Can I Eat Eggs if I Have HS? Navigating Nutrition with Hidradenitis Suppurativa

October 8, 2025 •

4 min read

Recent research and anecdotal evidence suggest that dietary changes can significantly impact symptoms for individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory skin condition. This frequently raises the question: Can I eat eggs if I have HS? The answer is not universal, as personal food triggers differ, and eggs' complex nutritional profile can affect inflammation in different ways.

Quick Summary

The impact of eating eggs with hidradenitis suppurativa is highly individual and not inflammatory for everyone. Some HS patients find eggs worsen symptoms, possibly due to a specific sensitivity, while others tolerate them well, benefiting from their anti-inflammatory nutrients. Identifying personal triggers, often through an elimination diet, is key to managing HS symptoms.

Key Points

Individual Triggers: The effect of eggs on HS symptoms is not the same for everyone; some may find them to be a trigger, while others experience no negative effects.
Nutritional Trade-offs: Eggs contain both potentially pro-inflammatory (omega-6s, saturated fat) and anti-inflammatory nutrients (omega-3s, vitamin D), making their overall impact complex.
Elimination Diet: The most reliable method for determining if eggs are a personal trigger is to perform a supervised elimination and reintroduction diet over several weeks.
Focus on Anti-inflammatory Diet: Regardless of egg sensitivity, adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, like the Mediterranean diet, focusing on whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, is a recommended strategy for managing HS.
Common Triggers: Other common dietary triggers to investigate include dairy products, high-sugar foods, refined carbohydrates, and brewer's yeast.
Professional Guidance: Working with a doctor or registered dietitian is highly recommended to safely and effectively navigate dietary changes for HS.

Understanding Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Diet

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by painful abscesses, nodules, and scarring, most commonly affecting areas like the armpits and groin. While the exact cause is unknown, diet is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor in managing symptoms for many patients. Inflammation is a key component of HS, and the food we consume can either contribute to or help reduce systemic inflammation. The goal of a dietary strategy for HS is typically to reduce inflammation and identify specific food triggers that may cause flare-ups.

The Role of Eggs in an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Eggs are a staple in many diets and are packed with essential nutrients, including high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, their effect on inflammation is complex and debated.

Potential Pro-inflammatory Properties: Egg yolks contain arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. While omega-6s are necessary for health, consuming too many in proportion to omega-3s can promote inflammation. Some also point to saturated fat in egg yolks and choline (which can produce TMAO) as potentially inflammatory.
Potential Anti-inflammatory Properties: On the other hand, eggs are a good source of anti-inflammatory nutrients. Pastured or omega-3-enriched eggs contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to help reduce inflammation. Eggs also contain vitamin D and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, all of which have anti-inflammatory effects.

For many people, the overall dietary context, rather than the egg itself, determines the inflammatory response. The impact is therefore not universal and is influenced by individual physiology.

Can I eat eggs if I have HS? A Strategy for Finding Your Answer

Because dietary triggers are highly individual, the best way to answer “Can I eat eggs if I have HS?” is to use a systematic approach, such as an elimination diet. This method helps you identify your personal trigger foods by temporarily removing them and then reintroducing them to observe your body's reaction.

How to perform an elimination diet to test for egg sensitivity:

Preparation: Start by keeping a detailed food diary for several weeks. Log everything you eat and drink, along with any HS symptoms you experience. This establishes a baseline.
Elimination Phase: Remove eggs and any egg-containing products from your diet completely for at least four weeks. Carefully read all food labels, as eggs are a common ingredient in many processed foods.
Monitor Symptoms: Continue logging your food intake and symptom severity during the elimination phase. Look for any improvement in your HS flares.
Reintroduction Phase: After the elimination period, if your symptoms have improved, slowly reintroduce eggs. Eat one egg and observe your reaction for 24-48 hours. Watch for any return or worsening of HS symptoms.
Evaluate and Decide: If you experience a flare-up after reintroducing eggs, you have likely identified them as a personal trigger and should avoid them. If there is no negative reaction, you can probably continue to eat them as part of your diet.

Other Dietary Considerations for HS

While testing for egg sensitivity, it is beneficial to focus on an overall anti-inflammatory eating pattern. The Mediterranean diet is often recommended for its focus on whole, plant-based foods, and healthy fats, which can help manage systemic inflammation. Other diets, like the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) and yeast-free diets, have also been explored by HS patients.

Dairy: Some HS patients report worsened symptoms from dairy products, which can increase levels of certain hormones linked to HS. Many elimination diets, including AIP, remove dairy.
High Glycemic Foods: High-sugar foods and refined carbohydrates can cause insulin spikes, which may contribute to inflammation and worsen HS symptoms.
Brewer's Yeast: Found in beer, bread, and some fermented foods, brewer's yeast is another potential trigger for some individuals, with studies showing symptom improvement upon its removal.
Nightshades: Some people with HS find that nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers) trigger symptoms, though scientific evidence is limited.

Food Comparison for HS Diet


Food Category	Examples	Potential Impact on HS	Action for HS Patients
Anti-inflammatory	Salmon, leafy greens, berries, olive oil, walnuts	Helps reduce systemic inflammation	Incorporate regularly as part of a balanced diet.
High Sugar/Refined Carbs	White bread, pastries, soda, candy	Causes insulin spikes, potentially increasing inflammation and flare-ups	Limit or avoid to stabilize blood sugar and inflammation.
Dairy Products	Cow's milk, cheese, butter	May raise hormone levels linked to HS and trigger inflammation in some individuals	Consider elimination trial to test sensitivity.
Eggs	Scrambled, boiled, or in recipes	Varied impact; some find them neutral or helpful, others report triggers due to individual sensitivity	Use an elimination diet to determine personal reaction.
Brewer's Yeast	Beer, certain breads, fermented foods	A common trigger for some, possibly linked to specific immune responses	Consider temporary removal and monitor symptoms.

Conclusion: Finding Your Personal Nutritional Path

There is no single diet that works for everyone with hidradenitis suppurativa, and the question of whether you can I eat eggs if I have HS? depends on your unique sensitivities. Rather than following overly restrictive, blanket recommendations, the most effective strategy involves working with a healthcare professional to identify your specific triggers. By using a food diary and potentially an elimination diet, you can determine how your body reacts to eggs and other potential triggers. Focusing on an overall anti-inflammatory diet rich in whole foods, like the Mediterranean diet, can provide a solid foundation for managing HS symptoms and improving your overall well-being. Ultimately, informed self-experimentation is the key to creating a personalized nutritional plan that supports your HS management efforts. For more detailed research, a search on databases like PubMed can provide the latest findings on diet and HS management.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, eggs are not universally inflammatory for all HS patients. Their overall effect depends on the balance of nutrients and individual sensitivities. While some studies point to potential pro-inflammatory components, eggs also contain anti-inflammatory nutrients, and many people with HS can eat them without problems.

The most effective method is a controlled elimination diet. You should remove eggs from your diet for a minimum of four weeks and monitor your symptoms. After the elimination period, carefully reintroduce eggs and observe your body's reaction to determine if they are a trigger for you.

For those who can tolerate eggs, choosing omega-3-enriched or pastured eggs may be beneficial. These eggs typically have a higher omega-3 content, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, potentially helping to balance out the omega-6 fatty acids found in egg yolks.

Common food triggers reported by some HS patients include dairy products, high-sugar foods, refined carbohydrates, and products containing brewer's yeast. Keeping a detailed food diary can help you pinpoint your specific sensitivities.

Some research suggests that dairy products can raise levels of certain hormones that contribute to HS symptoms. For some individuals, eliminating or reducing dairy intake has led to an improvement in symptoms.

Yes, an anti-inflammatory diet like the Mediterranean diet is often a beneficial approach for managing HS. It emphasizes whole, plant-based foods, healthy fats like olive oil, and includes moderate amounts of lean protein and fish, all of which support overall health and help reduce inflammation.

Gut health can play a significant role in managing HS symptoms, as a healthy gut helps to reduce inflammation. Diets rich in fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, like the Mediterranean diet, encourage diverse gut bacteria, which is beneficial for immunity and health.

Some studies suggest that supplements like zinc and vitamin D may benefit some HS patients, as deficiencies are common in this population. However, you should always consult a healthcare provider before taking any supplements, as excessive amounts can have negative side effects.