Carbuncle

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Skin layers

Skin infection - staphylococcal; Infection - skin - staph; Staph skin infection; Carbunculosis

A carbuncle is a swollen lump or mass under the skin. It may be the size of a pea or as large as a golf ball. The carbuncle may be red and irritated and might hurt when you touch it.

It may also:

• Grow very fast
• Have a white or yellow center (pustule)
• Weep, ooze, or crust
• Spread to other skin areas

Sometimes, other symptoms may occur. These may include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• General discomfort or sick feeling
• Skin itching before the carbuncle develops

Your doctor will look at your skin. The diagnosis is primarily based on what the skin looks like. A skin biopsy may be done to help make the diagnosis or determine the exact type of bacteria involved.

Review Date: 04/12/2007
Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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