What are the main causes of boils on the body. How can you identify symptoms of boils and carbuncles. What are effective prevention methods for skin infections.

What Are Boils and How Do They Form?

Boils are bacterial infections that develop in hair follicles or oil glands, forming painful, pus-filled bumps under the skin. They typically start as small, red, tender spots that gradually enlarge and fill with pus. Boils most commonly occur on areas with hair or increased friction, such as the face, neck, armpits, groin, and buttocks.

The primary culprit behind boil formation is usually Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which naturally reside on human skin. When these bacteria enter through tiny breaks in the skin, they can cause infection and inflammation, leading to boil development.

Types of Skin Infections Related to Boils

• Furuncles: Single boils that form from infected hair follicles
• Carbuncles: Clusters of connected boils that create a larger infected mass
• Cystic acne: Deep, painful bumps caused by clogged pores and bacterial infection
• Hidradenitis suppurativa: Chronic condition causing recurrent boils in sweat gland-rich areas

Identifying Symptoms of Boils and Carbuncles

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of boils is crucial for prompt treatment and prevention of complications. Common symptoms include:

• A firm, painful lump that starts small and grows larger over days
• Redness and swelling of the surrounding skin
• A white or yellow center as pus accumulates
• Eventual rupture and drainage of pus
• Fever and fatigue in severe cases or with carbuncles

Are boils always painful? While most boils cause discomfort, the level of pain can vary. Small boils may be only mildly tender, while larger ones or carbuncles can be extremely painful, especially when touched or pressed.

Risk Factors for Developing Boils

Certain factors can increase an individual’s susceptibility to boils. Understanding these risk factors can help in prevention efforts:

1. Compromised immune system due to conditions like diabetes or HIV
2. Poor hygiene practices
3. Close contact with infected individuals
4. Chronic skin conditions like eczema or acne
5. Exposure to harsh chemicals or irritants
6. Excessive sweating
7. Tight or abrasive clothing

Does obesity increase the risk of boils? Yes, obesity can contribute to boil formation, especially in areas where skin folds create warm, moist environments conducive to bacterial growth.

The Role of MRSA in Skin Infections

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become an increasingly common cause of skin infections, including boils. This strain of bacteria is resistant to many common antibiotics, making infections more difficult to treat.

MRSA can spread through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. In healthcare settings and communities where MRSA is prevalent, extra precautions may be necessary to prevent its spread.

Identifying MRSA Infections

• More severe or rapidly progressing symptoms
• Failure to respond to standard antibiotic treatments
• Recurrent infections in individuals or within communities
• Laboratory testing to confirm MRSA presence

Prevention Strategies for Boils and Skin Infections

Preventing boils and related skin infections involves a combination of good hygiene practices and proactive measures:

1. Regular handwashing with soap and water
2. Keeping skin clean and dry, especially in friction-prone areas
3. Avoiding sharing personal items like towels or razors
4. Properly cleaning and covering any cuts or scrapes
5. Wearing loose-fitting, breathable clothing
6. Managing underlying conditions like diabetes or eczema
7. Boosting overall immune health through diet and lifestyle

Can proper nutrition help prevent boils? A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals can support immune function, potentially reducing the risk of skin infections. Foods high in vitamin C, zinc, and probiotics may be particularly beneficial.

Home Remedies and Treatment Options for Boils

While severe or recurring boils may require medical intervention, many can be managed at home with proper care:

• Applying warm compresses to promote drainage
• Keeping the area clean and covered
• Using over-the-counter pain relievers for discomfort
• Avoiding squeezing or popping the boil
• Washing hands thoroughly before and after caring for the boil

When should you seek medical attention for a boil? Consult a healthcare provider if the boil is large, extremely painful, accompanied by fever, or doesn’t improve with home treatment within a week.

Medical Treatments for Boils

In some cases, professional medical treatment may be necessary:

• Incision and drainage of large or deep boils
• Prescription antibiotics for severe or recurring infections
• Culture and sensitivity testing to identify specific bacteria
• Evaluation for underlying conditions contributing to recurrent boils

Understanding Abscesses and Cellulitis

Abscesses and cellulitis are related skin infections that can develop from untreated boils or independent bacterial invasions:

Abscesses

Abscesses are larger, deeper collections of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue. They often result from more severe infections or when boils are left untreated. Symptoms include:

• A large, swollen area filled with pus
• Severe pain and tenderness
• Redness and warmth of surrounding skin
• Possible fever and general illness

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a spreading infection of the deeper layers of skin and underlying tissue. It can occur when bacteria enter through breaks in the skin. Signs of cellulitis include:

• Rapidly spreading area of red, swollen skin
• Tenderness and warmth to the touch
• Fever and chills
• Possible blistering or skin dimpling

How quickly can cellulitis spread? Cellulitis can progress rapidly, sometimes within hours, making prompt medical attention crucial to prevent serious complications.

Special Considerations for Recurring Boils

Some individuals may experience frequent or recurring boils, which can be frustrating and concerning. Addressing recurrent boils often requires a multifaceted approach:

1. Identifying and addressing underlying causes, such as:
   • Chronic skin conditions
   • Immune system disorders
   • Hormonal imbalances
   • Nutritional deficiencies
2. Implementing rigorous hygiene practices
3. Using antibacterial soaps or body washes
4. Considering long-term antibiotic therapy in some cases
5. Exploring potential environmental factors contributing to reinfection

Can probiotics help prevent recurring boils? Some studies suggest that probiotics may help balance skin bacteria and support immune function, potentially reducing the frequency of boils. However, more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.

Decolonization Protocols

In cases of recurrent MRSA infections or persistent boils, healthcare providers may recommend a decolonization protocol. This typically involves:

• Using special antibacterial body washes
• Applying topical antibiotic ointments to the nose
• Washing bedding and clothing in hot water
• Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces

Boils in Special Populations

Certain groups may be more vulnerable to boils or require special consideration in their management:

Children

Boils in children often result from scratching insect bites or minor skin injuries. Key considerations include:

• Teaching proper hygiene habits
• Monitoring for signs of spreading infection
• Avoiding over-the-counter topical antibiotics without medical advice
• Ensuring complete drainage before returning to school or daycare

Elderly Individuals

Older adults may be more susceptible to boils due to decreased immune function and skin changes. Important factors include:

• Careful skin care and moisturizing to prevent breaks in the skin
• Prompt treatment of minor skin injuries
• Monitoring for complications, especially in those with diabetes
• Considering nutritional support to boost immune function

Pregnant Women

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase the risk of boils. Management considerations include:

• Safe treatment options that won’t harm the developing fetus
• Increased attention to hygiene and skin care
• Monitoring for signs of more serious infections
• Consulting with healthcare providers before using any medications

Are boils more common during pregnancy? Hormonal fluctuations and changes in the immune system during pregnancy can make some women more susceptible to boils and other skin infections.

Emerging Research and Future Directions

Ongoing research into boils and related skin infections focuses on several promising areas:

1. Development of new antibiotics to combat resistant bacteria
2. Exploration of bacteriophage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics
3. Investigation of the skin microbiome’s role in preventing infections
4. Advances in rapid diagnostic techniques for identifying specific pathogens
5. Research into genetic factors that may influence susceptibility to recurrent boils

What role might personalized medicine play in treating recurrent boils? Future treatments may be tailored to an individual’s genetic profile and specific skin microbiome, potentially offering more effective and targeted therapies for those prone to recurrent infections.

Innovative Treatment Approaches

Researchers are exploring novel approaches to treating and preventing boils, including:

• Topical immunomodulators to enhance local immune response
• Nanoparticle-based antimicrobial treatments
• Probiotic therapies to promote beneficial skin bacteria
• Advanced wound dressings with antimicrobial properties

By understanding the causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies for boils and related skin infections, individuals can take proactive steps to maintain skin health and reduce their risk of these painful conditions. While many boils can be managed at home, it’s crucial to recognize when professional medical care is necessary to prevent complications and ensure proper treatment.

Boils, Abscess & Cellulitis – HealthyChildren.org

​Boils, abscess, and cellulitis are bacterial infections of the skin that usually begin from a scratch or bug bite and progress to a red nodule that fills with pus.

• Boils are superficial infections with a thin layer of skin over fluid.
• Abscesses are generally larger and deeper than boils with redness and painful swelling over an area filled with pus.
• Cellulitis is an infection within the skin and the area just beneath it; the skin is red and tender. The area of cellulitis can spread quickly.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Boils are usually small areas (penny or nickel size) with a thin covering of skin, while abscesses are larger raised areas on the skin that are tender to touch and filled with pus in the deeper tissue. Abscesses and boils may drain when the skin over the infected area opens and lets the fluid or pus out. Signs of cellulitis include areas of redness, skin tenderness, and fever. All of these skin infections are usually warmer than the surrounding normal areas of skin because of the body’s reaction to the infection.

What are the incubation and contagious periods?

The incubation period (the time between being exposed to the disease and when the symptoms start) is unknown. Common skin bacteria (staph and strep) are the cause of boils, abscesses, and cellulitis. These bacteria are present on the skin of most children and usually do not cause a problem. However, staph and strep may cause infection when there is a break in the skin or when the bacterial infection becomes more aggressive and overpowers normal defenses against infection.

In recent years, a certain type of staph called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA has become a more likely cause of more serious infections. These skin infections are contagious when the infected area is open and drainage is present. People who carry the bacteria in their noses and throats and on their skin may pass the bacteria on to others. However, for an infection to occur, the bacteria must get through a break in the skin.

How is it spread?

Person-to-person contact with pus and skin bacteria and to a lesser extent, contaminated environmental surfaces and objects.

How do you control it?

• Use good hand-hygiene.
• Eczema is a risk factor for MRSA. Those with eczema on their hands should practice good eczema control.
• Cover lesions if they are draining.
• Infected children may need antibiotic treatment for tissue infections. Surgical drainage without antibiotics may be used for an abscess. If antibiotics are prescribed, they should be given according to the instructions on the prescription label.

Occasionally, multiple people within a family or child care setting may become recurrently infected with boils and abscesses. This may be due to MRSA. In some cases, the infected person never spreads the bacteria to others.

No effective and long-lasting way to eliminate MRSA from child care settings and families is known because it commonly lives on the skin and in the noses of those not infected.

Additional Resources:

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Boils and abscesses | Health Navigator New Zealand

A boil is a tender red lump on your skin that is caused by an infection of a hair root or sweat pore. Large boils can form abscesses.

Key points

1. The most common places for boils to appear are on your face, neck, armpits, shoulders and buttocks (bottom).
2. Boils are not usually a serious problem. However, if the infection spreads, you must see your doctor (GP).
3. Small boils can be treated at home with warm compresses but larger boils and abscesses will usually need to be treated by your GP. 
4. Boils can spread very easily so it is important to practice good hygiene.   
5. If you keep getting boils, you need to reduce the source of bacteria causing the reinfection. 

What causes boils and abscesses?

Boils are usually caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, which often lives harmlessly on human skin. However, any break in your skin barrier leaves it vulnerable to infection and can lead to the development of a boil. 

Large boils can form abscesses, which is the build up of pus within an area. A cluster of boils that have multiple white pus heads is called a carbuncle. 

Who is at risk of getting boils?

Anyone can develop a boil. Most people with boils are otherwise healthy. The following conditions can increase your risk of getting boils:

• diabetes and other illnesses that weaken your immune system
• broken skin such as cuts and grazes, which allow bacteria to enter your body
• eczema
• anaemia or iron deficiency
• some medicines – if you think any medicines you are taking might be causing boils, ask your pharmacist.

How are boils and abscesses treated?

Small boils can be treated at home. Larger boils and abscesses will usually need to be treated by your GP.

Small boils

Small boils can be treated at home with warm compresses to encourage the boil to open and drain naturally. 

You can make a warm compress by wetting a facecloth with warm (not hot) water and putting it on the boil for several minutes. Do this a few times a day. Do this as soon as you notice a boil. The heat and moisture can help the boil to open and drain, which usually takes a few days. 

Always wash your hands before and after touching the boil.

Practice good hygiene to stop the boil spreading

Boils can spread very easily. If the boil opens on its own and drains, wipe away the pus or blood with a clean cotton ball soaked in antiseptic solution (such as Savlon or Dettol – follow the directions on the bottle for making the solution). Wash and dry the area well and then cover it with a plaster. This stops the boil from spreading.

Wash your hands with soap and dry thoroughly before and after touching the boil. Also wash your body with warm soapy water or use an antiseptic solution such as Savlon or Dettol. 

To help keep the infection from spreading:

• use your own towel and facecloth – don’t share them
• wash your towel and facecloth often in hot water along with any clothing worn close to your skin
• don’t squeeze, scratch, drain or open the boil – squeezing can push the infection deeper into your skin
• don’t pop the boil with a needle – this could make the infection worse.

Larger boils and abscesses

Larger boils and abscesses can be treated with incision (a cut) and drainage. This means that your GP will cut a small opening in the boil so that the pus can drain out. This is also called lancing the boil. Sometimes gauze is placed in the cut so that it stays open and keeps draining.

If you have fever, cellulitis (an infection that affects the deeper layers of your skin) or other conditions such as diabetes, an oral antibiotic may also be prescribed. 

Referral to hospital for surgical drainage is more common for children or adults with complicated or large boils. 

When should I see my doctor for a boil?

You should see your GP if:

• you have a boil on your face, nose or spine – this can sometimes cause serious complications
• the boil does not form a head or point or does not get better within a week
• you have lots of pain or discomfort
• you get a fever
• the boil has red streaks coming from it
• the boil is the size of a 10 cent coin or larger or the boil keeps getting bigger
• you have several boils
• your have diabetes or a weakened immune system. 

How are recurrent boils treated?

Some people get boils repeatedly because they carry a strain of bacteria that easily causes infection of any broken skin (minor cuts and scrapes). In this case, you need to reduce any source of bacteria causing reinfection.

• Use an antiseptic body wash for a week to get rid of bacteria on your skin.
• Treat new boils or lesions straight away.
• Keep boils covered with plaster to reduce spreading infection to other parts of your body or to other family members.
• Sheets, towels and clothes should be washed in hot water to reduce reinfection.
• Some people may be asked to apply an antibiotic cream to your nose (where the bacteria are often carried).
• You may be asked to have dilute bleach baths twice a week. Read more about bleach baths.

Learn more

Boils DermNet NZ
Boils in children KidsHealth, NZ
Bleach baths DermNet NZ

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Armpit Boils – Embarrassing Problems

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Armpit boils can be caused by a condition called ‘hidradenitis suppurativa’, which affects about 1-4% of the population. In fact, if you’ve had boils in your armpit on more than five occasions, it is very likely to be hidradenitis. Typically, if you have hidradenitis you will develop about two painful boils a month, each of which takes about a week to go away, although some people are more badly affected. In really severe cases, boils may be present all the time.
Hidradenitis is not primarily an infection, so you cannot pass it on to anyone else and you will not spread it to other parts of your own body by touch.

What Causes Hidradenitis?

Hidradenitis is caused by blockage of the hair follicles. Once blocked, the hair follicle becomes inflamed and swells up into a nasty, painful, large boil. Bacteria may move in and make the inflammation worse. These are just the common staphylococci bacteria that many healthy people carry on their skin or in their noses.
Hidradenitis happens only in the folds of the body – almost always the armpits or groins, but sometimes the buttock folds and under the breasts. The boils do not always burst; they may just fade away.
You should not worry that it is caused by lack of hygiene – this is not the case. No one knows what the cause is. It runs in some families, so it may be partly genetic in some people. Hormones may be involved, because it is more common in women, is often worse before a woman’s period and improves after the menopause.

What to Do

Try to avoid too much stress, although of course this is easier said than done. You may have already noticed that the boils tend to be worse if you are stressed, so it makes sense to be as ‘laid back’ as you can.

Stop smoking. Hidradenitis is more common in smokers, so most experts recommend that you should give up smoking.

What about deodorants? I didn’t know whether deodorants can worsen hidradenitis, so I asked Dr Jan von der Werth, Consultant Dermatologist at Lincoln County Hospital, UK, who is an expert on hidradenitis. “A few of my patients report that deodorants make it worse, but for most people they don’t cause any problem,” he said. Deodorants are likely to sting the area if it is an aerosol, so best a non-fragranced, non-perfumed roll-on variety.

If you have a flare-up you may find that a hot bath or applying a hot flannel is helpful.

See your doctor. Next time you have a flare-up you should see your doctor, to check you really have hidradenitis. If it is very painful, your doctor might give you corticosteroid tablets for 3 or 4 days. In the UK, consider use of an antibiotic solution twice daily, and/or an oral antibiotic for 12 weeks once or twice daily and assess the response (BAD guidelines on HS 2019).
Your doctor can refer you to a dermatologist (skin specialist) for advice about long-term treatment. Ideally, your doctor should try to find a dermatologist who is particularly interested in the condition and knows all the treatment options.

Some treatment options. There are several possibilities, and what works for one person may be useless for someone else.

• A hormone pill is sometimes used.
• For some people, a long-term tetracycline-type or erythromycin-type antibiotic is beneficial, or a clindamycin cream, even though the basic cause of the condition is not an infection. “We don’t really know why these long-term antibiotics are so helpful in some cases,” says Dr von der Werth. “It is probably not simply their antibacterial action. They probably have a separate anti-inflammatory action.” After stopping an antibiotic, the problem may return so it is not an absolute cure – it just holds it at bay.
• The next stage would be a combination of two strong antibiotics for 12 weeks.
• Retinoid drugs (as used in acne) can have an excellent result but need very careful thought. The dermatologist would not prescribe it for a woman if there was any possibility that she could become pregnant because it damages the developing foetus.
• ‘Anti-TNF drugs’, such as infliximab, can help some people. These are a newish type of drug, sometimes used in severe skin conditions where there is inflammation. The treatment is complicated, because the drug has to be infused into a vein and repeated every month or two (MIMS Dermatology 2010;6:46–48). Therefore it would be tried only in severe cases, and more research is needed to see how effective it really is. These anti-TNF drugs have been around now for a long time and the safety data is good, but to qualify for them you need to have failed the standard treatments mentioned above, and it needs to be prescribed by a specialist.
• Surgery is an option if your condition is really severe. The surgeon would aim to get rid of the hair follicles in the area by taking away a large piece of skin and letting it scar as it heals. Unfortunately, after surgery the boils reappear at a new site in about a quarter of people (MIMS Dermatology 2010;6:46–48).
• Laser surgery or freezing (cryotherapy) therapy is another method of destroying the follicles.

First published on: embarrassingproblems.com
Reviewed and edited by: Fiona Elliott
Last updated: December 2020

Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) or are concerned you or someone you love might have it, you’re probably confused and scared. Take a deep breath and know this: Everyone featured on HealthCentral with a chronic condition felt like you do now. But we—and they—are here for you. On this page alone, you’ll not only discover the realities and challenges of the condition, but also the latest treatments, helpful lifestyle changes, where to find your hidradenitis suppurativa community, and all the other crucial information you need to help you not merely manage—but thrive. We’re sure you have a lot of questions…and we’ve got the answers you need.

More Top Articles on Hidradenitis Suppurativa

What Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Anyway?

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding this chronic, inflammatory skin condition that produces painful bumps, called nodules, under the skin. Because the nodules look like acne, boils, or folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles), patients and providers often assume that’s what they are. Hidradentis suppurative (HS for short) is anything but—HS lesions form when bacteria get trapped in hair follicles, trigger an immune reaction, and plug them up.

Unlike one-and-done pimples, HS nodules keep coming back—sometimes every week, sometimes every few months—in specific places. They can show up where there’s a lot of hair, like your armpits or groin. They also can crop up under the folds of skin on your stomach and breasts. HS happens in stages, and the severity of your symptoms will coincide with whatever stage of the disease you have:

• Stage 1: This is the mildest form of HS. People have solitary bumps, usually in one area.

• Stage 2: If your HS is moderate, a tunnel, called a sinus tract, forms under your skin connecting a few lesions.

• Stage 3: If the disease is severe, you have multiple nodules and many tunnels.

In all cases, when the nodules rupture, they don’t drain like ordinary boils. Instead, the pus and blood spread sideways deep in your skin, which is what helps form more tunnels.

Whether you have a mild case or a more severe one, the pain can be the same—the lumps feel tender at first, then burn and throb as they swell. If these lumps are in places where your skin rubs together (like your thighs), walking can be agony—and even sitting is painful if you have nodules on your butt. When they drain, the pus-filled fluid often stains your clothes and stinks. No wonder nearly half of all HS patients reported in a recent study that the condition had impacted their life in an extreme way.

Another misconception is that HS is a rare disease. It’s not, really—it affects roughly between 1% to 4% of Americans. You’re more likely to develop it if you’re a woman between the ages of 18 and 50, with people in their 20s and 30s making up the largest number of cases. About a third of HS patients are African-American or biracial.

It can sometimes take up to 10 years to get a diagnosis, and many patients go from provider to provider with a few stops at the ER and urgent care before a doctor IDs the disease. And because the disease can progress from a few sporadic nodules to many lesions and tunnels (though that’s not always the case), a delay in diagnosis can mean years of unnecessary pain and isolation. Even worse, the skin around these lesions and tunnels can break down, making them even more challenging to treat.

So, yeah, having HS sucks—which is why it’s crucial to arm yourself with knowledge so you can get a diagnosis more quickly, get the treatment you deserve, and take back your life.

HealthCentral

What Causes HS?

There are no clear answers, though there are theories. One thing for sure, though, is that you’re definitely not to blame—this condition isn’t caused by how often you bathe, change your razor, or clean your house. It’s not caused by unsafe sex or an infection. It’s not contagious. There are factors that play a role, but again, experts aren’t sure exactly how. They include:

Genes: Research shows that approximately a third of people with HS have a first-degree family member who also has it. But just because you don’t have a family history doesn’t mean you can’t develop HS and vice versa—having a family history doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get it. Researchers think there’s not one single gene, but probably a lot of different ones (and different mutations) that contribute to a person getting the disease.

A hyperactive immune system: People with HS have an overactive immune system, which is triggered by certain things, including genetic mutations and possibly bacteria. Normally, the skin acts as a barrier to the millions of bacteria on it. If certain types of bacteria (say, staph or strep) enter the skin, they destroy the tissue around it, resulting in an infection. But in people with HS, benign bacteria may be causing the immune system to become more hyperactive. The result? Immune cells mistakenly attack these ordinary bacteria, causing inflammation.

Hair follicles: Normally, hair follicles get infected when you irritate them, either by shaving or by rubbing the skin. But while experts think hair follicles play a role in HS, it’s not as simple as the follicle gets blocked up and then bad things happen. One theory is that inflammation may be affecting the oil glands that are attached to hair follicles, changing their structure or the type of oil they produce; that makes it easier for keratin, a type of protein, to build up along the walls of the follicle and plug it up. The blockage traps the normally benign bacteria that live on your skin, and your immune system goes on the attack. As the bacteria proliferate, the inflammation only worsens.

Hormones: Androgens and estrogen, the sex hormones, may play a role in HS, but it’s complicated. It’s true that people typically develop HS as young adults, when these hormones are in high gear and producing changes throughout the body. Another clue: For some female patients, flares become worse during their periods, and doctors have noticed that the rates of HS are lower for women after menopause. But people with HS often have normal hormone levels, though medications like birth control can manage symptoms. Lots more research is needed.

Smoking and obesity: These things don’t cause HS—not every person with HS smokes or has a high BMI—but they are considered risk factors. Smokers have nearly twice the chance of developing HS than non-smokers. One reason: Nicotine and other chemicals can affect the hair follicles, making them more likely to get plugged up even if you don’t have HS. Being overweight can also aggravate HS—you have more skin folds and friction, two things that can intensify the pain from nodules.

Do I Have the Symptoms of HS?

HS can be unpredictable and symptoms can vary from person to person. Sometimes mild cases progress and become worse, and other times they don’t. You can have breakouts in the exact same spot every time (or in the same general area), or they might occur in multiple places at once. The breakouts on your skin may be small and look more like blackheads, or they might be large and red like boils—until they burst and drain, when they appear more like a wound. Either way, if you’ve noticed these bumps have come back at least twice in the past six months, you may have HS.

Signs of a mild or moderate case of HS can include:

• Having a single nodule that sometimes grows and comes back in the same place again and again, lasting anywhere from 7 to 15 days

• Having recurrent lumps in your armpits, genitals (yes, even inside), groin area, inner thighs, butt (yes, even in your anus), or under the breasts. Sometimes they appear on the neck or behind the ears.

• A burning, stinging, or itching sensation. Nodules may also feel warm, tender, and/or very painful.

• Odorous pus and fluid that drains after nodules erupt, leaving a deep, painful wound.

• A rope-like tunnel, called a sinus tract, under the skin that connects several lesions (in stage 2 cases).

In more severe cases:

• You’ll have so many lesions that you get multiple tunnels, or sinus tracts.

• After breaking open, these lesions may not heal completely and may leak pus more or less continuously.

HealthCentral

When To Call Your Doctor or Dermatologist

If you notice any kind of pus-filled boil or a tender, red lump in your armpits, groin, genitals, or under your breasts, even if you’re not sure you’ve had something there before, see a doctor. Or book an appointment directly with a dermatologist if your insurance allows it: Dermatologists are trained to look at skin conditions, and a savvy one will be able to distinguish HS from boils caused by bacterial infections as well as other skin rashes.

How Do Doctors Diagnose HS?

There’s no lab or blood test that will diagnose the disease. Instead, providers take a detailed medical history and do a thorough skin check. Before the physical exam, your doctor will want to know about your symptoms as well as how often these outbreaks happen, how long the lesions last, where they occur, and if anyone in your family has had a similar condition.

Then the provider will examine your skin thoroughly, looking for signs of the disease: boils, blackheads, nodules, tunnels, and scars and where they occur on your body. If these breakouts don’t look like the classic signs of HS or have been there a long time, a provider may do a biopsy to rule out squamous cell cancer, which can occur in some people with severe cases of HS. A biopsy can also rule out rashes produced by other inflammatory diseases, especially IBS and Crohn’s. Patients with these GI disorders sometimes have painful red lumps on their legs and lesions near the anus.

If your dermatologist suspects you may have another chronic condition along with HS (and many patients do) or you have a high BMI, you’ll get your blood tested to check your cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar. If they’re high, you may have prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or metabolic syndrome (a cluster of risk factors that include high cholesterol levels as well as high blood pressure), and your doctor may treat that with medications along with the HS.

What Are My Treatment Options?

The goal of treatment is simple: to stop or reduce the pain and drainage and prevent the nodules from coming back—or at least lengthen the time between flares. But those goals depend on the severity of the disease. If you have HS in just one area, like the armpits or your breasts, you may be able to go into remission with medications, including topical ones, and laser surgery. If your HS is in multiple parts of your body, then the goal is to manage the pain and drainage and reduce the number of flares. But again, HS is an idiosyncratic disease, and so what works for one person may not work for another, even if both have similar-looking cases.

Topicals

Dermatologists use three ty)pes of topical washes or gels—antibiotics like Cleocin HCl (clindamycin), antiseptics like Brevoxyl (benzoyl peroxide), and keratolytics like DiabetAid Anti-Itch (resorcinol)—to reduce bacteria and decrease inflammation. You might use a benzoyl peroxide wash on a daily basis to prevent flares and control the odor and an antibiotic gel to reduce inflammation on single nodules. These work best for people with mild cases of HS who have nodules in one particular place—and topicals may be all you need to control flares.

Oral Medications

These can include a host of drugs, including antibiotics, hormonal therapy like birth control, retinoids, and anti-hyperglycemics (aka diabetes drugs that lower blood sugar like Glucophage, or metoformin). Some of these meds work best on patients who have stage 1 HS or women whose HS flares up when they’re premenstrual. And some are just used to manage outbreaks. Many HS patients have to take several systemic drugs. Options include:

• Antibiotics: While bacteria may not cause HS, they need to be reduced during acute flare-ups. A course of antibiotics, used alone like Sumycin (tetracycline), or in combination such as Cleocin HCl (clindamycin) and Rifadin (rifampin), won’t put you in remission, but it can help stabilize the disease and help manage the drainage and pain. Doxycycline is an oral antibiotic that can be used as well.

• Hormone Therapy: Dermatologists will often turn to androgen-blockers to control HS since hormones can make inflammation worse. These drugs work best if your flares get worse before your period or if you have irregular cycles. If you’re a guy who’s balding in the typical way (thinning on the crown along with a receding hairline) you might be a good bet for hormone therapy, too. Birth control pills as well as Aldactone (spironolactone), a blood pressure med, can put women with mild cases in remission. Men usually take Proscar (finasteride), a medication used to shrink an enlarged prostate.

• Retinoids: About 15% of people with HS also have acne, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists use retinoids in cases that don’t respond to other meds or topicals—these powerful drugs can shrink oil glands and reduce the number bacteria in both the oil glands and on the skin. They can improve HS outbreaks in some people, but are more effective on the acne.

• Metformin: Many patients with HS are obese (though not all), so doctors are likely to screen them to see if they’re prediabetic (or actually have the disease) and recommend an anti-hypoglycemic like Glucophage (metformin) to reduce insulin resistance. But the drug does more than that—it can actually reduce the number of nodules too. The link—high insulin levels can lead to more inflammation.

• Biologics: These medications are designed to target different types of proteins that fuel inflammation. People with HS often produce too much TNF-alpha, so biologics called TNF-inhibitors (like Humira) latch onto these cells. That in turn reduces inflammation and the number of flares, and it can prevent the disease from progressing. In severe cases, biologics can reduce drainage, which in turn decreases pain.

HealthCentral

Surgery and Laser Treatments

Lasers

Getting rid of the hair under your armpits or your groin can prevent HS from progressing—at least in the earlier stages of the disease. And the best way to do that is via laser. The concentrated beam of light (i.e. the laser) can zap hair follicles to minimizes hair growth. If you do this once a month for about three months, you can reduce nodules and keep outbreaks at bay with topicals.

Surgery

If your lesions have formed tunnels, you’re probably a candidate for surgery, but what kind depends on the stage of the disease. If you have a single tunnel, then doctors perform something called deroofing, or opening up the tunnel to wipe out the jelly-like material in there called a biofilm. Then the tunnel heals, becoming a scar and preventing nodules from erupting there.

For multiple, interconnected tunnels in patients who have a severe case that’s not improving with medication, doctors use a laser to remove all the tissue along the tunnels. The wound is either closed or left to heal on its own. This can ease the pain of the lesions. This is a bigger operation, requiring general anesthesia and sometimes a hospital stay.

Learn More About HS Treatment Options

Other Types of Therapy That May Help

Diet

Eating fewer carbs and more protein can help reduce inflammation for everyone—and it may help you shed pounds, lowering the risk of other diseases associated with HS like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. So can eating a Mediterranean diet—one that’s rich in vegetables and fruits, lower in red meats and processed carbs—or one that’s mainly plant-based.

There hasn’t been a lot of research on the role of diet, although there were two small studies that found good effects—symptoms improved, the HS stopped progressing—when people went dairy-free or stopped eating bread and products with yeast. There’s some anecdotal evidence (mainly on social media) that avoiding nightshade plants (tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers) may help too.

Supplements

People swear by turmeric, which is an anti-inflammatory, but the evidence that it can help HS flares is purely anecdotal. But taking a zinc supplement every day if you have a mild or moderate HS may help, according to one study. That’s because zinc plays a big role in your immune system’s ability to fight off harmful substances and repair damaged cells; and too little zinc may result in lesions and slow healing.

Complications and Comorbidities of HS

Many HS patients have other chronic illnesses, leading researchers to think that hidradenitis is a systemic disease affecting the whole body, not just the skin. Another theory: HS shares some sort of defect in the immune system with other autoimmune disorders, like inflammatory bowel disease and certain types of arthritis. In those cases, the autoimmune inflammatory cells occur in the bloodstream, but they’re being directed partially to the skin, partially to the gut, partially to the joints.

If you have a high BMI, you might be at risk for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This may be a result of the inflammation as well as becoming more sedentary if your pain keeps you from walking or doing any kind of physical activity.

Comorbidities of HS include:

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—People with HS are two to three times more likely to have this chronic condition that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Metabolic syndrome—Half of all HS patients have metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and cholesterol that increase your chances of heart attacks, strokes, and type 2 diabetes.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA)—About 5% of people with HS also have this inflammatory joint disease that attacks the spine and produces back pain. Patients who had both conditions developed SpA roughly four years after the first symptoms of HS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—Roughly 9% of HS patients have this hormonal disorder that causes women to produce higher-than-normaltext in bold amounts of male sex hormones (testosterone and other androgens).

Complications of HS include:

Squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common type of skin cancer—4% percent of HS patients go on to develop this type of skin cancer, maybe because the constant inflammation in lesions and nodules produces changes in your skin at a cellular level.

Anxiety and depression—Understandably, about a third of HS patients have anxiety and 35% suffer from depression.

Suicide—Roughly 10% of HS patients have had thoughts of killing themselves or attempted it. And a 2017 study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that people with HS were twice as likely to die of suicide.

Prevention

Well, truthfully, there’s nothing that can prevent hidradenitis because no one knows what causes it in the first place. But these strategies can help you avoid complications, and may improve symptoms and lessen the pain.

Stop smoking. Smokers were twice as likely to have HS—probably because of nicotine, which can affect hair follicles—and the incidence was highest among those who were in their 30s, African-American, female, and obese, according to a study in the British Journal of Dermatology. While quitting may not do much to reduce flares, it certainly can’t hurt—it will lower your odds of developing heart disease, which is also high with HS because it is a known comorbidity.

Lose weight (or maintain a healthy one). If you’re obese, odds are your HS flares may be worse. While that may have something to do with the role body fat plays in inflammation, being overweight means more skin folds, more moisture on the skin, and more places where your skin rubs against itself—all factors that slow down healing and up the pain. There’s some evidence that losing 15% of your weight (so 30 pounds if you weigh 200) could decrease your symptoms by about a third—and significantly reduce the number of places on the body where nodules appear.

Eat more fruits and vegetables—and less sugar. Diet is the best way to lose weight, so to achieve a lower BMI, stay away from empty calories (like soda and sugary snacks), processed foods (like cold cuts, white bread, and chips), and fatty foods. In fact, avoid sugar and high glycemic foods—foods that are white, like pasta, bread, rice, and potatoes—that your body can turn into sugar quickly. That raises insulin, which in turn fuels inflammation.

Move. You know what an overall health-booster exercise is, but you also know that sweat and the friction caused by clothing or your skin rubbing against itself can make pain and draining nodules worse. That’s why walking and swimming are two great choices (you sweat less, for one) that are gentle on your joints as are yoga and tai chi, which also are good for your mind (and soul).

What’s Life Like for People With HS?

One word: heartbreaking. During outbreaks, your day-to-day life means managing the pain and odor as fluids drain from tunnels and nodules. On top of that, you’re figuring out everything from what to wear to what to say about your condition and how you’re feeling. And feeling like you have to constantly explain yourself is exhausting. While it may seem overwhelming now, especially if you’ve just been diagnosed, find a doctor who has your back and will work with you to reduce the flares so you can get your life back. It’s possible.

Emotional Health

It’s hard not to feel depressed or anxious when you have HS—or to get down about the chances of having a “normal” life. The best way to deal?

Find your tribe. No one knows what you’re going through like someone who’s been there before. That’s why talking to someone with HS can help. There are online support groups and those IRL in certain cities (Detroit, New York City, and Atlanta, to name a few) as well as groups, private and public, on Facebook.

Talk to others. Joining an advocacy group can help you channel difficult feelings into something more positive, like change and awareness. Or simply take the opportunity to open up with family and friends about what your life is like, and let them help you when you can’t manage.

Talk to a therapist. Finding someone sympathetic who can suggest coping skills and acceptance will help you feel more in control of your emotions—and less depressed and anxious.

Sex

Being intimate with someone is rough when you have oozing, painful boils and tunnels in all the places that are supposed to be erogenous zones—your genitals, breasts, and butt. And some meds might send your libido plummeting, which also doesn’t help. You’re not alone though. Both men and women suffer from sexual distress, though you’re more likely to feel more self-conscious if you’re female (what else is new?) and single. But people with HS do have satisfying sexual relations and partners. What helps:

Be upfront. Explain the condition to any potential partners, and let them ask you as many questions as possible. And don’t assume you know what they’re thinking—ask if you aren’t sure.

Find satisfaction other ways. You may not feel like having sex during a flare, but sex doesn’t necessarily have to include intercourse—there are other things you can do to express your love. Snuggling on the sofa makes intimacy grow, as can having a nice meal together or binge-watching your favorite shows.

Change positions. If you’re self-conscious about the scars or lesions on your breasts or around your genitals, try spooning from behind or doing it doggie-style.

Pregnancy

Being pregnant is tough enough without worrying about your skin or having to change up your meds (and routine). But take comfort that your flares aren’t likely to get worse (only 8% of women’s did) and there’s a 1 in 5 chance that your HS may improve, according to one study. It’s important to talk with your doctor about the safety of continuing medications you’re currently using to treat your HS, and it’s worth asking about risk factors. A study in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that pregnant women who had HS were more likely to have their babies by C-section and also were more likely to have elective termination of their pregnancy than women who didn’t have HS. The study also found that women with HS were more likely to have pregnancy-related high blood pressure. Having an early conversation with your OB/GYN about these risks will go a long way in preventing them from happening during your pregnancy.

Where Can I Find My HS Community?

We can’t stress this enough—HS can make you feel isolated and alone, so you really need people who really know what you’re dealing with, even if you’re just posting comments online. Find them here:

Top HS Instagrammers

Follow because: If ever there was a meme that spoke to your HS-soul, well, you’d find it on Selina’s page. Sprinkled throughout her hilarious and completely relatable feed are small life updates about her own HS, to remind you that there’s a face behind all that hilarity. Now, back to your regularly scheduled meme.

Follow because: She’s a young mom on a journey to become healthier and more fit, which, in turn, she knows could benefit her HS. She also squashes stigma about HS along the way, reminding everyone not to judge a book by its slightly bumpier cover.

Follow because: You would never know she has HS because all you truly see if her mega-confidence. She is proof that HS does not define you — instead, she’s defined as wife, mom of two, entrepreneur (and founder of @createconnectcollab).

Top HS Support Groups

• HS Awareness No More Silence on Instagram. Self-proclaimed warriors with battle scars, this is where you’ll find all your fellow HS’ers on Instagram. Hear their stories, reap the benefits of their been-there-tried-that tips, and nod along with their HS-life woes. Share your own story and you could be featured, too! Just be sure to tag them.

• Hidradenitis Suppurativa Support Group on Facebook. This is a private group on Facebook, and for good reason — it’s a place for you to go where only people with HS will know your name and there’s no chance in someone from your usual feed finding out about your condition or detailed questions. The five admins, all affected by HS, make themselves available by private Facebook message in case you need to talk on an even more private level.

• Hidradenitis Suppurativa Warriors on Facebook. With nearly 16,000 members and roughly 25 new posts daily, this private Facebook group will have your back with support, a safe place to share news and info, ask questions, and provide the strength you need to tap into your own inner HS warrior.

Top HS Non-Profits and Organizations

• Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation. With a mission to improve the lives of those with HS through education, advocacy, and research, HSF is the place to find clinics and doctors who can help you. Their support goes beyond endless scrolls of treatments, new research, and general education (though, they have that, too), and dives deeper into the effects that HS has on your mental health, and how you can get involved in speaking up about this disease.

• HSAwareness.org. While there’s yet to be a sole podcast dedicated to HS (hint, hint, nudge, nudge), you can find a sprinkling of podcasts about different aspects of HS curated here, along with videos that tug at your heart strings.

• Hope for HS. Started by people with HS and those who love them, this non-profit is run strictly by volunteers. Here you can find clinical trials and research news in layman’s terms, as well as support groups online and in various cities, including Miami, Richmond, and Detroit. They truly are here to give you hope and show you that you’re not alone.

Meet Our Writer

Linda Rodgers

Linda Rodgers is a former magazine and digital editor turned writer, focusing on health and wellness. She’s written for Reader’s Digest, Working Mother, Bottom Line Health, and various other publications. When she’s not writing about health, she writes about pets, education, and parenting.

Syphilis symptoms & treatment | Avert

FAST FACTS

• Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes infected sores, blisters or ulcers on your genitals, anus (bottom) or mouth.
• It’s normally passed on through sex without a condom or by sharing sex toys with someone who has the infection.
• Using condoms and dental dams during vaginal, anal and oral sex can protect you from getting syphilis. To be effective any sores or rashes must be covered.
• If you think there’s a chance you might have syphilis, it’s important to get tested and treated early on.
• Syphilis can be cured, but without treatment it can cause lasting health problems.
• Syphilis can also be passed on from mother to child, so it’s important that women test for syphilis during pregnancy.

What is syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Syphilis can be passed on through sex without a condom, sharing needles and injecting equipment and from mother-to-child during pregnancy.

Syphilis is not passed on through sharing food, hugging or using the same toilet as a person with syphilis.

Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics, but it’s important to get tested and treated early on, as without treatment, it can cause lasting health problems.

How do you get and prevent syphilis?

Sex and syphilis

Syphilis is most commonly passed on through vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom or dental dam, with someone who has syphilis. A person can pass on syphilis even if they don’t have any symptoms.

Syphilis causes infectious sores or rashes. Contact with these sores and rashes is the main way that syphilis is passed on. This means the infection can be passed on through genital contact or sex, even if you don’t ejaculate (or cum).

How do I prevent syphilis being passed on through sex?

Using condoms and dental dams correctly and consistently for sex is the best way to prevent syphilis being passed on. Make sure that you use a new condom each time and remember that the condom or dental dam must cover sores or rashes or you won’t be protected.

Syphilis can also be passed on by sharing sex toys. To reduce your risk of syphilis, avoid sharing your sex toys or make sure that they are washed and covered with a new condom between each use.

Testing regularly for syphilis and other STIs is important, especially if you have multiple sexual partners. Talking to your partners about your sexual health and knowing each others’ statuses helps you protect both of your sexual health.

PrEP doesn’t prevent you from getting syphilis, neither does the contraceptive pill or other forms of contraception (apart from condoms).

Sharing needles and blood transfusions

Syphilis can be passed on by sharing needles and injecting equipment. To reduce your risk, avoid sharing needles or injecting equipment. Read more information on getting new needles and injecting safely.

It’s possible for syphilis to be passed on through blood transfusions, but this is very rare as most places test blood for infections including syphilis before transfusions. If you’re worried about a blood transfusion, speak to your healthcare provider.

Syphilis and pregnancy

Syphilis can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy (this is called congenital syphilis). To avoid passing syphilis on, it’s important that women test for syphilis during pregnancy. Pregnant mothers are advised to test at their first antenatal appointment, as well as after any time that they think they were at risk of getting syphilis.

If you test positive for syphilis, your healthcare worker will offer you antibiotics to cure the infection for you and your baby. It’s important that you take the treatment, because without it syphilis can be very dangerous for your baby, and increase your risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Speak to your doctor or healthcare worker for more information and advice.

What are the symptoms of syphilis?

Many people with syphilis won’t notice any symptoms for years, so, if you think there’s chance you could have syphilis, don’t wait for symptoms to develop, just go for a test.

Without treatment a syphilis infection develops through different stages and can become a more serious, spreading to other parts of the body.

Early symptoms

The first thing a person may notice is a painless sore (called a chancre) – usually around their anus or genitals. A person would usually get this around 2-3 weeks after infection, but not everyone experiences this symptom. Chancres normally heal by themselves, but without treatment the infection will progress and more symptoms and health problems will develop.

Later symptoms

A few weeks after the early symptoms have passed, you might start to feel ill, with a fever or headache and notice weight loss or skin growths around your anus or genitals. Some people get rashes on their body, often on the palms of their hands or soles of their feet.

Latent stage

After this, a person may live with syphilis for years without any signs of infection. This is known as the ‘latent stage’ of infection. However, if syphilis is still left undiagnosed and untreated, the infection will go on to cause serious health problems.

Problems if left untreated (late stage syphilis)

If left untreated, syphilis will eventually cause serious health problems. It can cause irreversible damage your heart, brain and nervous system and lead to loss of sight, hearing, and other problems. Getting tested and treated early means that you can prevent this from happening, allowing you a full-recovery.

How do you test for syphilis?

Testing regularly for STIs, including syphilis is one of the best ways to look after your health.

To test for syphilis a healthcare professional will do a blood test. The test doesn’t hurt and will only take a small amount of blood. A healthcare professional may also examine your genital area, mouth and throat, to check for rashes or growths. If you have sores, a swab will be taken from these. You shouldn’t feel embarrassed going for these tests, they’re a normal part of looking after your health and the healthcare worker will do them all the time.

If you test-positive for syphilis, it’s important that you let any current or recent sexual partners know, as they will need to test too. Your healthcare worker can give you advice on how to tell them or may offer to tell them anonymously for you. You should also test for other STIs.

How is syphilis treated?

Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. However, it’s important that you get tested and treated early on, as some health problems caused by late-stage syphilis can’t be resolved.

The specific antibiotics used to treat syphilis may vary depending on where you are. Ask your healthcare professional any questions you have about your treatment.

Your healthcare worker will be able to tell you when your infection has cleared. They may advise you to avoid having sex until you have finished your treatment, the sores have healed and they say it’s ok.

Remember, having been treated for syphilis previously does not make you immune. You can still get syphilis again.

Syphilis and HIV

If you have been diagnosed with syphilis you should also test for HIV. Having an STI, including syphilis, can increase your risk of getting HIV. This is because having an STI, especially one that causes sores, makes it easier for HIV to get into your body and cause an infection.

People living with HIV can also be more likely to get syphilis. This is especially the case for people who aren’t on treatment or who have a lower CD4 count. You’re more vulnerable to infections, like syphilis, if your immune system is weaker. Syphilis may also progress more quickly in people living with HIV, so if you’re living with HIV and think there’s a chance you might have syphilis it’s important to get tested and treated early on.

Speak to your healthcare provider if you are living with HIV and taking treatment for syphilis, to make sure that the syphilis medication won’t affect your antiretroviral treatment (ART).

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Photo credit: ©iStock.com/iLexx
 

Boil Treatment In Gainesville, FL

Everything You Need To Know About Boils & How To Treat Them

Boils, also referred to as skin abscesses, are skin infections that originate from hair follicles or oil glands. When you sweat, oil builds up and causes the formation of different types of red, painful boils. Bacteria from a boil can spread to other parts of the body, so it’s important to get boils checked and treated by dermatologists to avoid health risks.

The dermatology associates at Gainesville Dermatology & Skin Surgery are well versed in the treatment of mild to severe boils. We strive to provide personalized treatment, keeping in mind your end goals and other skin conditions.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation, discuss boil treatments, and learn more about the wide range of skin conditions we treat.

Schedule An Appointment

What Is A Boil?

A boil is an infection of a hair follicle and the surrounding skin. Boils are very common and range from mild pustules to more severe carbuncles — they often look like oversized pimples. Boils begin as a red lump, then fill with yellow or white pus as white blood cells flood in to fight the bacterial infection. A boil can become quite large and cause patients severe pain depending on its location.

Types Of Boils

Boils range from smaller cystic acne to larger, more painful carbuncles. Depending on the type of boil, a dermatologist will recommend the correct course of treatment. The different types of boils include the following. Contact us to learn more.

• Carbuncle. An abscess in the skin caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Since it involves a higher number of hair follicles, it’s larger than a typical furuncle or boil. Carbuncles are a severe type of boil — patients might experience fever or chills alongside the openings in the skin.
• Hidradenitis Suppurativa. A condition in which multiple abscesses form under the armpits and in the groin area. It occurs in these areas because of hair follicle inflammation. This type of boil is challenging to treat with antibiotics alone and typically requires a surgical procedure to remove the hair follicles to stop the inflammation.
• Pilonidal Cyst A unique kind of abscess that occurs in or above the buttocks’ crease. They often begin as tiny areas of inflammation. Over time, however, irritation from direct pressure might enlarge the inflamed area into a firm, tender nodule. This nodule could make it difficult to sit without pain. Pilonidal cysts commonly occur after long trips involving prolonged sitting.
• Cystic Acne. A type of skin abscess that forms when oil and dead skin cells clog a hair follicle, creating an environment where bacteria grow and thrive. It affects deeper skin tissue than regular acne, leading to firm, painful cysts. Cystic acne is most common on the face and shoulders. It typically occurs as a teenager, though it can affect adults as well.
• Eyelid Sty. A tender red bump located at the base of an eyelash or under or inside the eyelid. It results from a localized inflammation of the glands or a hair follicle of the eyelid. A sty is sometimes confused with a chalazion, but the latter is usually painless and caused by obstruction and inflammation of an oil gland, not an infection.

Where Do Boils Form?

Boils form wherever sweat and oil buildup that can lead to infection; the five most common areas for a boil to form include the face, neck, back, shoulder, and buttocks. Hairy, sweaty areas are typical sites, as well as areas of friction, such as the inner thighs. Boils can also develop around the ear or near the nose. The pain often gets worse as pus collects under the skin, then eases as fluids drain.

What Causes Boils?

There are many causes of boils. Some boils indicate a bacterial infection from Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria found on the skin and inside the nose. Others might be caused by an ingrown hair or a splinter/foreign body that’s been lodged in the skin. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of a boil. The bottom line is that any break in the skin, such as a cut or scrape, can develop into a boil if it becomes infected with bacteria.

Who Gets Boils?

Anyone can develop a boil. Boils aren’t exactly contagious, but the bacteria that is the main cause of boils is easily spread through skin-to-skin contact. These bacteria usually do no harm unless it finds a break in the skin. In addition, the chance of getting a boil can increase due to the following factors.

• Close Contact Someone Infected
• Acne
• Eczema
• Other Breaks In The Skin
• Diabetes
• Weakened Immune System

Boils and carbuncles // Middlesex Health

Overview

A boil is a painful, pus-filled bump that forms under your skin when bacteria infect and inflame one or more of your hair follicles. A carbuncle is a cluster of boils that form a connected area of infection under the skin.

Boils (furuncles) usually start as reddish or purplish, tender bumps. The bumps quickly fill with pus, growing larger and more painful until they rupture and drain. Areas most likely to be affected are the face, back of the neck, armpits, thighs and buttocks.

You can usually care for a single boil at home. But don’t attempt to prick or squeeze it — that may spread the infection.

A boil is a painful, pus-filled bump under your skin — the result of a bacterial infection of one or more hair follicles.

A carbuncle is a cluster of boils — painful, pus-filled bumps — that form a connected area of infection under the skin.

Symptoms

Boils

Boils can occur anywhere on your skin, but appear mainly on the face, back of the neck, armpits, thighs and buttocks — hair-bearing areas where you’re most likely to sweat or experience friction. Signs and symptoms of a boil usually include:

• A painful, red bump that starts out small and can enlarge to more than 2 inches (5 centimeters)
• Reddish or purplish, swollen skin around the bump
• An increase in the size of the bump over a few days as it fills with pus
• Development of a yellow-white tip that eventually ruptures and allows the pus to drain out

Carbuncles

A carbuncle is a cluster of boils that form a connected area of infection. Compared with single boils, carbuncles cause a deeper and more severe infection and are more likely to leave a scar. People who have a carbuncle often feel unwell in general and may experience a fever and chills.

When to see a doctor

You usually can care for a single, small boil yourself. But see your doctor if you have more than one boil at a time or if a boil:

• Occurs on your face or affects your vision
• Worsens rapidly or is extremely painful
• Causes a fever
• Gets bigger despite self-care
• Hasn’t healed in two weeks
• Recurs

Causes

Most boils are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacterium commonly found on the skin and inside the nose. A bump forms as pus collects under the skin. Boils sometimes develop at sites where the skin has been broken by a small injury or an insect bite, which gives the bacteria easy entry.

Risk factors

Although anyone — including otherwise healthy people — can develop boils or carbuncles, the following factors can increase your risk:

• Close contact with a person who has a staph infection. You’re more likely to develop an infection if you live with someone who has a boil or carbuncle.
• Diabetes. This disease can make it more difficult for your body to fight infection, including bacterial infections of your skin.
• Other skin conditions. Because they damage your skin’s protective barrier, skin problems, such as acne and eczema, make you more susceptible to boils and carbuncles.
• Compromised immunity. If your immune system is weakened for any reason, you’re more susceptible to boils and carbuncles.

Complications

Rarely, bacteria from a boil or carbuncle can enter your bloodstream and travel to other parts of your body. The spreading infection, commonly known as blood poisoning (sepsis), can lead to infections deep within your body, such as your heart (endocarditis) and bone (osteomyelitis).

Prevention

It’s not always possible to prevent boils, especially if you have a weakened immune system. But the following measures may help you avoid staph infections:

• Wash your hands regularly with mild soap. Or use an alcohol-based hand rub often. Careful hand-washing is your best defense against germs.
• Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal.
• Avoid sharing personal items. Don’t share towels, sheets, razors, clothing, athletic equipment and other personal items. Staph infections can spread via objects, as well as from person to person. If you have a cut or sore, wash your towels and linens using detergent and hot water with added bleach, and dry them in a hot dryer.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will likely be able to diagnose a boil or carbuncle simply by looking at it. A sample of the pus may be sent to the lab for testing. This may be useful if you have recurring infections or an infection that hasn’t responded to standard treatment.

Many varieties of the bacteria that cause boils have become resistant to certain types of antibiotics. So lab testing can help determine what type of antibiotic would work best in your situation.

Treatment

You can generally treat small boils at home by applying warm compresses to relieve pain and promote natural drainage.

For larger boils and carbuncles, treatment may include:

• Incision and drainage. Your doctor may drain a large boil or carbuncle by making an incision in it. Deep infections that can’t be completely drained may be packed with sterile gauze to help soak up and remove additional pus.
• Antibiotics. Sometimes your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help heal severe or recurrent infections.

Lifestyle and home remedies

For small boils, these measures may help the infection heal more quickly and prevent it from spreading:

• Warm compresses. Apply a warm washcloth or compress to the affected area several times a day, for about 10 minutes each time. This helps the boil rupture and drain more quickly.
• Never squeeze or lance a boil yourself. This can spread the infection.
• Prevent contamination. Wash your hands thoroughly after treating a boil. Also, launder clothing, towels or compresses that have touched the infected area, especially if you have recurrent infections.

Preparing for an appointment

You’re likely to see your family doctor or primary care provider first, who may then refer you to a specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist) or infectious diseases.

What you can do

List all your signs and symptoms and when they first occurred. Record how long the bumps lasted and if any recurred. Make a list of all medications — including vitamins, herbs and over-the-counter drugs — that you’re taking. Even better, take the original bottles and a list of the doses and directions.

For boils and carbuncles, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• Are tests needed to confirm the diagnosis?
• What is the best course of action?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you’re prescribing?
• Can I wait to see if the condition goes away on its own?
• What can I do to prevent the infection from spreading?
• What skin care routine do you recommend while the condition heals?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

• What did the boil look like when it first started?
• Are your symptoms painful?
• Have you had a boil or carbuncle before?
• Are you having fever or chills?
• Do you have artificial heart valves, joints or other implanted devices?

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90,000 Furuncle: what is it and how to deal with it?

In autumn and spring, during the transition periods, a large number of people have decreased immunity, very often this occurs against the background of colds. And with reduced immunity, diseases such as furunculosis are often manifested.

Furuncle (popularly “boil”) – acute purulent inflammation of the hair follicle (follicle) and the associated sebaceous gland with the surrounding tissue, caused by staphylococcus.Sudden hypothermia or overheating, prolonged physical or nervous fatigue can serve as the reason for the unexpected occurrence of “boil”.

The further development of the boil is facilitated by constant contamination of the skin and friction with clothing, skin irritation with chemicals, abrasions, scratching and other microtraumas, as well as increased activity of the sweat and sebaceous glands of the skin, vitamin deficiency, metabolic disorders.

Most often, a furuncle is localized on the neck (in the back of the head), face, back of the hands, on the lower back, buttocks.

The first prerequisites for “boil” are itching, painful redness, the appearance of a small red bump on the skin. Approximately 4 days after the onset of inflammation, a white dot appears in the center of the tubercle – an abscess. After a few days, the abscess opens, as the pus is released, the pain subsides, the swelling and redness in the boil area decreases. After about 7-10 days, the skin is completely restored.

The danger of a boil lies, first of all, in the likelihood of the spread of inflammation to other parts of the body and blood poisoning.That is why boils in the head and neck area are especially dangerous.

With a strongly weakened immunity, the development of furunculosis is possible, i.e. the appearance of not a single, but multiple boils, in this situation there is a deterioration in the general condition of the patient: fever may appear, the patient will complain of general weakness, headaches.

In any situation, at the beginning of the development of the disease, you must consult a doctor. It is especially important for the appearance and development of a boil not to miss the moment when surgical intervention is necessary, i.e.to. Untimely treatment can also lead to blood poisoning. Surgical treatment of a boil is performed under local anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon opens the boil, removes pus, and locally injects antibiotics. If you did not delay the treatment, you applied for all the necessary procedures and manipulations on time, then in a couple of days you will already forget about the unpleasant ailment that spoiled your life so much!

When the first signs of a boil appear, you can contact the Mira Medical Center!

More details about the service on this issue can be found here

Furuncle: causes, symptoms, treatment

How does the disease develop

The disease is caused by opportunistic microorganisms that are already on human skin.Under favorable conditions (excessive humidity, decreased local immunity), their number begins to grow rapidly, which causes inflammation.

A boil in its development goes through several stages in sequence:

1. The appearance of a seal (infiltrate) in the hair follicle.

Swelling and redness appear. Discomfort may occur when touched. After a couple of days, the infiltration increases in size up to 3 cm, becomes dense.The surrounding tissues are swollen. This stage lasts 4–5 days.

2. Suppuration.

The next stage occurs when a necrotic core is formed inside the inflammation focus. It is formed from dead immune cells (leukocytes). A white head appears externally in the center of the seal. This is a pustule – a cavity filled with purulent contents.

3. Release of pus to the outside and healing of the skin.

The last stage, which ends with the opening of the boil.The ripe pustule breaks out. Normally, pus begins to come out along with a necrotic rod (a purulent inner plug of yellowish color). This process usually lasts no more than 3 days. A sign that all the purulent contents have come out is the appearance of blood. At the site of the boil, an ulcer first forms. Subsequently, it heals and heals. It takes at least 7-10 days until a light scar appears.

The acute form is characterized by the appearance of numerous boils, which replace each other or arise at the same time.The period of exacerbation can last a couple of weeks, or maybe 2-3 months. It depends on the state of immunity and the type of treatment. In a chronic course, single inflammations occur at a certain frequency. Sometimes the lull period of the disease can last up to a year.

External manifestations and symptoms of furunculosis

Symptoms depend on the stage of development and the location of the skin disease. The first signs by which you can suspect a boil:

1. Itching, tingling sensation.
2. The area of ​​the skin is thickened, redness appears.
3. With the development of the pathological process, the boil takes the shape of a cone.
4. Swelling occurs. The size of the inflammation may increase to 1-3 cm.
5. Soreness.

The intensity of manifestations depends on where they are. In areas of the body where there is no hair (palms, soles of the feet), boils do not develop. They most often appear in places that are subject to frequent dirt or rubbing against clothing.These are the neck, forearm, face, buttocks, lower back, thighs.

In rare cases, a boil may appear in the nose and ear. At the same time, due to inflammation and tissue edema, hearing deteriorates or breathing problems arise. In the groin area, the boil is manifested by severe swelling and pain, which increases with movement.

If competent treatment is started at the stage of infiltration, then the further development of the pathological process can be stopped. After the formation of a purulent-necrotic core and papules, the symptoms intensify.The twitching pain subsides only at the stage of opening and complete cleansing of the boil. With numerous formations, an increase in temperature and a deterioration in general well-being is possible – weakness, lethargy, headache.

Furuncle: causes of

The main culprit is Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus aureus. These are common bacteria and it is impossible to avoid contact with them. They are found in the environment, in dust, on the skin. Almost 70% of people are carriers of these microorganisms in one way or another.Some doctors believe that the presence of a certain amount in the body is normal and does not require treatment. But this is provided that the bacteria do not lead to the development of health problems.

The presence of one pathogen is not enough to cause an infectious disease. Furunculosis develops in the presence of predisposing factors. They can be internal (endogenous), that is, they depend on the state of the body and the well-being of a person as a whole. And also external (exogenous) – the influence of the environment.

The group of endogenous causes includes:

1. Lack of vitamins, vitamin deficiency.
2. Physical exhaustion.
3. Hormonal disruptions.
4. Endocrine diseases.
5. Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
6. Alcoholism.
7. Decreased immunity, immunodeficiency states.
8. Excessive sweating.
9. Increased sebum production.
10. Dermatological diseases (dermatitis, eczema).

External provoking reasons include careless shaving, scratching the skin, minor wounds, abrasions, constant rubbing against clothing, and the use of unsuitable cosmetics. Often the reason for the development of a boil in the armpit is the use of antiperspirants.

One of the reasons is the psychological state. Constant tension leads to increased production of adrenaline (stress hormone).This becomes the cause of hormonal disorders and adrenal depletion. Also, frequent negative emotions lead to a decrease in the body’s defenses, which gives the green light for the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

What are the possible complications

The main consequence of neglected furunculosis is scars. With sensitive skin, deep scars are formed that have a reddish tint for a long time. The defect is also often combined with contraction of the surrounding tissue. This cosmetic defect does not go away on its own.Professional skin resurfacing required.

In people with poor health, pathology can lead to the formation of a purulent abscess. Another serious consequence is phlegmon. With this formation, a purulent process affects the subcutaneous tissue. It tends to spread quickly to surrounding tissues.

It is dangerous to have a boil on the upper lip or nose. In the absence of proper treatment, the infection can rise higher through the blood vessels into the meninges and cause purulent meningitis.There is also a high chance of infection entering the general circulation, which can cause sepsis. These diseases require urgent hospitalization. In the absence of medical assistance, a lethal outcome is possible.

If the pathological process occurs in the neck, on the forearm or thigh, then with the spread of inflammation, the lymph nodes are affected and lymphadenitis occurs.

Do I need to see a doctor

There are many folk “grandmother’s” recipes, which seem to be designed to help the rapid maturation and opening of the abscess.But all these recipes can lead to disastrous consequences, since, on the contrary, they will contribute to the spread of the infection into the deeper layers of the skin. At the stage of suppuration, it is necessary to carry out only a surgical opening in the conditions of a doctor’s office.

Only a dermatologist or surgeon can determine the type of inflammation, as well as the stage of development. To identify the cause, laboratory tests are required, and also to clarify the pathogen, a scraping is done from the skin. For chronic rashes, it is recommended to check the patient’s immune status.An important point of diagnosis is STI testing. Therefore, in the event of purulent pathological processes on the skin, be sure to consult a dermatologist.

Furuncle: treatment and prevention

At the initial stage, when only the first symptoms have appeared, conservative methods are used. Local treatment includes:

1. Elimination of unfavorable external factors – shaving, friction, cosmetics clogging the pores of the skin.
2. Treatment according to the scheme of the inflamed area with an antiseptic solution.
3. Compresses with antibacterial ointment.

A course of vitamins is also recommended. If all the doctor’s recommendations are followed, this may be enough to reduce the inflammatory process.

However, if there is already purulent contents, surgery is required. It is forbidden to open the boil on your own. This is done by the doctor, subject to all antiseptic rules.

Under local anesthesia, a small incision is made through which the purulent contents are drained. After cleansing the wound, a dressing is applied with a drug. With simple boils, hospitalization is not required. Subsequent treatment is carried out at home.

With severe edema and acute pain syndrome, hospitalization is recommended. If furunculosis has led to the development of complications, an operation is performed under local or general anesthesia.

If necessary, antibacterial drugs are prescribed. Physiotherapy, for example, UV radiation, gives a good healing result.

Prevention

To prevent furunculosis, take the following preventive measures:

• Do not wear tight, form-fitting clothing made from artificial materials;
• do not abuse alcohol;
• Maintain the immune system at an optimal level;
• experience more positive emotions;
• eat right;
• Do not use cosmetics containing comedogenic components;
• replace antiperspirant with natural deodorant;
• Protect your face and neck skin when working in a dusty environment;
• Watch for chronic diseases.

If you have a tendency to frequent boils, get a dermatological examination. This will allow you to identify the real cause and finally cope with the disease.

treatment, removal, causes, symptoms – 8 (495) 120-02-05

Lancing of a boil, abscess – Medical Center “Zvezda”

Abscess is an inflammatory process characterized by purulent fusion of tissues and the formation of a cavity.It can form in soft tissues, bones, or organs. The difference between an abscess and other types of inflammation is the presence of a clear border of inflammation due to the presence of a pyogenic granuloma. Furuncle can be considered as a special case of abscess. About boils, which are still popularly called “boil”, we can say that this is an inflammation of the sebaceous gland on the skin or hair follicle and surrounding tissues.

The most common causes of furuncle formation are decreased immunity or neglect of personal hygiene.Factors such as hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), excessive production of sebum, excess weight, the presence of a focus of chronic infection, and unbalanced nutrition provoke the appearance of a boil. Furunculosis often accompanies any hormonal disruptions in the body, which is why adolescents often suffer from boils at the beginning of puberty.

Areas at risk of furunculosis are areas on the body that often rub against clothing or become permanently dirty – face, neck, armpits, buttocks.At the time of its appearance, the boil looks like a slight swelling, accompanied by redness and sometimes itching. Within one or two days, the inflammatory process is localized in a pronounced node, redness and soreness increase markedly. A necrotic core is formed in the center.

Important! Only a surgeon in a medical facility can open a boil without dangerous consequences for your health! Do not try to squeeze out the purulent contents of the boil! This is fraught with serious complications, especially if the boil is located in the zone of active blood circulation – on the lips, on the wings of the nose or nasolabial triangle, chin.An infection that will inevitably enter the bloodstream when trying to get rid of the boil on its own, when it enters the systemic circulation, can provoke sepsis, brain abscess, meningitis, phlegmon.

If the boil opened on its own (I remind you that you should not contribute to this process in any way), then the skin around it should be treated with an antiseptic and consult a doctor to control the degree of cleansing of the resulting wound and further treatment. Furuncles, especially in adolescence, even if they do not cause serious complications, still have an extremely negative effect on a person.Firstly, constant inflammation on visible parts of the body causes not only physical discomfort, but also psychological suffering to its owner. Secondly, after scarring the boil, especially in areas with thin skin, a scar may form.

The best way to treat a boil is to prevent its formation. If all the measures taken for enhanced facial hygiene and normalization of nutrition have not yielded results, an experienced dermatologist will help you. And if the boil is still formed, then you cannot do without the help of a surgeon!

Furuncles on the body: possible causes, therapy, prevention

Such a problem of the skin as boils on the body is considered quite common.Causes, treatment, symptoms and preventive measures to prevent the disease deserve detailed consideration.

Where are boils?

The main manifestation of furunculosis – an infectious disease – is a boil, which is an inflamed, pus-filled formation in the epidermis. Boil sizes can vary from a pea to an egg. The ideal environment for the emergence of boils is considered to be the hairy parts of the body, as well as areas of the skin where friction occurs regularly.Dermatologists call the risk zone for a rash the neck, armpits, breasts, buttocks, and groin cavities.

Causative agent of infection

To provoke the development of furunculosis under the power of the main causative agent of this disease, which is Staphylococcus aureus or white. Often, as a result of actively developing staphyloderma, boils on the body can occur as complications. The reasons, treatment, photos of the symptoms caused by the disease must be presented to everyone in order to take appropriate measures to prevent infection from entering the body or to take the necessary therapeutic actions in time.

How does furunculosis manifest?

Purulent boils can form on the body, spreading disseminated, or appear locally and develop in any area of ​​the skin. The course of the disease, in which boils on the body (the causes, treatment and the manifest signs of the disease largely depend on each other, therefore, it is necessary to approach the issues of therapy thoroughly) cause not only discomfort and external inconveniences, but also an additional deterioration in the general condition of the body, can be chronic and an acute form.

Chronic furunculosis, expressed by periodic outbreaks, can be repeated for a long time, and the reason is the low resistance of immune forces to pathogenic microorganisms. The acute form of infection manifests itself almost immediately after infection and, in addition to the appearance of boils, is accompanied by additional symptoms.

The root causes of infection in the body, from which boils are formed on the body (causes, treatment, drugs that have earned the trust of patients and have proven their effectiveness, should be borne in mind by absolutely everyone, since furunculosis is ubiquitous) can be divided into two groups.

External influence of pathogens

The first includes external infections. As a rule, due to minor mechanical damage to the upper layer of the epidermis, pathogenic bacteria can penetrate deep into the skin.

With constant contact of the skin with clothing, re-penetration of staphylococci is possible, and saprophytes natural to humans easily acquire a pathogenic character. Also, the cause of infection is often skin diseases that cause itching.Brushing with your nails usually leads to infection.

Failure to follow simple hygiene rules at the proper level can lead to the development of local furunculosis. Rubbing against dirty skin of clothing or chemicals (fuel oil, gasoline, etc.) causes single boils on the body. The reasons (treatment at home in most cases is performed incorrectly) of an increase in boils on the body sometimes lie in illiterate attempts to get rid of the problem on their own (applying warm compresses, bandages).Thus, the position of the patient with furunculosis will only worsen.

Failures and disturbances of processes in the body as the main causes of the disease

The second group, which explains the penetration of pathogens into the human body, includes internal factors. Furuncles on the body (causes, treatment, methods of alternative and drug therapy are often compared to draw up the most effective recovery scheme) appear due to:

• hypovitaminosis; 90,034 90,033 depletion of the body;
• violations in metabolic processes;
• blood diseases;
• problems with digestion and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• alcohol abuse;
• frequent hypothermia or overheating;
• disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system of the body.

People of all ages are at risk of infection. As a rule, children are affected by the disease much less often than adults. In addition, men get sick more often than women.

Phases of furunculosis

To recognize the development of the disease at an early stage, you need to know that boils on the body (causes, treatment can be described at any phase of the progression of infection in the body) go their way in three stages:

1. Accumulation of cell elements with impurities blood and lymphatic fluid (the so-called development of infiltration).
2. Suppuration process.
3. Healing and restoration.

The first stage is characterized by painful sensations and the appearance of a bright red infiltrate near the hair follicle. The patient feels a tingling sensation, slight pain, which over the next few days increases simultaneously with an increase in the size of the boil. Edema of the surrounding tissues occurs, inflammation increases. A few days later, the stage of suppuration begins, during which a purulent “plug” is formed, which has a pustule on the surface.The boil at this stage begins to acquire the shape of a cone-shaped tumor with a smooth skin.

Maturation stage

Unpleasant sensations of foreign formation on the skin are accompanied by an increase in body temperature to a subfebrile level, in more severe cases, even symptoms of intoxication in the form of headache and weakness of the body appear. Furuncles on the body (causes, treatment, patient reviews should be studied with the aim of further precautions for infection) after opening the pustules, they go to the last stage of healing.The released necrotic purulent “plug” frees the cavity, after which all symptoms disappear, and scarring of the cavity in which the infiltrate was located occurs. The entire cycle of furunculosis lasts approximately 10 days.

Furunculosis in a child: to the attention of parents

In adolescence, boils on the body (the reasons, treatment in children and the characteristics of the course of the disease should be familiar to adults) appear quite often. Single manifestations of furunculosis can occur on any part of the child’s body where hair grows.This can be the back of the head, and forearms, and buttocks, and limbs. The most dangerous place where boils occur, not only in children, but also in adults, is the area above the upper lip, the auricles. The threat lies in the likelihood of thrombosis of the venous and lymphatic pathways and the further occurrence of sepsis. Often the disease is accompanied by lymphadenitis or lymphangitis. It is not often possible to observe such a complication of furunculosis as the presence of metastases in the kidneys and liver.

Features of the course of the disease in children

It is extremely important to explain to the child that it is absolutely impossible to squeeze the boil out.Adults (for example, men while shaving) can accidentally injure boils on the body, the causes, treatment and symptoms of which are accompanied by some discomfort. In children, the disease passes more rapidly than in adults, but the intensity of children’s furunculosis is also impressive. Often, a child with a boil is sent to an infectious diseases hospital for treatment.

The boil suppuration stage is the most suitable for therapy. In order to overcome the disease, you must first of all know everything about it: what symptoms are associated with the disease, what boils look like on the body, causes, treatment with folk remedies and medicines, do you need external drugs, antibiotics.It turns out that it is in the complex that therapeutic measures are able to resist furunculosis. In this case, the most important thing is not to self-medicate in any case and visit a doctor at the first signs of illness.

External effects of drugs

Local treatment of furunculosis involves the regular external application of antimicrobial medicines. Depending on the severity of the course of the disease, ointments are used to lubricate not only the inflamed area, but also the adjacent skin surface several times a day for a week.Doctors prescribe ichthyol ointment, after which it is necessary to cover the affected area. Sometimes a course of infrared irradiation of subcutaneous infiltrates is prescribed.

Among the common drugs sold in every pharmacy and effectively fighting furunculosis, the following should be highlighted:

Special attention deserves a drug that effectively accelerates the healing process and eliminates boils on the body, causes. Treatment with “Levomekol” ointment is required to be carried out regularly, at least three times a day.It is necessary to apply the drug to sore skin areas to accelerate the ripening of the boil.

After opening the boil, it is imperative to apply ichthyol ointment, and a sterile bandage soaked in hydrogen peroxide is applied to the very center of the inflammatory focus. At this stage of the course of the disease, doctors do not recommend interrupting the course of infrared radiation, electrophoresis. In the case of obvious abscess formation of a boil, a decision is made about surgical intervention.

Antibiotics in the treatment of ailments

Emerging boils on the body (causes, antibiotic treatment and the healing process are of interest to many) cannot be overcome without general drug therapy.A staphylococcal infection that has settled in the body is capable of reminding of itself every time, occasionally manifesting itself as painful boils, so it is necessary to take all possible measures to eliminate it. As a rule, the choice of specialists in this matter falls on antibiotics of the penicillin series. In addition to them, sulfa drugs are prescribed.

Immunomodulators and vitamins will be of secondary importance in the complex of therapeutic prescriptions. Recommendations for the use of each medicine can only be written by a specialist, taking into account the patient’s age, weight, the presence of concomitant diseases, in which taking specific drugs may be unacceptable.Adherence to a rational healthy diet, rejection of alcohol and excess carbohydrates are also considered important.

How to get rid of furunculosis using folk methods

Furuncles on the body (causes, treatment with folk remedies are fundamental points that you need to be aware of in the presence of furunculosis) can be defeated using drugs that have been tested by people for many years. A few helpful tips are especially useful for people with chronic illness.

1. The first popular recipe is called “flat cake”. It is necessary to prepare a simple cake from several ingredients: egg yolk, a tablespoon of honey, butter (softened), flour. The dough should be of medium consistency. The cake rolled into a thick pancake must be applied to the sore spot and tied with a bandage. Wear it throughout the day, without removing, but sometimes changing the dough itself, the unused part of which should be kept in the refrigerator. After an abscess, it is worth using the cake for a couple of days.
2. Uncooked grated vegetables also deal with boils. Gruel from raw potatoes or carrots, in the same way as in the previous recipe, must be laid out on the wound and secured with gauze. The vegetable mass should be changed 3-4 times.
3. Onions are a panacea for furunculosis, according to grandparents. They claim that for a long time people have used the baked onion as a remedy in the treatment of furunculosis. The vegetable, cut in half, was applied to the preliminary site of the abscess and held until the boil drained out.

Prophylaxis

Prevention of disease is the observance of the simplest rules of hygiene. Sanitary rules at specialized workplaces are the key to preventing infection. Daily shower and change of underwear, outerwear will help prevent the appearance of furunculosis.

In addition, it is worth taking care of the general resistance of the body. It is possible to increase the level of immune forces only by choosing a healthy lifestyle, giving up bad habits and proper nutrition.These are the best preventive measures in the fight against boils.

How to get rid of a boil – RU.DELFI

Furuncle is a strong inflammatory process that captures the hair follicle and nearby tissues. And if treatment is not started in a timely manner, there are chances of developing various complications, up to and including sepsis.

The inflammatory process with a boil is very violent – if you look at the affected area, you can notice the death of tissues, suppuration.A characteristic distinguishing feature by which you can recognize the boil is a white dense core inside. Moreover, he appears first – before all other signs of inflammation.

In order for a boil to develop, a reason is needed. And this very reason is pathogenic bacteria – in particular, Staphylococcus aureus, which is very widespread: dirty fruits, handrails of public transport, household items with which a person comes into contact every day.

And if the virus gets on the skin that has at least slight damage, the result is not difficult to predict – most likely, the inflammatory process cannot be avoided.The chances of becoming the owner of a boil increase significantly if the state of the immune system leaves much to be desired, or if it is hot outside – at this time staphylococcus feels much more at ease.

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So, staphylococcus has entered the body, a boil begins to develop. At first, there is just a slight redness and swelling of the skin, which a person simply does not pay attention to – and in vain, because if you start treatment at the very first stages, you will have to spend much less energy.If treatment is not started, the swelling continues to increase, the same legendary white rod is formed, and then all the other signs of a boil – necrosis, suppuration.

It is difficult to say why, but the most favorite place for the development of boils is the face. Doctors-dermatologists explain this by several factors – firstly, the skin on the face is much more vulnerable and has various damages – from shaving, careless washing, the use of various cosmetics. And secondly, we touch the skin of the face with our hands much more often, which means that the risk of its infection with staphylococcus and other pathogenic bacteria increases.

Traditional treatment of a boil

The most reasonable choice is to consult a dermatologist at the first sign of a boil. The only thing that you can do yourself is to carefully treat the place of suppuration with alcoholic infusion or any other antiseptic, so as not to aggravate the situation. Further treatment tactics should be chosen by the doctor. Treatment may vary depending on the degree of inflammation:

Sparing methods of therapy

If the boil is not very suppurative yet, doctors prefer to do without opening the abscess.Most often, it is possible to get by with the help of physiotherapy treatment and various medications. As a rule, antibacterial – this is necessary in order to destroy pathogenic bacteria and prevent secondary infection. In no case should you choose medicines on your own, because you yourself will not be able to assess their effect on the body.

Surgical intervention

If a person seeks help very late, when the inflammatory process has gone far, it is unlikely that it will be possible to do without surgical intervention.As a rule, hearing about this, a person is very frightened – and it is not surprising, after all, a scalpel is used.

But in fact, you have nothing to worry about – before starting the procedure, the doctor will carry out complete anesthesia and you will not feel anything. The boil will be opened, its contents removed, and the wound treated with special medications.

As a rule, the incision is not sutured – it heals on its own. With that rare exception, when the boil was huge, in this case one shovchik will have to be applied.But even then you should not be upset – with proper care, after healing, there will most likely be no visible marks on the skin.

As you can see, the most correct decision is a timely visit to a doctor. Then you will be able to get by with “little blood”. And if you delay it, it’s hard to say what such a delay will turn out to be. At best, just severe inflammation, and at worst, I don’t even want to imagine.

If you are a categorical opponent of traditional medicine or there is simply no way to see a doctor, you can try to get rid of the boil using traditional medicine recipes.However, remember, as “Our Father” – if two days after starting treatment you do not notice an improvement in the situation, drop everything and immediately see a doctor! Health is not something to experiment with.

Also, do not overlook the likelihood of developing an allergic reaction. Many components that make up traditional medicine recipes can provoke the development of allergies. Therefore, if you are not sure of at least one component, do a mini allergy test.To do this, apply a thin layer of the prepared product to the skin, either behind the ear or on the wrist. After about 10 minutes evaluate the result – there should be no itching, no rashes, no redness.

Healing cake

One of the most effective remedies for boils is a cake prepared in a special way. To prepare it, you need the simplest ingredients: a teaspoon of natural honey – preferably linden honey, one egg yolk, butter and a little wheat flour.Melt butter and honey in a water bath, cool, add egg yolk, mix everything thoroughly, add flour and knead a tough dough.

The resulting dough should be enough for you about five procedures, the main thing is to store it in the refrigerator. The treatment itself is carried out as follows: a cake of the required size is formed from a piece of dough, which must be attached to the boil, pressed tightly and secured – it is most convenient to do this with an adhesive plaster.

This cake must be left in place at 8 o’clock, so it is most convenient to do the procedure in the evening.Approximately on the third day, the boil will open – this is where the treatment with the lozenge ends. Next, you will need an ointment called “levomekol” – this is the only medicine that you can use without a doctor’s prescription. This ointment should be applied to the opened boil until the wound heals.

Buckwheat cake

If the boil has just begun to develop, you can try to reverse this process. And buckwheat flatbread is best suited for these purposes.It is prepared as follows – heat a frying pan, fry 4 tablespoons of buckwheat on it, cool and use a coffee grinder to grind to a powdery state. You can store buckwheat flour for a long time – the main thing is that the container is hermetically closed. To make a tortilla, take a small amount of buckwheat flour, add apple cider vinegar and knead into a tough dough. It makes no sense to cook it in reserve, since it will very quickly lose its healing properties – cook it at a time.

Fix the finished cake on the boil and leave for an hour – this procedure must be repeated two to three times a day. As a rule, such treatment prevents the boil from ripening – it simply disappears. True, in rare cases, you can observe the opposite effect – buckwheat flour can provoke a rapid ripening and breakthrough of the boil. But that’s not bad either, isn’t it?

Onions

Another well-proven remedy is the banal onion.You will need one medium sized onion for one treatment. Peel the onion, place in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes – during this time, the onion should become soft. After the onion has cooled, cut it in two and attach it to the problem area with a cut, leave for two to three hours.

This procedure must be repeated at least three times a day – otherwise you will not achieve the desired effect. The boil should open on the third day, after which the onion treatment is stopped and the same “Levomekol” is used.It should be applied to the boil two to three times a day, preferably under a bandage.

Laundry soap

This recipe seems very strange to many people, but it really works, and quite effectively. You only need onions, water and the most common laundry soap, without any additives. Place the onions in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. At this time, grate the soap on a fine grater, add a little water and melt in a water bath, stirring constantly.Remove the onion, peel and mash with a fork, mix with the cooled soapy mass. That’s it, the remedy is ready – let’s move on to treatment.

Apply the resulting mixture in a thick layer to the boil, cover with plastic wrap and secure with adhesive plaster. Such a soapy compress should remain on the boil for at least five hours. Those who have tried this treatment in practice claim that the boil is opened about the third day. It goes without saying that after the abscess breaks through, it is necessary to start treatment with Levomekol ointment.

Raw potatoes

Raw potatoes have long been renowned for their ability to heal any wounds, cuts and burns. But few people know that potatoes do an excellent job with purulent abscesses, so it can be successfully used to treat boils. The recipe itself is extremely simple: peel one small tuber of potatoes, grate it on a fine grater and apply the resulting gruel abundantly on a purulent boil on your face. Cover the top with plastic wrap or gauze cloth, secure and leave for an hour.Repeat this procedure at least twice a day – in the morning and in the evening, and even more often if possible. The abscess will open on the second day – then there should be treatment with Levomekol ointment.

Prevention

Some particularly “lucky” people encounter boils quite often. Agree, they can hardly be envied – uncomfortable sensations, intensive treatment, possible marks on the skin of the face. What to do? Just put up with it and give up? Of course not, by no means! There are certain preventative measures that can be taken to help solve this problem.

Strengthening the immune system

The very first thing to do in this case is to think about whether your nervous system is functioning perfectly? Perhaps she needs your help? After all, if any pathogenic microflora begins to multiply actively and provokes the development of boils, then the body does not resist. The first thing you should do is seek the help of an immunologist.

But you yourself can do a lot.For example, there are several simple rules, the observance of which will greatly strengthen the immune system, improve well-being and normalize the functioning of the nervous system. The first thing you should do is revisit your daily schedule. Say “no” to night gatherings with friends or at the computer – an adult should sleep at least 7-8 hours a day. Do not forget about walks in the fresh air – set aside at least 30 minutes a day, walk down the street before bed. In addition, it will not be superfluous to drink a course of multivitamin preparations – unfortunately, the quality of modern products does not fully satisfy the body’s need for vitamins, minerals, trace elements.

Proper skin care

Cleanliness is a guarantee of health, and this truth has long become commonplace. It is also true for boils – the clearer the skin, the less chance they have. Cleanse your skin with cleansing gels at least twice a day, and periodically wipe with alcohol wipes throughout the day. One can foresee the objection of women who use foundation. But we have to disappoint them if the skin of the face is prone to the formation of boils, you should not use matting agents.

Diet

You may be surprised, but the fact remains that people who adhere to the rules of proper nutrition, as a rule, do not have boils. Therefore, strictly exclude from your diet all spicy, salty, fatty and fried foods, reduce the amount of spices, give up mayonnaise, chocolate, coffee, alcoholic beverages. Porridge, fruits, vegetables, lean meats – all this will benefit not only the skin condition, but also the whole body.

As a rule, adherence to all these preventive measures helps to reduce the incidence of boils. But if this does not happen, go to the doctor immediately. There is a possibility that the problem is much more serious than meets the eye.

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Furunculosis – Danae Curative Cosmetology Center

Furuncle (boil) – acute purulent-necrotic inflammation of the hair follicle and surrounding tissues. Furunculosis – the appearance of several boils at the same time or periodically.Localization of boils: boils on the body, boils on the back of the neck, boils on the face, boils on the buttocks.

Treatment of furunculosis

1. Treatment of furunculosis with antibiotics is a standard accepted all over the world. With this method, the exacerbation of the disease is removed, but, unfortunately, the probability of recurrence remains;
2. Restoration of protective functions of the body, improvement of immunity;
3. Remediation of identified aggravating factors;
4. Autohemotherapy;
5. Local treatment of furunculosis;
6. Homeopathic treatment of furuncle is an important addition to the classic treatment of furunculosis.

90,035 90,790 Expected Results 90,791

• Relief of the severity of the manifestations of furunculosis in the acute period;
• Acceleration of treatment terms;
• Optimal scarring (healing with minimal scarring).

Prevention of relapse (recurrence of the disease)

Comprehensive approach taking into account aggravating factors. The constitutional homeopathic approach can reduce the number and frequency of relapses and even, in most cases, cure this complex skin disease.

Differential diagnosis

• Folliculitis is a superficial inflammation of the hair follicle. They resemble acne, acne, and from them, in the absence of timely rational treatment, a boil or abscess (abscess) occurs.
• Acne, acne Acne on the face is often mistaken for a boil. These are the so-called abscessed acne – a deep form of this skin disease.
• Sycosis is a chronic skin infection. The most common localization is the hairy part of the face (beard, mustache, eyebrows).