How to Get Rid of a Boil

Written by Kristen Fischer

• Common Boil Locations
• Causes of Boils
• Symptoms of Boils
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests for Boils
• Boils Treatment: Home Remedies
• Medical Treatment for Boils
• Next Steps: Follow-Up
• Preventing Boils
• Outlook
• More

A boil is a contagious skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After 4-7 days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin.

When you know how to get rid of a boil, you can probably treat it at home.

Boils can affect any area of your body where you have hair, or where rubbing can occur. They usually form in places where you sweat. 

Most often, they’re caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. But they can form from other types of bacteria or fungi on your skin. You may get them just once, every once in a while, or often.

Here are some common places they can appear:

Boils in the groin area. Boils can affect the skin folds of the groin, the pubic area, and the lips and folds of the vagina. This area has lots of hair follicles and can be prone to chafing, especially if you wear tight-fitting clothes. You can also develop a boil after you get a cut or ingrown hair due to shaving this area.

Boils on buttocks. Boils frequently affect the buttocks due to hair follicles, sweat, and friction in the area. Dirty underwear could make a boil here more likely. 

Boils on the face. Boils on your face are different from cysts and pimples, though they can look similar. Cysts are filled with fluid, while a pimple is the result of a clogged pore. Cysts and pimples aren’t contagious like boils can be.

Boil on eyelid. If a boil occurs here, it’s called a stye, and it can be painful. You treat them similarly to the way you treat a boil anywhere else. If it doesn’t go away on its own, a dermatologist can prescribe an antibiotic cream or eye drops.

Other areas where boils often appear include:

• Breasts
• Armpits
• Shoulders
• Legs

Keep an eye out for several boils that appear in a group. That’s a more serious type of infection called a carbuncle.

Most boils are caused by staph bacteria. This germ enters your body through tiny nicks or cuts in your skin or can travel down a hair to the follicle.

These things make people more likely to get boils and other skin infections:

• Diabetes, which can make it harder for your body to fight infection 
• A weakened immune system
• Other skin conditions that break your skin’s protective barrier
• Contact with others, especially if someone you live with has a boil
• Poor hygiene
• Poor nutrition
• Exposure to harsh chemical that irritate the skin

A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump about the size of a pea. Over the next few days, the lump becomes softer, larger, and more painful. Soon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. 

These are signs of a serious infection:

• Fever
• Swollen lymph n
• odes
• Infected, red, painful, and warm skin around the boil
• Additional boil or boils

Boils vs. pimples. Pimples are caused by clogged pores, but boils stem from an infection. That’s why you might notice boils around scratches or cuts, unlike pimples. Pimples aren’t contagious, but boils can be. A boil will likely grow faster than a pimple and hurt more. And it won’t get better when you use pimple treatments.

Boils vs. cysts. A cyst isn’t caused by an infection. It doesn’t hurt and is usually harmless. Cysts usually grow more slowly than boils. Fluid might come out if you squeeze a cyst, but it’s not whitish yellow pus, which is a sign of infection. Cysts aren’t contagious, but you can spread boils to others.  

Boils usually don’t require medical attention. But if you’re in poor health and develop high fever and chills along with the boil, go to the emergency room. 

Call your doctor if your boil doesn’t go away after 2 weeks or or you have:

• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Red or red streaks around the boil   
• Serious pain
• Multiple boils 
• Vision issues
• Recurring boils
• Other conditions such as a heart murmur, diabetes, a problem with your immune system, or if you use immune-suppressing drugs like corticosteroids or chemotherapy

Your doctor can do a physical exam to see if you have a boil. This skin infection can affect many parts of the body, so they may ask about other parts of your body.

You may be able to treat boils at home. But whatever you do, don’t pick at the boil or try to pop it yourself. The boil may drain on its own, which is important in the healing process. 

Some ways to treat a boil include:

Apply warm compresses.  Soak a washcloth in warm water and then press it gently against the boil for about 10 minutes. You can repeat this a few times throughout the day. Once you see the pus at the center (that’s called “bringing a boil to a head,” it’ll probably burst and drain soon. This usually occurs within 10 days after you see the head.

Use a heating pad. A heating pad can help the boil start to drain, too. Put the heating pad over a damp towel and lay it on the affected area. It may take up to a week for the boil to start opening and draining the pus. Keep applying heat, either with a heating pad or compress, for up to 3 days after the boil opens.

Keep it clean. As with any infection, you should keep the area clean. Use soap and warm water to wash the boil twice daily, and then gently pat the area dry. Keep towels and washcloths that come into contact with the boil separate from other towels.

Use a cover or bandage. To help the boil heal faster, keep it covered. After you wash the boil and the area around it, apply a clean dressing to keep it protected. You can use a bandage or gauze.

Practice good hygiene. After touching the boil or surrounding area, thoroughly wash your hands to prevent spreading the infection to other parts of your body — or passing it to another person. Take a bath or a shower daily to keep your skin clean and prevent the spread of infection to others. Avoid public swimming pools and gyms until your boil has cleared up.

Wash your linens. To lower the risk of further infection, wash your bedding, clothing, and towels at least once a week at a high temperature to kill off bacteria. Don’t share your towels with anyone else while you have a boil.

Take a pain reducer. If your boil is painful, take a pain reliever like acetaminophen or  ibuprofen. These can also lower your fever if your boil is causing one.

If you’re concerned about the infection, your doctor may run additional blood tests. They might prescribe antibiotics if the infection is serious.

If they drain the boil, they may take a sample (called a culture) to determine what type of bacteria caused the infection and assess whether you got the right antibiotic.

Whether your boil drains at home or is drained by a doctor, you’ll need to clean the infected area 2-3 times a day until the wound heals. Apply an antibiotic ointment after washing, then cover with a bandage. 

If the area turns red or looks as if it is getting infected again, call your doctor.

To avoid getting boils: 

• Carefully wash clothes, bedding, and towels.
• Don’t share personal items, like towels, that touch your skin.
• Clean and treat minor skin wounds.
• Practice good personal hygiene including regular hand-washing.
• Stay as healthy as possible.

Most boils will disappear on their own or with simple home treatment. In rare cases, the bacteria can enter your bloodstream and affect other parts of your body. That could lead to more serious infections.

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How to Get Rid of a Boil

Written by Kristen Fischer

• Common Boil Locations
• Causes of Boils
• Symptoms of Boils
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests for Boils
• Boils Treatment: Home Remedies
• Medical Treatment for Boils
• Next Steps: Follow-Up
• Preventing Boils
• Outlook
• More

A boil is a contagious skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After 4-7 days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin.

When you know how to get rid of a boil, you can probably treat it at home.

Boils can affect any area of your body where you have hair, or where rubbing can occur. They usually form in places where you sweat. 

Most often, they’re caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. But they can form from other types of bacteria or fungi on your skin. You may get them just once, every once in a while, or often.

Here are some common places they can appear:

Boils in the groin area. Boils can affect the skin folds of the groin, the pubic area, and the lips and folds of the vagina. This area has lots of hair follicles and can be prone to chafing, especially if you wear tight-fitting clothes. You can also develop a boil after you get a cut or ingrown hair due to shaving this area.

Boils on buttocks.  Boils frequently affect the buttocks due to hair follicles, sweat, and friction in the area. Dirty underwear could make a boil here more likely. 

Boils on the face. Boils on your face are different from cysts and pimples, though they can look similar. Cysts are filled with fluid, while a pimple is the result of a clogged pore. Cysts and pimples aren’t contagious like boils can be.

Boil on eyelid. If a boil occurs here, it’s called a stye, and it can be painful. You treat them similarly to the way you treat a boil anywhere else. If it doesn’t go away on its own, a dermatologist can prescribe an antibiotic cream or eye drops.

Other areas where boils often appear include:

• Breasts
• Armpits
• Shoulders
• Legs

Keep an eye out for several boils that appear in a group. That’s a more serious type of infection called a carbuncle.

Most boils are caused by staph bacteria. This germ enters your body through tiny nicks or cuts in your skin or can travel down a hair to the follicle.

These things make people more likely to get boils and other skin infections:

• Diabetes, which can make it harder for your body to fight infection 
• A weakened immune system
• Other skin conditions that break your skin’s protective barrier
• Contact with others, especially if someone you live with has a boil
• Poor hygiene
• Poor nutrition
• Exposure to harsh chemical that irritate the skin

A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump about the size of a pea. Over the next few days, the lump becomes softer, larger, and more painful. Soon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. 

These are signs of a serious infection:

• Fever
• Swollen lymph n
• odes
• Infected, red, painful, and warm skin around the boil
• Additional boil or boils

Boils vs. pimples. Pimples are caused by clogged pores, but boils stem from an infection. That’s why you might notice boils around scratches or cuts, unlike pimples. Pimples aren’t contagious, but boils can be. A boil will likely grow faster than a pimple and hurt more. And it won’t get better when you use pimple treatments.

Boils vs. cysts. A cyst isn’t caused by an infection. It doesn’t hurt and is usually harmless. Cysts usually grow more slowly than boils. Fluid might come out if you squeeze a cyst, but it’s not whitish yellow pus, which is a sign of infection. Cysts aren’t contagious, but you can spread boils to others. 

Boils usually don’t require medical attention. But if you’re in poor health and develop high fever and chills along with the boil, go to the emergency room. 

Call your doctor if your boil doesn’t go away after 2 weeks or or you have:

• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Red or red streaks around the boil   
• Serious pain
• Multiple boils 
• Vision issues
• Recurring boils
• Other conditions such as a heart murmur, diabetes, a problem with your immune system, or if you use immune-suppressing drugs like corticosteroids or chemotherapy

Your doctor can do a physical exam to see if you have a boil. This skin infection can affect many parts of the body, so they may ask about other parts of your body.

You may be able to treat boils at home. But whatever you do, don’t pick at the boil or try to pop it yourself. The boil may drain on its own, which is important in the healing process. 

Some ways to treat a boil include:

Apply warm compresses. Soak a washcloth in warm water and then press it gently against the boil for about 10 minutes. You can repeat this a few times throughout the day. Once you see the pus at the center (that’s called “bringing a boil to a head,” it’ll probably burst and drain soon. This usually occurs within 10 days after you see the head.

Use a heating pad. A heating pad can help the boil start to drain, too. Put the heating pad over a damp towel and lay it on the affected area. It may take up to a week for the boil to start opening and draining the pus. Keep applying heat, either with a heating pad or compress, for up to 3 days after the boil opens.

Keep it clean. As with any infection, you should keep the area clean. Use soap and warm water to wash the boil twice daily, and then gently pat the area dry. Keep towels and washcloths that come into contact with the boil separate from other towels.

Use a cover or bandage. To help the boil heal faster, keep it covered. After you wash the boil and the area around it, apply a clean dressing to keep it protected. You can use a bandage or gauze.

Practice good hygiene. After touching the boil or surrounding area, thoroughly wash your hands to prevent spreading the infection to other parts of your body — or passing it to another person. Take a bath or a shower daily to keep your skin clean and prevent the spread of infection to others. Avoid public swimming pools and gyms until your boil has cleared up.

Wash your linens. To lower the risk of further infection, wash your bedding, clothing, and towels at least once a week at a high temperature to kill off bacteria. Don’t share your towels with anyone else while you have a boil.

Take a pain reducer. If your boil is painful, take a pain reliever like acetaminophen or  ibuprofen. These can also lower your fever if your boil is causing one.

If you’re concerned about the infection, your doctor may run additional blood tests. They might prescribe antibiotics if the infection is serious.

If they drain the boil, they may take a sample (called a culture) to determine what type of bacteria caused the infection and assess whether you got the right antibiotic.

Whether your boil drains at home or is drained by a doctor, you’ll need to clean the infected area 2-3 times a day until the wound heals. Apply an antibiotic ointment after washing, then cover with a bandage. 

If the area turns red or looks as if it is getting infected again, call your doctor.

To avoid getting boils: 

• Carefully wash clothes, bedding, and towels.
• Don’t share personal items, like towels, that touch your skin.
• Clean and treat minor skin wounds.
• Practice good personal hygiene including regular hand-washing.
• Stay as healthy as possible.

Most boils will disappear on their own or with simple home treatment. In rare cases, the bacteria can enter your bloodstream and affect other parts of your body. That could lead to more serious infections.

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Furuncle in the groin: an experienced venereologist in Moscow.

Furuncle in the groin occurs with an infectious inflammation of the hair follicle.

Such a disease can be very dangerous due to the proximity of the lymph nodes.

Boils in the groin are caused by opportunistic pathogens, streptococci and staphylococci. Due to inflammation, tissue death and the formation of a necrotic rod occur.

Important! Without treatment, a furuncle in the groin can cause serious complications, up to sepsis.

The disease proceeds in three stages. Initially, a red dense infiltrate with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm is formed. Such an area causes discomfort, pain and itching.

After 2-4 days, the peak stage of the disease begins. Pain at the site of the boil becomes pronounced, aggravated by friction and walking. There may be an increase in temperature, inflammation of the inguinal lymph nodes. The stage ends with a breakthrough of the abscess and the release of its contents.

At the third stage, after the release of pus and necrotic rod, wound healing is observed.

Inguinal furunculosis in men is provoked by the following factors:

• Reduced immunity, including against the background of other diseases
• Poor nutrition and hypovitaminosis
• Poor groin hygiene
• Hypothermia
• Increased perspiration and high skin moisture

Provoke a furuncle in the groin in men can be wearing tight or synthetic underwear.

Puberty in boys is a risk factor for the development of furunculosis. This is due to the pronounced hormonal changes in the body.

The sebaceous glands under the influence of testosterone produce more secretions. The result is a blockage of the glands, followed by the addition of an inflammatory process.

Furuncle in the groin in women

Causes of the formation of boils in the groin in women can be:

Hair removal in the bikini area can cause furunculosis, regardless of the epilation method. Injury to the hair follicle and groin skin contributes to the penetration of infections. Ingrown hairs, which are formed during poor-quality hair removal, are another provoking factor.

Furuncle in the groin: therapy

Furuncle in the groin can be treated conservatively and with excision. Treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis, but a severe inflammatory process may require inpatient treatment.

At the first stage, the doctor usually prescribes antibacterial ointments. General antibiotics for boils in the groin are used for an extensive and deep process.

In addition to antibacterial external agents, ointments can be used to ripen and break the boil. Before applying ointments, the surface of the boil must be disinfected. After treatment of the site of inflammation, an aseptic dressing is applied on top.

Remember! After the breakthrough of the boil, it is important to ensure that the necrotic rod moves away.

If this does not happen, a relapse of the disease is possible. In the absence of an independent breakthrough of the boil, it is opened under local anesthesia. After sanitation of the focus of inflammation, drainage can be installed to improve the outflow of pus.

Further wound treatment consists of local antibiotic therapy and the use of healing agents. If you are concerned about the presence of boils in the groin, the doctors of our clinic will help you cure the disease.

If you have boils in your groin, please contact our experienced venereologists.

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Furuncle in the groin: causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention

Furuncle is an inflammation localized in the sebaceous gland, hair follicle, surrounding tissues. The penetration of pathological bacteria through cuts, skin injuries leads to their appearance. Sometimes they are confused with acne, however, these formations differ in etiology, distribution, method of treatment. In the treatment of boils, ointments, antibiotics are used, in severe cases, surgery is performed.

NAVIGATION TO ARTICLE

1. Causes
2. Symptoms and stages of maturation
3. Treatment
4. Antibiotics
5. Ointments
6. Folk remedies
7. Operations
8. Complications
9. Prevention

Causes

Main cause, of -behind which a furuncle develops in the groin – golden or white staphylococcus aureus. Often it settles on the skin in the hair follicles, in the presence of pathological factors causes inflammation, which is commonly called boils or boils. By itself, this pathological bacterium lives in the human body for a long time and does not manifest itself in any way.

Among the factors that contribute to the spread, activation of staphylococcus, there are:

• Weakening of immunity. A furuncle in the groin occurs after a cold, strong psycho-emotional stress, vitamin deficiency, lack of sleep. A decrease in the body’s defenses does not allow fighting a developing infection.
• Non-compliance with hygiene measures. After a long trip, lack of hot water, inability to wash, wearing the same underwear for a long time, ordinary dirt forms on the skin. Even the smallest wound opens up favorable opportunities for infection to enter the bloodstream and the onset of the inflammatory process.
• Synthetic or tight underwear. Rubbing against skin, causing minor injury. At the same time, it promotes perspiration. These factors often lead to the appearance of a boil in the groin in women.
• Hypothermia. Promotes the development of colds, leading to weakened immunity and susceptibility to infections. On the other hand, the development of a boil can be triggered by hypothermia only in the lower part of the body – bathing, light clothing in winter.
• Increased perspiration. High humidity is an excellent condition for the reproduction and growth of any bacteria.
• Unbalanced diet. Malnutrition, malnutrition, insufficient intake of vitamins weakens the body.
• Diseases. Chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cholecystitis, pyelonephritis lead to the formation of skin inflammations. A negative role is played by diseases of an infectious nature, especially those developing in the urogenital region: herpes, gonorrhea.
• Hormonal features. On some days of the cycle, there may be an increase in the production of skin secretions.
• Wax cuts. Inaccurate shaving of hair in the groin area leads to the appearance of wounds.

Most often, the appearance of a boil in the groin in women, as well as in men, leads to several reasons at once.

Symptoms and stages of maturation

There are four stages in the development of a boil:

1. The first stage is associated with the appearance of redness on the injured area of ​​the skin and a little later – swelling. The skin begins to itch, there is a burning sensation, discomfort.
2. The second stage is characterized by compaction and an increase in the size of the boil. It begins to rise above the skin. The edematous area increases. There is pain, aggravated by touch. Education can reach three centimeters in diameter. All processes occurring at this stage are associated with the formation of an infiltrate, which includes pus, blood, lymph. A white head is formed in the upper part of the formation. In severe cases, the temperature rises, the inguinal lymph nodes become inflamed.
3. The third stage occurs at the moment of breakthrough of the boil and the release of purulent contents. The main part of the pus is released at the time of the breakthrough, but it continues to come out for several more days. The process is usually associated with severe pain. The contents of the boil smell unpleasant.
4. The fourth stage is the healing stage. For its successful passage, it is necessary to observe disinfection and hygiene measures.

It usually takes 10 to 14 days from the onset of redness to healing.

Treatment

Boils usually do not go away on their own in either men or women. For the treatment of a boil in the groin, therapeutic, surgical methods, traditional medicine are used. The place of formation of an abscess is regularly treated with an antiseptic. Treat boils with 3% hydrogen peroxide, 2% or 3% boric alcohol, Chlorhexidine.

The purpose of therapy is to relieve symptoms, pain, eliminate inflammation, achieve a speedy recovery and prevent possible complications.

The purpose of all drugs depends on the severity of the process and the stage of the disease.

Antibiotics

Mostly at the second stage of the development of the boil, antibiotic treatment is prescribed. The indications for it are the appearance of the following signs:

• Symptoms of inflammatory processes. Fever, headache, chills.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Formation of new boils.
• Presence of concomitant diseases: AIDS, diabetes mellitus, chronic pathologies.

The first three signs indicate the spread of the infection and the inability of the body to quickly cope with it.

If one or more symptoms occur, antibacterial agents of all action groups are prescribed: macrolide, tetracycline, penicillin. Antibiotics are used for boils: Amoxiclav, Erythromycin, Tetracycline, Suprax. They are considered the most effective in the application against staphylococcus aureus.

Dosage, duration, frequency of administration is determined by the doctor.

Probiotics, immunomodulators, vitamins are prescribed along with the antibacterial therapy of boils.

Ointments

Ointments are used to treat boils in the groin. Today in the arsenal – a large number of funds, some of them contain antibiotics.

The action of Metrogyl gel is aimed at combating microorganisms , it has a bactericidal effect, disinfects the wound. The ointment is applied twice a day with a thin layer. Contraindicated in pregnant women.

Zineryt is used for treatment. This drug contains erythromycin, a macrolide antibacterial agent. It is effective against bacteria, dries out the affected skin.

Levomekol is mainly used in the first and second stages. It has an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effect, promotes rapid healing of tissues. Apply twice a day.

Effective use of Vishnevsky ointment for boils. It is used only after the boil has matured. It accelerates the expulsion of pus, relieves pain, inflammation, and disinfects. The ointment is applied to a piece of bandage or gauze, applied to the boil at night and covered with a plaster. After the compress is removed, the site of inflammation is treated with an antiseptic. It is recommended to alternate the use of Vishnevsky’s ointment with antibacterial agents for external use. Not used in the first stage.

Ichthyol ointment is used to relieve inflammation, pain, and improve blood circulation. It is shown to be applied directly to the boil for up to two hours. It contributes to the accumulation of pus at one point, rupture of the skin and the release of purulent masses. After opening the boil is not used.

Folk remedies

In the absence of contraindications, folk remedies are used.

To accelerate the maturation of a boil, take a boiled egg, wrap it in gauze or napkins, and apply it to the site of inflammation. An iodine compress has a similar effect. It also disinfects the skin around the boil.

Baked onion speeds up the drawing out of pus. It is cut in half, baked in the oven or heated in a frying pan without oil, cooled, applied to the wound cut down, sealed with a plaster and left overnight.

A mixture made from honey and rye flour will help soften the skin over the boil.

Aloe pulp is used for speedy healing. The leaves are cut in half, the soft contents are squeezed out of them, applied to the site of the abscess, sealed with a breathable plaster. The compress is done at night. The duration of treatment is 3 days.

To speed up the healing, use lotions from a certified mixture of sage and chamomile, boiled burdock leaves.

Operations

Despite the complex drug therapy used, it does not always help. Indications for surgical treatment are:

• Furuncle does not erupt for more than seven days;
• Increased chance of developing sepsis;
• Several boils form.

During the operation, the doctor punctures the skin, removes the contents of the abscess, rinses it with an antiseptic and saline solution, applies drainage for 3 days, and a sterile bandage. Antibacterial ointment is preliminarily applied to the bandage.

Self-opening, extrusion is unacceptable.

Complications

Women often feel ashamed of a boil in their groin. Lack of timely treatment can lead to quite serious consequences:

• Sepsis. The infection enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. In severe cases, it leads to death.
• Occurrence of an internal furuncle. It appears deep in the skin and affects the fatty layer. For treatment, surgery, antibiotic therapy is used.
• Lymphadenitis. Inflammation is transferred to the lymph nodes.
• Lymphangitis. Infection affects the lymphatic vessels.
• Furunculosis. It develops in a chronic form, while the boils are clogged, the secretion of pus is disturbed.