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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treatment, causes, symptoms, prevention, types, diagnosis and complications of the disease

Prices Popular questions

About the disease Classification Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Expert opinion Treatment Prevention Rehabilitation

In 95% of cases, an abscess develops due to infection with Staphylococcus aureus and only in 5 % of cases other bacterial flora is present.

The appearance of a pimple on the skin rarely causes a person to turn to doctors. But few people understand that an abscess can turn out to be a boil or a boil. The disease requires a referral to a specialist, especially if abscesses appear one after another. This may indicate serious disorders in the body and high risks of complications.

About disease

Furuncles often form on areas of the skin where there are many sebaceous glands – around the lips, along the back of the neck, on the hands, on the thighs and buttocks. Abscesses do not form on the palms and soles.

The appearance of a boil is often preceded by folliculitis. When you try to squeeze out the contents, the bacteria are carried to the surrounding tissues, which leads to inflammation.

Classification of boils

In the process of its development, the boil passes through several stages, each of which has its own characteristics.

• Infiltration. Represents the initial stage of inflammation.
• Ripening. A purulent-necrotic core is formed, which is rejected after a few days.
• Scarring. The healed wound heals with the formation of a scar.

The duration of the full cycle of development of an abscess is from one to two weeks. With a close location of several foci, their merger is possible. If the inflammatory process extends to the subcutaneous tissue, they are talking about a carbuncle. There are situations when boils are formed at intervals of three or more times a year. This indicates the development of furunculosis.

Symptoms of a boil

The first signs of a boil appear after hypothermia, injury or contamination of damaged skin. The skin around the hair follicle becomes red, swelling appears. Within a few days, it continues to increase with the formation of a cyanotic rod. The pain at this point becomes constant, pronounced, pulsating. In size, the abscess can reach a centimeter in diameter.

A bubble filled with pus forms in the center of the formation. After its self-opening, a purulent crust is formed. When it is removed, a necrotic rod is visible. Ripening continues for 3-4 days. During this time, the rod is torn away, the surrounding tissues are melted, and the contents of the abscess are constantly released from the wound. After complete cleansing, a deep wound remains on the skin.

If an abscess forms on the face, the symptoms of a boil are often accompanied by signs of general intoxication: fever, chills, severe weakness, loss of appetite.

Causes of boil development

The main reason for the formation of a boil is the ingress of bacteria on the skin – untimely change of linen, towels, razors. The presence of provoking factors is important:

• skin microtraumas, scratches, scratches;
• increased moisture on the skin;
• frequent overheating of the body;
• violation of the immune system – diabetes, HIV, obesity;
• chronic pathologies of the cardiovascular system and metabolic processes;

Uncontrolled intake of antibacterial drugs contributes to the development of resistance and disruption of the natural balance in the opportunistic microflora, which is constantly on the surface of the skin. It also increases the risk of boils.

Diagnosis of boils

Patient examination begins with a questioning. It is important for the doctor to find out what factors preceded the appearance of boils, whether there are chronic diseases, what the patient is doing when an abscess occurs (what ointments to use, whether he tried to squeeze out). During the examination, the condition of the boil, its stage of development, is assessed.

To determine the severity of the disease, a laboratory blood test is prescribed. Only after that a diagnosis is made indicating the form and stage according to the classification of boils.

In the presence of chronic pathologies, additional examinations and consultations of narrow specialists may be required. Diagnosis of a boil necessarily includes an analysis to determine the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics. This will allow you to choose the most effective treatment for boils.

Expert opinion

Treatment of boils

When there is a painful bump, ie. at the initial stage of the disease, it is possible to treat the boil with conservative methods. Topical Therapy Includes:

• Refusal to shave, mechanical injury to the skin (use of scrubs, washcloths), replacement of cosmetics that clog the skin with lighter ones;
• daily treatment of the affected area with antiseptics;
• dressing with antibacterial ointment;
• taking vitamins in a course prescribed by a doctor.

As a result of these actions, the inflammatory process subsides.

If no action is taken when an abscess occurs, it proceeds to the next stage with the formation of a necrotic rod. Treatment will require surgery. The procedure is performed by a doctor under antiseptic conditions.

Under local anesthesia, the abscess is opened to ensure the outflow of the contents. After removal of the necrotic rod, the wound is washed and closed with a sterile dressing. The procedure takes 10-15 minutes and does not require hospitalization. Exceptions are situations when the abscess is located on the face, accompanied by severe swelling and symptoms of intoxication. To prevent negative consequences after treatment of a boil, it is recommended to observe a doctor in a hospital for 2-3 days.

Prevention of boils

Prevention consists of the following recommendations:

• avoid wearing tight clothing made of artificial materials;
• exclusion of alcoholic beverages;
• strengthening the immune system with vitamins and an active lifestyle;
• stress minimization;
• normalization of nutrition with a sufficient amount of trace elements in the diet;
• a competent choice of cosmetics that do not clog pores;
• use of antiperspirant instead of deodorant;
• skin protection against pollution;
• timely treatment of chronic diseases.

Rehabilitation

After opening the boil within 1-2 days, pain, swelling of the tissues is possible. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe analgesics to relieve pain. Perhaps the use of antibiotics. Their expediency is determined in each case individually.

To avoid complications, the patient should regularly change the dressing, treat the wound with prescribed formulations, and take medications. A re-examination by the surgeon is mandatory. The date of the visit is appointed by the doctor.

Sources

The author of the article

Mikhailov Aleksey Gennadievich
Surgeon, oncologist, mammologist, endocrine surgeon Work experience more than 22 years

Popular questions

Diabetes mellitus, a chronic source of infection, a general decrease in immunity can be the cause of furunculosis. To find the cause, you should undergo a complete examination.

No, modern methods make it possible to remove an abscess without forming rough scars.

Maybe, but in view of the greater number of risks, it is better to consult a doctor immediately in order to prevent the development of complications.

Article published: 08.12.2022
Last updated: 05/23/2023

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Boil: Causes, Symptoms, Causes | doc.ua

Furuncle – acute purulent necrotic inflammation of the hair follicles, as well as the connective tissue around it. Such inflammation can occur on any part of the skin where there is a hairline. The most favorite places are the rear of the hand, face, neck, lower back.

Attention!

Here you can choose a doctor who treats Furuncle If you are not sure about the diagnosis, make an appointment with a general practitioner or general practitioner to clarify the diagnosis.

Causes

Boils are caused by staphylococcus aureus, which is golden and white. The formation of such inflammation usually does not pose a particular danger to human health. But the course and treatment of furunculosis is complicated against the background of some chronic diseases – for example, diabetes. Possible complications are thrombophlebitis, regional lymphadenitis and lymphangitis.

Symptoms

It appears gradually. First, a focus of bright red color appears, which takes on a cone-shaped shape and rises slightly above the surface of the skin. Already at this stage, boils require treatment. The inflamed area itches and hurts a little.

Over time, the area of ​​inflammation increases, redness increases, and edema appears. On day 3-4, necrosis is observed in the center of the abscess, and the tissues become softer. They take on a greenish tint. A rod is visible in the center of the seal.

When the rod can already be seen on the surface, the pain intensifies. “Maturation” of the abscess may be accompanied by such conditions as headache, fever, general malaise.

As a rule, the rod is rejected after three days. In its place, a deep, moderately bleeding wound is formed, which heals after another three days.

But the core may not form if the disease proceeds in an “erased” form. Sometimes inflammation goes beyond the hair follicle, and phlegmon develops.

Treatment

At the initial stage, the development of an abscess can be prevented by lubricating the sore spot with an alcohol solution of iodine. You can go through the procedure of electrophoresis or chipping using antibiotics. Salicylic acid, crystalline salicylic sodium is also used for this purpose. So the rejection of the rod occurs as quickly as possible. It is strongly not recommended to squeeze out the contents of the abscess!

The main treatment for this type of inflammation consists in careful treatment of the skin area. To do this, use a 70% alcohol solution, a solution of methylene blue, brilliant green, an alcohol solution of salicylic acid. If the focus has arisen on the scalp and neck, the area around it is carefully cut off.

In the case of an abscess, boils are opened under local anesthesia, the wound is thoroughly cleaned from purulent necrotic masses. Then they are treated with a solution of furacilin and hydrogen peroxide.