How a Broken Switch in Your Hair Follicle Could Triggers Hidradenitis Suppurativa: How to heal HS naturally.

---

My name is Jaap, and I am a biomedical scientist that also used to live with severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa, the kind that takes over your life. Today, I am completely asymptomatic because I learned how to heal Hidradenitis Suppurativa from within. More importantly, I’ve had the privilege of helping many other individuals with HS get their lives back too.

The Knowledge Gap & The Two Roads After Diagnosis

First, I want to again thank the researchers of the source paper for providing such a detailed “blueprint” of the healthy follicle, which allows us to make these connections . Their work is invaluable.

Of course. I have revised your text to improve its structure, clarity, and scientific detail, drawing directly from the provided research article by Daszczuk and colleagues. I have also corrected the figure references and created detailed legends to ensure they are easy to understand.

Here is the improved version:

Introduction: The Secret Life of a Hair Follicle

Have you ever wondered why Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) flares in specific areas like the armpits, groin, or inner thighs with such relentless fury? For too long, the narrative has been clouded by myths of clogged sweat glands or poor hygiene. But what if the answer lies not in sweat, but in a microscopic, powerful engine within our skin: the hair follicle? To truly understand HS, we must first understand the intricate biology of this mini-organ.

A recent scientific review by Daszczuk et al. provides an unprecedented look “under the hood” of a healthy hair follicle. While the paper does not mention HS, it gives us a perfect map of a healthy system. We will use that map to pinpoint exactly where the wiring may go wrong in HS, leading to a new hypothesis for what drives this disease.

A Tour of the Skin’s Command Center: The Healthy Hair Follicle

Before we explore what goes wrong, we must understand what “right” looks like. Your skin is composed of two main layers: the outer epidermis and the underlying dermis, which sits atop a layer of fat (adipose layer). As shown in Figure 1, the hair follicle is a complex mini-organ that originates in the epidermis and delves deep into the dermis, living alongside sebaceous (oil) glands and sweat glands.

This follicle is not a simple tube. It is a dynamic, self-renewing structure with its own reservoir of powerful stem cells, located in a specific region called the bulge. These hair follicle stem cells (hfSCs) are responsible for regenerating the follicle over and over again in a beautifully predictable rhythm called the hair cycle.

Figure 1: The Skin’s Basic Blueprint. This diagram from Daszczuk et al. shows a cross-section of healthy skin. The hair follicle is a complex structure embedded in the dermis, containing a reservoir of stem cells in the “bulge” region. This is the anatomical environment where the events of HS begin. Figure by Daszczuk and colleagues.

This cycle has three main phases:

• Anagen (Growth): The active phase where stem cells proliferate, building a new hair shaft.
• Catagen (Degeneration): A brief transitional phase where the lower part of the follicle degenerates.
• Telogen (Rest): The resting or dormant phase, where the follicle is quiet, awaiting the signal to begin a new cycle.

Figure 2: The Rhythmic Life of a Hair Follicle. This visual illustrates the development of a hair follicle and its lifelong, predictable cycle of growth, regression, and rest. This controlled rhythm is the hallmark of a healthy, balanced system—a balance that is tragically lost in HS. Figure by Daszczuk and colleagues.

---

The “Brake” and “Gas”: The Hair Follicle’s On/Off Switch

The most critical insight from the review by Daszczuk and colleagues is the detailed explanation of the molecular “on/off switch” that controls this entire cycle. It comes down to a delicate, push-pull balance between two master signaling pathways that act like a car’s pedals.

• The “Brake Pedal” is BMP Signaling. Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) is the master “stop” signal. When BMP signaling is high, it tells the hair follicle stem cells to stay quiet and dormant (a state called quiescence). It is the system’s safety mechanism to prevent uncontrolled growth.
• The “Gas Pedal” is WNT Signaling. WNT is the master “go” signal. When WNT signaling rises, it wakes up the stem cells and tells them to start dividing and building a new hair, kicking off the Anagen (growth) phase.

Crucially, this process is self-regulating. The paper explains that the follicle has a built-in intrinsic oscillator which works as a molecular clock. These two signals are in a constant, reciprocal dance. High BMP (brakes on) actively suppresses WNT (gas off). When BMP levels naturally fall, the pressure on WNT is released, allowing the gas pedal to be pressed. This elegant tug-of-war is the engine of the hair cycle.

Figure 3: The Battle for Balance. This diagram illustrates the three states of the follicle’s stem cells. The key is the balance of power shown at the bottom. In Quiescence, BMP activators (the “brakes”) dominate. In Activation, WNT activators (the “gas”) take over. Figure by Daszczuk and colleagues.

Figure 4: The Molecular Conversation. This detailed diagram from the review is the scientific heart of the matter. It shows the specific molecules involved in the BMP (red) and WNT (green) pathways. The oscillating waves show how these two signals exist in a constant, opposing rhythm. This perfect, predictable dance is the secret to a healthy follicle. Figure by Daszczuk and colleagues.

The precise control of these pathways involves a host of molecules, including neurotransmitters that can stimulate cells and specialized drugs that can inhibit these pathways for research or therapeutic purposes.

New Hypothesisby HS Armor: A Broken Switch in Hidradenitis Suppurutiva

The paper we’ve explored does not mention Hidradenitis Suppurativa. However, by applying its detailed map of a healthy follicle, a powerful hypothesis emerges. This is an expert interpretation of how this elegant system could be critically involved in the pathogenesis of HS.

The core hypothesis is that Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a disease of a broken signaling switch.

For reasons likely involving genetics and a body-wide state of chronic inflammation, the delicate BMP/WNT balance is shattered. The “brake pedal” (BMP signaling) fails, and the “gas pedal” (WNT signaling) gets stuck to the floor.

The consequences of this stuck gas pedal unfold in a three-act tragedy:

1. Act 1: Follicular Occlusion. Uncontrolled WNT signaling causes the skin cells (keratinocytes) inside the follicle to grow far too quickly (hyperproliferate). The follicle becomes clogged with this excess cellular material, creating the initial plug that is now recognized as the starting point of an HS lesion.
2. Act 2: Rupture. The intense internal pressure from hyperproliferation causes the follicle to swell and eventually rupture beneath the skin. This spills its contents (keratin, bacteria, cellular debris) into the surrounding dermis.
3. Act 3: The Immune Overreaction. The immune system sees this ruptured material as a foreign invader and launches a massive, overwhelming, and misguided inflammatory attack. This is the autoinflammatory nature of HS. The body isn’t fighting an infection; it’s attacking itself in response to the chaos caused by the broken follicle.

This reframes our entire understanding of the disease. HS is not merely a “skin disease” or an “inflammatory disease.” At its core, it may be a disease of failed cellular communication. The painful inflammation is a downstream consequence of the broken signaling switch in the hair follicle. This perspective is a game-changer because it suggests that a true, lasting treatment must aim to fix the upstream faulty wiring, not just silence the downstream inflammation.

Feature	The Healthy Hair Follicle	The HS Follicle
Primary State	Balanced, cyclical rhythm of rest and growth.	Stuck in a state of uncontrolled activation.
BMP Signaling (“Brake”)	High during rest (Telogen), keeping cells quiet.	Chronically low or ineffective. The brake pedal is broken.
WNT Signaling (“Gas”)	High during growth (Anagen), precisely controlled.	Chronically high and out of control. The gas pedal is floored.
Cell Behavior	Orderly proliferation and differentiation.	Hyperproliferation, leading to blockage (occlusion).
Outcome	A healthy, cycling hair follicle.	Follicle ruptures, triggering a massive, chronic inflammatory war.

However, this deep, cellular understanding highlights a massive “knowledge gap” in conventional medicine. When a doctor sees the redness, swelling, and pain of an HS flare, the logical response is to suppress that inflammation. This leads to the standard treatments: antibiotics, steroids, and powerful biologic drugs.

These treatments are like cutting the wire to a smoke alarm. The alarm stops screaming (the symptoms might calm down), but the fire is still burning. They do nothing to put out the fire of systemic inflammation or fix the faulty wiring (the broken BMP/WNT switch) that started it all.

After a Hidradenitis suppurativa diagnosis, you stand at a fork in the road.

Road #1: The Conventional Path of Symptom Management. This is the road most of us are put on. It’s a lifelong cycle of powerful drugs that can have serious side effects and often stop working over time. This road frequently ends in brutal surgeries that remove massive amounts of tissue but don’t stop the disease from coming back, because the underlying fire is still burning.

Road #2: The Foundational Path to Healing. This is the HS Armor philosophy. We reverse the model. The foundation of health isn’t drugs; the foundation is fixing the reason the inflammation is happening in the first place. At HS Armor, we focus on highly effective evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle change, and natural therapies and practices. We see pharmaceuticals as a “powerful, temporary shield”, sometimes necessary to control a crisis, but the goal is to build such a strong foundation of health (supporting normal cellular communication) that they become less necessary, or ideally, completely unnecessary.

Rewiring Your System: A Foundational Approach to Treating Hidradenitis Suppurativa Naturally

If the root of HS is a signaling switch that’s broken by a pro-inflammatory internal environment, then the solution is clear: we have to change the environment.

This is how a natural treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa works. It’s not about one magic supplement; it’s a evidence- and systems-based approach designed to put out the internal fire. This is about more than just eating healthy; it’s about using food and lifestyle as a form of information. A pro-inflammatory diet is like sending “bad information” to your cells, telling your immune system to stay on high alert and further disrupting that delicate signaling balance.

A healing, anti-inflammatory lifestyle is how we start sending correct information. We are using our daily choices to gently nudge those broken signaling pathways back toward balance. You’re not just eating; you’re actively “rewiring your system.” The pillars of a hidradenitis suppurativa appropriate approach include:

• An Anti-Inflammatory Diet and lifestyle: Systematically identifying and a personal optimized diet and lifestyle practices.
• Strategic Supplementation: Using targeted natural compounds that have been shown in studies to help modulate the immune system and support skin health.

This deep, foundational work is what’s often missing from a 15-minute dermatologist appointment. This is the core principle we put into practice every day in the HS Armor community, translating this complex science into a step-by-step, actionable plan for healing.

Key Takeaways

• HS Starts at the Hair Follicle: Hidradenitis Suppurativa is not a sweat gland disease; it begins with a malfunction in the hair follicle, a complex mini-organ with its own stem cells.
• Based on My Analysis HS Could be a “Broken Switch” Problem: Healthy follicles are regulated by a perfect balance of “stop” (BMP) and “go” (WNT) signals. In hidradenitis suppurativa this switch getting stuck in the “go” position, leading to blockage and a massive immune attack is very likely to be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease.
• Your Feelings Are Biologically Valid: The feeling that your body is attacking itself is a real reflection of the autoinflammatory chaos happening at a cellular level. It is not your fault and has nothing to do with hygiene.
• True Healing is Foundational: Lasting remission comes from addressing the root cause. Instead of just silencing symptoms with drugs, a foundational approach to restore balance to your body’s internal signaling and restore faulty signaling between cells. Instead of waiting on the pharmaceutical industry to monetize this potential new cellular pathway you can restore the balance between the cells in your body with our help in the HS armor

Conclusion: You Are the Healer

So, let’s return to the big question: can you cure hidradenitis suppurativa? While there may not be a magic pill to erase our genetic predisposition, I am (and my many clients are) living proof that achieving a state of complete, long-term, sustainable remission is absolutely possible.

Understanding the deep science of the hair follicle doesn’t just give us answers; it gives us power. It shows us exactly where to focus our healing efforts. The fire of inflammation may be raging now, but you have the power to change your internal environment. You can stop providing it with fuel. You can learn to fix the faulty wiring.

The path to healing begins with this knowledge. You are not a victim of this disease; you are the key to healing it.

---

References

1. Daszczuk, P., Mazurek, P., Pieczonka, T. D., Olczak, A., Boryń, Ł. M., & Kobielak, K. (2020). An intrinsic oscillation of gene networks inside hair follicle stem cells: An additional layer that can modulate hair stem cell activities. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8, 595178. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2020.595178
2. (2013, June 20). I’m a woman living with an incurable disease and I’m tired of being ashamed. Reddit. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/TwoXChromosomes/comments/13pp8c/im_a_woman_living_with_an_incurable_disease_and/
3. (2013, June 19). I am a sufferer of a rare, painful skin condition known as Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) in which the apocrine gland regions form abscesses which never heal. AMA. Reddit. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1gndl8/i_am_a_sufferer_of_a_rare_painful_skin_condition/
4. (2022). Patient questions on the hidradenitis suppurativa subreddit: a cross-sectional study. PubMed. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40486369/
5. HS Foundation. (n.d.). HS Causes. Retrieved from https://www.hs-foundation.org/hs-causes
6. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Hidradenitis Suppurativa (Acne Inversa): Symptoms & Treatments. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17716-hidradenitis-suppurativa
7. (2013, June 19). I am a sufferer of a rare, painful skin condition known as Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) in which the apocrine gland regions form abscesses which never heal. AMA. Reddit. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1gndl8/i_am_a_sufferer_of_a_rare_painful_skin_condition/
8. (2013, June 19). I am a sufferer of a rare, painful skin condition known as Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) in which the apocrine gland regions form abscesses which never heal. AMA. Reddit. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1gndl8/i_am_a_sufferer_of_a_rare_painful_skin_condition/

Important Medical Disclaimer

1. Not Medical Advice: All content and information on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment, or consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.

2. My Role and Qualifications: I am a biomedical scientist and PhD candidate and share information from that perspective, combined with my personal experience as a patient with Hidradenitis Suppurativa. However, I am not a medical doctor, physician, or registered healthcare professional. Do not consider our relationship a doctor-patient relationship.

3. Consult Your Doctor: Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or another qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If you suspect you are experiencing a medical emergency, or a severe infection, do not rely on this website or the HS Armor community, please call your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

4. A Critical Warning on Medication: Pharmaceutical drugs are a crucial tool in managing Hidradenitis Suppurativa for many people. Under absolutely no circumstances should you ever alter, reduce, or stop taking your prescribed medication without the explicit direction of the doctor who prescribed it. Doing so can be dangerous. Always consult with your doctor before doing anything related to your treatment plan.

5. No Liability: Your use of this website and reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.

6. Individual Results May Vary: Every patient’s biological baseline, genetics, and adherence to the protocol is different. Therefore, I cannot guarantee specific results, cures, or timelines for your Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

7. Scientific and Expressive Freedom: The articles published on this blog are distinct from formal peer-reviewed academic literature. They serve as an independent platform for my personal viewpoints, scientific hypotheses, and philosophical reflections as an independent scientist and HS patient. While grounded in biomedical research, I exercise a degree of expressive freedom to translate rigid academic data into insights from a patient perspective. These writings are my personal meditations on the science of HS and should be read as my individual perspective, not as universally accepted clinical consensus or formal peer-reviewed literature.