month and the boil was back.

I did the same experiment with CoQ10 alone and got another lesion two days after.

Now, I am not sure if I am reacting to consumption of concentrated oils in a capsule format or this is an allergic reaction to omega 3s AND CoQ10.

As a rule of thumb, I have started to completely avoid consuming any forms of gelatine capsules containing concentrated oil, including vitamin E. I have yet to test my body with olive oil or cooking oil, but am planning to do so soon.

I still have lesions under both arms, but the frequency has dropped to around once or twice/month. 

I found this thread to be very relevant to what I experienced.

Behnam,

Thank you for your post and again....Welcome to the site.  Your reaction to Omega 3's is not unusual.  I am sure that you read in some of the other posts, Omega 3's tend to exacerbate HS.  The mechanism is not totally understood.  Many of us have experienced the same problem. Like you it became a matter of trail and error.  Adding then removing something to figure it out. 

I am very please to see that you have found the site to be helpful. It is one of the goals here.  While I am sometimes criticised for challenging some of the information presented, I have found it to be worth the challenge.  This site has gained its credibility based on the first hand experiences and knowledge of it members.

Please join us often and post often, in the good times as well as the bad!!

Peace

KIBTL

Rick H.

i have been googling quite a bit and came across this while looking up zinc defeicency.........''Zinc is commonly taken as a supplement to help with skin conditions such as color=#0000ffacne or color=#0000ffeczema. The basis of zinc therapy lies in the fact that the color=#0000ffmineral is necessary for normal cell division, tissue repair and renewal. Zinc is also needed for the conversion of color=#0000ffessential fatty acids into compounds that help regulate skin condition.''

just interesting that omega 3 is a trigger (is that an essential fatty acid?) that needs zinc which, when deficent is believed to be a contributing factor in hs..

i realise that i am very new here so if i am repeating old news sorry. just trying to get as much info as possible.

quote from http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C76343.html

Does anyone think there mught be a difference in pills vs consuming the oil directly?

I consume a tsp of lemon flavored cod-liver oil each day in a protein smoothie with fruit and D-Ribose. I have a hard time correctly correlating things amongst my various condition of fibro, IBS, chroninc pain from several bad discs, my HS etc. I do believe for me that there is a gluten connection and am having a hard time completly removing it from my diet but trying.

Sugar is an obvious trigger for all of my issues. I also am trying to remove as many chemicals like presertives, msg and persticides from my diet, laundry and body care as possible. Food Inc really opened my eyes abut GMO grains, HFC and "clean" meats.

Please allow each individual the respect of their own views how does it hurt you? there are a variety of views here and the information is a positive. Take what you like and leave the rest.Things work for some and not others and it is a huge learning process to uncover the root of our illness and things that help/hurt. Hating is stressful and negative and stress is definitaly a trigger!

Quote: Originally posted by NightOwl on 18 March 2010

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So I just came back from the dermatologist today and on top of an antibiotic and topical cream, she recommended me to start taking Omega 3 fatty acids. But now, after reading this whole thread, I'm not quite sure what I should do!!

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Hi Rick,

I'm not sure I have enough to log, but I can continue to update you.

Withdrawal from the fish oils immediately made a change...though not exactly for the better and not exactly for the worse. Within 2 days, the abcess changed-size and behavior, mostly. I thought maybe iit was going to resolve. Several times, it was almost a done deal.

And now, I sit here in pain again.

My diet is relatively in check: low carb, high protein. I have lost 23 pounds since June. I take a host of supplements on a daily basis because of my intense workout schedule (I am a powerlifter).

I came here again to read up on the turmeric solution, because normal care isn't going to resolve this darned abcess.

Turmeric has a host of amazing qualities and after I read up on them at a nother message board I frequent (for performance enhancement), I will post some stuff.