Boils

Boils Overview

A boil is a 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 four to seven days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin.

The most common places for boils to appear are on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks. When one forms on the eyelid, it is called a sty.

If several boils appear in a group, this is a more serious type of infection called a carbuncle.

Causes of Boils

Most boils are caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus. This germ enters the body through tiny breaks in the skin or by traveling down a hair to the follicle.

Certain health problems make people more susceptible to skin infections such as boils. Examples are

diabetes,

problems with the immune system,

poor nutrition,

poor hygiene, and

exposure to harsh chemicals that irritate the skin.

Symptoms of Boils

A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump usually less than an inch in size. 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. Signs of a severe infection are

the skin around the boil becomes red, painful and swollen;

more boils may appear around the original one;

a fever develops; and

the lymph nodes become swollen.

When to Seek Medical Care

You start running a fever.

The skin around the boil turns red or red streaks appear.

The pain becomes severe.

The boil does not drain.

A second boil appears.

You have a heart murmur, diabetes, any problem with your immune system, or are taking medications that suppress the immune system (for example, corticosteroids or chemotherapycancer) and you develop a boil.

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Boils usually do not need immediate emergency attention. If you are in poor health and you develop high fever and chills along with the infection, a trip to a hospital's emergency department is needed.

Exams and Tests

Your doctor can make the diagnosis of a boil with a physical exam. If you frequently get boils, your doctor may want to do a blood test to see if you have diabetes.

Boils Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Apply warm compresses, and soak the boil in warm water. This will decrease the pain and help draw the pus to the surface. Once the boil comes to a head, it will burst with repeated soakings. This usually occurs within five to seven days of its appearance. You can make a warm compress by soaking a wash cloth in warm water and squeezing out the excess moisture.

When the boil starts draining, wash it with an antibacterial soap until all the pus is gone. Apply a medicated ointment and a bandage. Continue to wash the infected area two to three times a day and to use warm compresses until the wound heals.

Do not pop the boil with a needle. This usually results in making the infection worse.

Medical Treatment

If the boil is large, your health-care provider may need to open it up and drain the pus. This is done with a scalpel after the area of the boil is numbed with a local anesthetic.

If the infection is deep, your doctor may put some gauze in the incision to keep it open and draining. The gauze is usually removed in two days.

If there are concerns about the seriousness of the infection, blood tests may be needed. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the infection is severe. If the boil is drained, a culture may be done to determine the type of bacteria causing the infection and to assess if an appropriate antibiotic was given.

Next Steps

Follow-up

Whether the boil is drained at home or is lanced by a doctor, you will need to clean the infected area two to three times a day until the wound is healed. Apply an antibiotic ointment after washing and cover with a bandage. If the area turns red or looks as if it is getting infected again, contact your doctor.

Prevention

Help prevent boils by following these guidelines: