Skin problems health centre

Boils

Boils overview

A boil is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or a sebaceous gland (these glands produce an oily substance, sebum). At first the skin turns red in the area of the infection and a tender swelling develops. After four to seven days, the swelling becomes more pointed and 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 germ (staphylococcal bacteria). This germ enters the body through tiny nicks or cuts in the skin or can travel down the hair to the follicle.

Some health problems make people more susceptible to skin infections, including:

• Diabetes .
• Problems with the immune system.
• Poor nutrition.
• Poor hygiene.
• Exposure to harsh chemicals that irritate the skin.

Symptoms of boils

A boil starts as a hard, red, painful swelling usually less than 4 cm in size. Over the next few days, the swelling becomes softer, larger and more painful. Soon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil (pointing).

These are the signs of a severe infection:

• The skin around the boil becomes infected. It turns red, painful, warm and increasingly swollen.
• More boils may appear around the original one.
• You develop a raised temperature.
• Nearby lymph nodes (glands) may become swollen.

When to seek medical care

• You have a high temperature.
• The skin around the boil turns red or red streaks appear.
• The pain becomes severe.
• The boil does not drain pus.
• A second boil appears.
• You have a heart murmur, diabetes, any problem with your immune system or use immune suppressing medications (for example corticosteroids or chemotherapy) and you develop a boil.
• Boils usually do not need immediate emergency attention. If you are in poor health and you develop high temperature and chills along with the infection, you should make an urgent appointment with your GP, or out of hours call   NHS Direct or your out-of-hours provider.

Examinations and tests

Your doctor can make the diagnosis with a physical examination. Many parts of your body may be affected by this infection on your skin, so you may be asked questions about or have an examination of other parts of your body.

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 10 days of its appearance. You can make a warm compress by soaking a flannel in warm water and squeezing out the excess moisture.
• When the boil starts draining, wash it regularly with an antibacterial soap until all the pus is gone. Apply a medicated ointment and a large plaster or gauze. Do not use a waterproof plaster that excludes all air. 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.