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 acarbuncle. Causes of Boils ost 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. These health problems make people more susceptible to skin infections# $iabetes %roblems with the immune system %oor nutrition %oor hygiene &'posure to harsh chemicals that irritate the skin (ymptoms of Boils A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump usually about half an inch in si)e. *ver the ne't few days, the lump becomes softer, larger, and more painful. (oon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. These are the signs of a severe infection# The skin around the boil becomes infected. It turns red, painful, warm, and swollen. ore boils may appear around the original one. A fever may develop. +ymph nodes may become swollen. When to (eek edical Care

,ou start running a fever. ,ou have swollen lymph nodes. The skin around the boil turns red or red streaks appear. The pain becomes severe. The boil does not drain. A second boil appears. ,ou have a heart murmur, diabetes, any problem with your immune system, or use immune suppressing drugs !for e'ample, 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 fever and chills along with the infection, a trip to a hospital-s emergency room is needed. &'ams and Tests ,our doctor can make the diagnosis with a physical e'am. any parts of the body may be affected by this skin infection, so some of the .uestions or e'am may be about other parts of your body. Boils Treatment // 0ome 1emedies Apply warm compresses and soak the boil in warm water. This will decrease the pain and help draw the pus to the surface. *nce the boil comes to a head, it will burst with repeated soakings. This usually occurs within 23 days of its appearance. ,ou can make a warm compress by soaking a wash cloth in warm water and s.uee)ing out the e'cess 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. $o not pop the boil with a needle. This could make the infection worse. A boil, also known as a skin abscess or furuncle, is a painful, pus/ filled lump that develops on the surface of the skin. It can be as

small as a pea or as large as a golf ball and can develop on any part of the body. Boils are usually caused by the infection of a hair follicle or oil gland. Although painful and unsightly, boils are not a serious problem and can be effectively treated at home. 0ere-s how. Apply hot compresses to the boil. As soon as you notice a boil beginning to form, you should begin treating with hot compresses. The sooner you begin treatment, the less likely it is that complications will occur. ake a hot compress by holding a clean wash cloth under hot water until wet, then s.uee)e out the e'cess moisture. %ress the warm, damp cloth gently onto the boil for five to ten minutes. 1epeat three to four times a day.

The hot compress does several things to speed up the healing of a boil. 4irstly, the warmth increases circulation to the area, helping to draw antibodies and white blood cells to the site of the infection. The heat also draws pus to the surface of the boil, encouraging it to drain faster. +astly, the hot compress will help to relieve pain.

Instead of a hot compress, you can also soak the boil in warm water, if it is on an area of the body where it-s convenient to do so. 4or boils on the lower body, sitting in a hot bath can be helpful.526 7 $o not lance or burst the boil at home. As the surface of the boil softens and fills with pus, it may be tempting to burst the skin with a needle and drain the contents yourself. 0owever, this is not recommended as it can cause the boil to become infected or the bacteria within the boil to spread, causing multiple boils. With continued application of hot compresses to the area, the boil should burst and drain by itself within about two weeks. 576 8 Wash the drained boil with antibacterial soap. *nce the boil starts draining, it is very important that you keep the area clean. Wash the boil thoroughly with an antibacterial soap and warm water, until all of the pus has drained. *nce clean, dry the boil with a clean towel or some paper towel, which should be washed or thrown away immediately after use, to avoid spreading the infection. 9 Apply an antibacterial cream and dress the boil. :e't, you should apply an antibacterial cream or ointment to the boil and cover it with a gau)e dressing. The gau)e will allow the boil to continue draining, so the dressing should be changed fre.uently. Antibacterial creams and ointments made specifically to deal with boils are available over/the/counter at your local pharmacy. 526 ; Continue applying hot compresses until the boil is fully healed. *nce the boil has drained, you should continue to apply hot compresses, clean the area and dress the boil until it has fully healed. As long as you are conscientious about keeping the area

clean, there should be no complications and the boil should heal completely within a week or two. ake sure to wash your hands with antibacterial soap before and after touching the boil, to avoid spreading infection. < (ee a doctor if the boil has not drained within two weeks, or has become infected. In some cases, medical treatment will be re.uired to deal with the boil, due to its si)e, location, or infection. A doctor will need to lance the boil, either in his=her office or in surgery. In these cases, the boil may have several pockets of pus to be drained, or be in a delicate are such as the nose or ear canal. If the boil or the skin surrounding it becomes infected, you may be given a shot of antibiotics or given a prescription to take them orally. The situations where you should seek medical advice include# If a boil develops on the face or spine, in the nose or ear canal or in the crease between the buttocks. These boils can be e'tremely painful and are difficult to treat at home. If the boils are consistently recurring. In some cases, treatment of recurring boils in areas such as the groin and armpit will re.uire the removal of sweat glands whose regular inflammation is causing the boils. If the boils are accompanied by a fever, red streaks oo)ing from the boil or redness and inflammation of the skin surrounding the boil. These are all signs of infection. If you suffer from a disease !such as cancer or diabetes" or are taking medication which weakens the immune system. In these cases, the body may not be able to fight off the infection causing the boil on its own. If the boil doesn-t drain after two weeks of home treatment or the boil is e'tremely painful.586 %art Two# %reventing Boils 2

$o not share towels, clothes or bedding with anyone who has a boil. Although boils themselves are not contagious, the bacteria which causes them is. That-s why it-s very important to e'ercise caution and avoid sharing any towels, clothes or bedding used by a family member with boils. These items should also be thoroughly washed after used by the infected person. 576 7 %ractice good hygiene. >ood hygiene is probably the most important thing you can do to prevent boils As boils are usually caused by bacteria infecting the hair follicles, you should prevent the build up of bacteria on the surface of the skin by washing daily. :ormal soap is fine, but if you are prone to developing boil, an antibacterial wash may be better. ,ou can also use an abrasive brush or sponge, such as a loofah, to scrub the skin. This will break up any oil from becoming clogged around the hair follicles. 8 Clean any cuts or wounds immediately and thoroughly. Bacteria can easily enter the body through cuts and wounds on the skin. It can then travel down the hair follicle where it causes infection and the development of boils. To avoid this, make sure to clean all minor cuts and scrapes well with an antibacterial wash, apply a cream or ointment, and cover with a bandage until healed. 9 Avoid sitting down for e'tended periods of time. Boils that form between the buttocks, also known as ?pilonidal cysts?, usually develop as a result of direct pressure caused by sitting down for long periods of time. They are common in truck drivers and people who have recently traveled on a long flight. If possible, try to relieve the pressure by taking fre.uent breaks to stretch your legs.586 %art Three# @sing 0ome 1emedies 2

@se tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and is used in the treatment of numerous skin conditions, including boils. (imply apply a dab of tea tree oil directly to the boil once a day, using a ./tip. 7 Try &psom salts. &psom salt is a drying agent which can assist in bringing the boil to a head. To use, dissolve the &psom salts in warm water and use this water to make a warm compress to place over the boil. 1epeat three times a day until the boil begins to drain.596 8 &'periment with turmeric. Turmeric is an Indian spice with impressive anti/inflammatory properties. It also acts as a blood purifier. Turmeric can be taken orally in capsule form, or it can be mi'ed with a little water to form a paste and applied directly onto the boil. Aust make sure to cover the boil with a bandage afterwards, as the turmeric can stain clothes. 5;6 9 Apply colloidal silver cream. Colloidal silver is a natural disinfectant which has been used with success in the home treatment of boils. (imply rub a little of the cream directly onto the boil twice a day. ; @se apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a natural disinfectant which can be used to cleanse infection from the boil once it has begun to drain. $ip a cotton ball into the vinegar and press it gently against the boil. If you find that it stings too much, dilute the apple cider vinegar to half strength with water first. < Try castor oil. Castor oil is used in numerous natural and medical treatments / including chemotherapy for cancer patients. 5<6 It is an effective anti/inflammatory which can be used to lessen the swelling and tenderness of boils. (oak a cotton boil in castor oil

and place it over the boil. (ecure the cotton ball with a band/aid or some gau)e. Change every few hours.