A boil is a skin abscess (carbuncle) or contained infection deep in the skin. Beginning as a blemished, tender spot, it turns firm over time, as the center fills with white blood cells that fight infection. Starting about an inch, it grows and becomes more painful as pus (converging white blood cells, bacteria and protein) forms. When the pus comes to a head, it can either be drained out through the skin’s surface or removed surgically. Most boils can be treated at home.
How Boils Develop
Usually boils form from infected hair follicles found under the arms. The staph bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (responsible for diseases such as pneumonia) live in your skin, throat, and nasal passages. Boils caused by staph bacteria often enter through a break in the skin such as a scratch or cut. When this happens, white blood cells rush to the scene fighting off infection, leading to inflammation. This then leads to pus.
How to Get Rid of Boils
Most boils can be treated at home. Seek medical help if a boil doesn’t dissolve after two weeks. It’s even more urgent to see a doctor if your boil brings on fever and chills.
Soak or apply hot moisture packs. Boils usually respond to moisture and heat. If you’re able to place your boil in warm water, soak it. If it’s on your stomach, use warm moisture compresses to bring it to the surface. Apply hot moisture packs twice daily to bring the pus to a head, flattening the boil out.
Take antibiotics. Often doctors prescribe antibiotics such as Cephalexin (500 mg) capsules to help fight the infection. By taking antibiotics three times daily, until your prescription runs out, your body can speed up healing.
Types of Boils
Furuncle – Also known as carbuncle, this is a skin abscess that is caused by a bacterium called Staphylococcus aurus, and usually is accompanied by fever or chills.
Cystic acne – Seen mostly in adolescents, cystic acne is a boil that is usually on the face and is the result of oil ducts becoming congested and infected.
Hidradenitis suppurativa – This type, in the armpits or groin, is because of infected sweat glands. Surgery and antibiotics are usually not needed.
Pilonidal cysts – Beginning as small infections of the hair follicles, these are skin boils found usually in the crease of the buttocks. Inflammation grows from direct pressure of prolonged sitting and can occur after prolonged periods of being in a sitting position.
How to Prevent Boils
If you have a weak immune system, boils aren’t always preventable. However, there are certain precautions you can take if you’re healthy.
- Practice good hygiene.
- Protect skin from cuts.
- Don’t wear tight clothing.
- Don’t prolong using medications that can weaken your immune system.
- Thoroughly wash your hands after treating a boil.
Most of all, resist the temptation to squeeze a boil. You may want to rush the process, but by squeezing it you risk the danger of having it spread to other areas of the body. If you're patient, it will come to a head by itself and dissolve.
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