Viral HS "Hacks" That Are Actually Hurting Your Skin

Just because it went viral doesn't mean it's safe for your skin. Here's why these popular HS trends do more harm than good.

1. "Popping," squeezing, or DIY lancing

The viral trend: Videos showing people squeezing inflamed HS bumps, using pimple patches, or taking sterile needles/lancets at home to "drain the cyst" for instant relief.

Why it's dangerous: HS lesions are not simple pimples or surface infections. They occur deep within the hair follicle and dermis. Squeezing or poking them ruptures the follicle walls underneath the skin, forcing inflammatory debris, keratin, and bacteria deeper into the tissue. This worsens inflammation, drastically increases the risk of secondary bacterial infections (like cellulitis), creates severe scarring, and accelerates the formation of sinus tracts (tunnels under the skin).

2. Applying raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) or lemon juice

The viral trend: Dabbing undiluted ACV or fresh lemon juice directly on painful flares as a "natural antibacterial" remedy.

Why it's dangerous: Pure ACV and lemon juice are highly acidic (pH ~2 to 3). Applying them to inflamed, broken, or sensitive skin causes severe chemical burns, contact dermatitis, and extreme stinging. It destroys the skin barrier and disrupts the skin's natural acid mantle, making it more susceptible to bacterial invasion.

3. DIY baking soda pastes

The viral trend: Mixing baking soda with water or coconut oil to scrub or "draw out" the lesion.

Why it's dangerous: Baking soda is highly alkaline (pH ~9). Applying strong bases to the skin neutralizes the skin's naturally acidic surface layer, stripping lipids, breaking down the moisture barrier, and causing chemical irritation and redness. Physical scrubbing also adds friction, which is a major mechanical trigger for HS flares.

4. Slathering pure, undiluted essential oils (tea tree, oregano, eucalyptus)

The viral trend: Applying 100% pure tea tree or oregano oil straight from the bottle directly onto open or swelling bumps.

Why it's dangerous: While diluted tea tree oil has mild antibacterial properties, undiluted essential oils are potent chemical irritants and top allergens. Applying them directly to HS-affected areas frequently leads to allergic contact dermatitis, severe redness, burning, and worsening swelling.

5. Rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide "drying" hacks

The viral trend: Wiping down flares with rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, or hydrogen peroxide to "dry out the bump and kill bacteria."

Why it's dangerous: Hydrogen peroxide and denatured alcohol kill healthy skin cells alongside bacteria. They severely delay wound healing, destroy new tissue, worsen scarring, and cause painful drying that triggers the skin to over-react, worsening the inflammatory cycle.

6. Hydrocolloid band-aids / pimple patches on draining sinus tracts

The viral trend: Slapping standard pimple patches or large hydrocolloid bandages over active, heavily draining HS tracts to "suck out the fluid."

Why it's dangerous: While hydrocolloids can be useful in specific wound care contexts, standard commercial pimple patches are not designed for deep, heavily exudative HS lesions. Trapping thick fluid under a tight seal without proper wound management creates a breeding ground for bacteria and causes maceration (softening and tearing of surrounding healthy skin), which allows the lesion to spread horizontally. Additionally, removing aggressive adhesives from fragile skin causes tearing and friction damage.