Having a chronic skin condition like hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when you’re left standing in the health and beauty aisle wondering, Which, if any, of these products are going to help me?

As an auto-inflammatory skin condition caused by clogged hair follicles that rupture deep beneath the surface of your skin, HS requires a different level of care than other irritable skin conditions like acne.

“You can have an overgrowth of bacteria that contributes to odor and drainage,” says dermatologist Michelle Kerns, MD. “But HS isn’t infectious and it’s not caused by poor hygiene.”

Knowing which products help whenever a flare-up strikes is key to making sure you’re taking care of your skin. Dr. Kerns cuts through some of the confusion by sharing a shopping list of ingredients and products you want to look for if you have hidradenitis suppurativa, along with some ingredients you should avoid.

Because of its autoinflammatory nature, HS is best treated and managed with anti-inflammatory ingredients and antibacterial products that help with inflammation and reduce drainage and odor. Some popular products and ingredients that work best include the following.