Daily hygiene questions
My question is how do you handle daily hygiene? I saw the home treatments section but this question is more about cleaning.
I am fairly new to the diagnosis and brand new to this community.
I was told by a dermatologist to use chlorhexidine and/or rubbing alcohol daily, but I’m concerned about disturbing the good bacteria along with the bad. It seems that rubbing alcohol makes things worse for me after using it for a few days in a row. And my Ob/Gyn says chlorhexidine can cause birth defects and is too strong, and could cause rebound flare ups because of destroying the good bacteria (aka balance of skin “flora”). Conflicting advice from different docs.
Also, do you find it helps or hurts to shower every day? I had been showering less than once a day for similar reasons about stripping the natural skin oils, etc - but do you have better success with daily showering?
Has anyone had any success with thymol or other natural disinfecting oils/ wipes, or Manuka honey? Regular antibacterial soaps or any particular skin cleansers? Do you use treatments daily to prevent flares, or just when you have an active flare?
Thank you everyone!
I like Renpure teatree mint bodywash in the shower. I get A big pump bottle on Amazon for only like $6 ( I definitely wouldn't use it on open areas, but I use it preventively). It seems to help to keep pores and hair folicles unclogged better than regular soap.I even use it on my scalp when I start getting bumps and pain there. ( It is also sulfate free so it doesn't really make suds).
I shower two times a day. Once in the AM and once in the PM. I use antibacterial soap and I use hibiscleanse in a spray bottle.
Lately I’ve been liking using Summer’s Eve unscented wipes for odor. They probably have some horrible chemical in them, but they work pretty well. They don’t bother my skin or have a lingering fragrance. 
I looked them up. They don't have parabens, which is just a fancy label of preservatives. I happen to be allergic to those, so that's good. That company really has gone through a major overhaul since I was a little kid. Thanks for sharing! ~Chelsea (Team Member)
Hi
! Thank you for bringing up an important topic. An important thing to keep in mind is that different things work for different people. If you haven't already, I would consult your doctors about these topics for your own safety. I, personally, use an antibacterial soap and shower everyday. This works for my specific care but may not work for you. These articles may have some answers for you as well: https://hsdisease.com/management and https://hsdisease.com/alternative-treatment. We are so glad you are here with us. Best wishes! -Isela Nataly (Team Member) 
Hey
! Seconding Isela here on reaching out to your doctor, if you haven't already, to make sure that these products will work safely for you. Personally, I also prefer showering every day and using antibacterial soaps as I noticed that soaps with fragrances irritated my HS a lot. Another thing that I noticed is that I flared less when I showered directly after working out so that I did not let the sweat sit on my skin for too long. I found that baths help if I have really inflamed flares and I need to calm them down a bit, but otherwise showers seem to do the trick. As you mentioned, everyone is different, so these tips may not work for you, but I hope they help! - Gabby (Team Member). Thanks so much for your reply!
Also forgot to ask - do you prefer showers or baths?
