When Boils Pop: Comprehensive Guide to Boils and Carbuncles

13.09.202318.07.2023 by alexxlab

What are boils and carbuncles? How do they form? When should you see a doctor? Get answers to these questions and more in this informative article.

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Understanding Boils and Carbuncles

Boils and carbuncles are red, painful lumps that form just under the surface of the skin. They are usually caused by a bacterial infection, most commonly the Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria. Boils can develop anywhere on the body, but are most likely to occur in areas where there is a combination of hair, sweat, and friction, such as the face, neck, armpits, or thighs.

Differences Between Boils and Carbuncles

While boils and carbuncles share similarities, there are some key differences. A boil is a single, red, painful lump, whereas a carbuncle is a dome-shaped cluster of boils. Carbuncles tend to be larger, growing up to 3-10cm in size, and can cause a high fever, general unwellness, and weakness. Carbuncles are less common than boils and are more likely to affect middle-aged or older men with a weakened immune system.

When to See a Doctor

Most boils can be treated at home and will burst and heal on their own within 2-3 weeks. However, you should see your doctor if the boil is on your face, nose, or spine, as these can sometimes cause serious complications. You should also see your doctor if the boil gets bigger and feels soft and spongy, as it may not burst and heal on its own, or if you have a fever and feel generally unwell.

Treating Boils and Carbuncles

The best way to speed up the healing of a boil is to apply a warm, moist face cloth to the area for 10-20 minutes, 3-4 times a day. This increases blood flow and brings more infection-fighting white blood cells to the area. If the boil doesn’t heal or a carbuncle develops, your doctor may need to drain it. Antibiotics are usually recommended for carbuncles, high fevers, or if you develop a secondary infection.

Preventing Boils and Carbuncles

While you can’t always avoid getting a boil or carbuncle, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. These include washing your skin regularly with a mild antibacterial soap, carefully cleaning any cuts or wounds, and covering them to prevent infection.

Recurrent Boils and Carbuncles

If you keep getting boils or carbuncles, you may be a carrier of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Your doctor will advise you on the best treatment, which may involve finding and eliminating the bacteria from your skin or nasal passages.

Complications of Boils and Carbuncles

Most boils and carbuncles don’t cause further problems, but in some cases, they can lead to a secondary infection, such as cellulitis, or even more serious complications like sepsis. Larger boils and carbuncles can also result in scarring.

In summary, boils and carbuncles are common skin infections that can be effectively treated, but it’s important to know when to see a doctor and how to prevent recurrent infections. By understanding the differences between boils and carbuncles and following proper self-care and prevention measures, you can reduce the risk of complications and keep your skin healthy.

What are the main causes of boils and carbuncles?
Boils and carbuncles are often caused by a type of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus (staph bacteria) that infects one or more hair follicles. You can get a boil when the bacteria enter the skin through cuts and grazes, and a carbuncle develops when the infection spreads further beneath the skin.

How can you prevent boils and carbuncles?
To reduce your risk of getting boils and carbuncles, you should wash your skin regularly using a mild antibacterial soap, carefully clean any cuts or wounds, and cover them to prevent infection. These simple steps can help keep your skin healthy and reduce the likelihood of developing these skin infections.

When should you see a doctor for a boil or carbuncle?
You don’t usually need to see a doctor for a boil, as most will burst and heal on their own. However, you should see your doctor if the boil is on your face, nose, or spine, as these can sometimes cause serious complications. You should also see your doctor if the boil gets bigger and feels soft and spongy, or if you have a fever and feel generally unwell. For carbuncles, you should always see your doctor.

How are boils and carbuncles treated?
The best way to treat a boil at home is to apply a warm, moist face cloth to the area for 10-20 minutes, 3-4 times a day. This helps increase blood flow and bring more infection-fighting white blood cells to the area. If the boil doesn’t heal or a carbuncle develops, your doctor may need to drain it. Antibiotics are usually recommended for carbuncles, high fevers, or if you develop a secondary infection.

What are the potential complications of boils and carbuncles?
While most boils and carbuncles don’t cause further problems, some people can develop a secondary infection, such as cellulitis (a deeper skin infection). In rare cases, more serious complications like sepsis can occur. Larger boils and carbuncles can also lead to scarring.

Boils and carbuncles | nidirect

Boils and carbuncles are red, painful lumps that form just under the surface of the skin. They are usually caused by a bacterial infection.

Boils

Boils can develop anywhere on your skin. But you’re most likely to get a boil in an area where there’s a combination of hair, sweat and friction, such as the face, neck, armpits or thighs.

A boil on the back of the hand

Over time, pus forms inside the boil, making it bigger and more painful. Most boils eventually burst. The pus then drains away without leaving a scar. This can take from two days to three weeks to happen.

It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between a boil and a spot. But boils tend to grow bigger and become more painful. Your GP should be able to diagnose a boil from its appearance.

Carbuncles

A carbuncle is a dome-shaped cluster of boils. It usually develops over a few days. The areas most commonly affected are the back, thighs, or back of the neck.

A carbuncle is a dome-shaped cluster of boils

A carbuncle can grow to a size of 3-10cm and will leak pus from a number of points.

You may also:

have a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
feel generally unwell
feel weak and exhausted

Carbuncles are less common than boils. They tend to mostly affect middle-aged or older men in poor health or with a weakened immune system. Boils are common in adolescents and young adults.

When to see your GP

See your GP if you think you have a carbuncle.

With boils, you don’t usually need to see a doctor as most boils burst and heal by themselves. But see your GP if you have a boil:

on your face, nose or spine – this can sometimes cause serious complications
that gets bigger and feels soft and spongy to touch – it may not burst and heal by itself
that doesn’t heal within two weeks
and you have a temperature and feel generally unwell

Your GP should be able to identify a boil or carbuncle by looking at it.

Treating boils and carbuncles

Self care

Most boils get better without the need for medical treatment.

One of the best ways to speed up healing is to apply a warm, moist face cloth to the boil for 10-20 minutes, three or four times a day.

Be careful not to use water that’s too hot. Make sure the face cloth is not too warm to avoid a scald or burn. Test how warm it is using the skin on the back of your hand.

The heat increases the amount of blood circulating around the boil. This sends more infection-fighting white blood cells to the area.

When the boil bursts, cover it with sterile gauze or a dressing. This is to prevent the spread of infection.

Afterwards, wash your hands thoroughly using hot water and soap.

Never squeeze or pierce a boil because it could spread the infection.

You can use over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to help relieve any pain caused by the boil.

Draining boils

If your boil doesn’t heal, your GP may decide to drain it, or refer you to hospital to have this done. They’ll usually numb the area first and then use a sterile needle or scalpel to pierce the boil.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are usually recommended:

for all cases of carbuncles
if you have a high temperature
if you develop a secondary infection, such as cellulitis (infection of the deeper layers of the skin)
if you have a boil on your face – facial boils have a higher risk of causing complications
if you’re in severe pain and discomfort

It’s very important to finish the course of antibiotics even if the boil goes away. If you don’t the infection could return.

Treating recurrent boils and carbuncles

You’re likely to need further treatment if you keep getting boils or carbuncles.

Most people who keep getting boils are carriers of Staphylococcus aureus (staph bacteria). This means they have staph bacteria living on their skin or inside their nose.

Treatment will depend on where the bacteria are found on your body. Your GP will advise you about treatment.

Causes of boils and carbuncles

Boils and carbuncles are often caused by a type of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus (staph bacteria) that infects one or more hair follicles.

You can get a boil when bacteria enter the skin through cuts and grazes.

A carbuncle develops when the infection spreads further beneath the skin to create a cluster of boils.

Complications of boils and carbuncles

Although most boils and carbuncles don’t cause further problems, some people develop a secondary infection.

This can range from a minor (though often very painful) infection of the deeper layer of the skin, such as cellulitis, to rarer and more serious complications, such as sepsis.

Larger boils and carbuncles can also lead to scarring.

Preventing boils and carbuncles

You can’t always avoid getting a boil or carbuncle, but these simple steps can reduce your risk:

wash your skin regularly using a mild antibacterial soap
carefully clean any cuts, wounds or grazes (even small ones)
cover cuts, wounds and grazes with a sterile bandage until they heal
eat healthily and exercise regularly to boost your immune system

Catching boils or carbuncles

You can catch a boil or carbuncle. Unlike acne, boils and carbuncles can spread to another part of the body or to another person.

To prevent boils and carbuncles spreading, take simple precautions such as:

washing your hands after touching affected areas
using a separate face cloth and towel
washing underwear, bed linen and towels at a high temperature
covering wounds with a dressing until they heal
carefully disposing of used dressings

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Should You Do It and When to Call a Doctor

How to Pop a Boil: Should You Do It and When to Call a Doctor

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Medically reviewed by Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C — By Tessa Sawyers — Updated on April 25, 2023

You may be tempted to pop or lance a boil at home, but do not do this. This can spread infection and make the boil worse. Your boil may contain bacteria that could be dangerous if not properly treated.

If your boil is painful or isn’t healing, have it checked by a healthcare professional. They may need to surgically open and drain the boil and prescribe antibiotics.

Boils are caused by inflammation of a hair follicle or sweat gland. Typically, the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus causes this inflammation.

A boil usually appears as a hard lump under the skin. It then develops into a firm balloon-like growth under the skin as it fills with pus.

A boil typically appears in crevices or places where sweat and oil can build up, such as:

underarms
waist area
buttocks
under breasts
groin area

A boil commonly has a white or yellow center, which is caused by the pus inside it. The boil may spread to other areas of the skin. A cluster of boils connected to each other under the skin is called a carbuncle.

A boil can heal on its own. However, it may become more painful as pus continues to build in the lesion.

Instead of popping or picking at the boil, which can lead to infection, treat the boil with care. Follow these steps:

Use a clean, warm cloth to apply a compress to the boil. You can repeat this several times a day to encourage the boil to come to a head and drain.
Keep the area clean. Wash your hands after touching the affected area.
If the boil is painful, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
When open, the boil may weep or ooze liquid. Once the boil opens, cover it to prevent infection in the open wound. Use an absorbent gauze or pad to prevent the pus from spreading. Change the gauze or pad frequently.

If your boil doesn’t heal with home treatment, you may need to visit a doctor. Medical treatment may include:

topical or oral antibiotics
surgical incision
tests to determine the cause of boil

Surgical treatment usually involves draining the boil. Your doctor will make a small incision in the face of the boil. They will use an absorbent material, such as gauze, to soak up pus inside the boil.

Do not attempt this at home. Your home isn’t a sterile environment like a hospital setting. You’re at risk of developing a more serious infection or scarring.

Call a doctor if your boil:

worsens quickly
is accompanied by fever
hasn’t improved in 2 or more weeks
is bigger than 2 inches across
is accompanied by symptoms of infection

Resist the urge to pick at and pop your boil. Instead, apply warm compresses and keep the area clean.

If your boil doesn’t improve within 2 weeks or shows signs of serious infection, talk with a doctor or other healthcare professional. They may recommend lancing and draining the boil, and may prescribe antibiotics.

Last medically reviewed on June 15, 2022

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Boils. (n.d.).
aocd.org/page/Boils
Boils. (2020).
nhs.uk/conditions/boils/
Folliculitis, boils, and carbuncles. (n.d.).
hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/dermatology/folliculitis_boils_and_carbuncles_85,P00285
How to treat boils and styes. (n.d.).
aad.org/public/skin-hair-nails/skin-care/boils-and-styes

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Apr 25, 2023

Written By

Tessa Sawyers

Edited By

Britt Gambino

Copy Edited By

Sara Giusti

Jun 15, 2022

Medically Reviewed By

Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C

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Medically reviewed by Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C — By Tessa Sawyers — Updated on April 25, 2023

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