Boils

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Hair follicle anatomy

Furuncle

Boils may heal on their own after a period of itching and mild pain. More often, they increase in discomfort as pus collects.

Boils usually must open and drain before they will heal. This usually occurs in less than 2 weeks.

• Warm, moist compresses help boils drain, which speeds healing. Gently soak the area with a warm, moist cloth several times each day.
• Never squeeze a boil or try to cut it open at home. This can spread the infection and make it worse.
• When the boil finally does burst and drain, continue to put warm, wet compresses on the area.

Deep or large boils may need to be drained with surgery by a health care provider. Treatment by a health care provider is needed if:

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• A boil lasts longer than 2 weeks
• A boil comes back
• The boil is on the spine or the middle of the face
• The boil occurs with a fever or other symptoms, because the infection may spread and cause complications

Careful hygiene is important:

• Clean draining boils often.
• Wash your hands very well after touching a boil.
• Do not re-use or share washcloths or towels. Wash clothing, washcloths, towels, and sheets or other items that contact infected areas in very hot (preferably boiling) water.
• Change dressings often and throw them out with the drainage, such as by placing them in a bag that can be closed tightly before throwing it out.

Antibacterial soaps and antibiotics placed on the skin are of little help once a boil has formed. Antibiotics taken by mouth or given as a shot may help a more severe infection or if the boil returns.

Some people have repeated abscesses and are unable to prevent them.

Boils can be very painful if they occur in areas like the ear canal or nose. A health care provider should treat boils of the nose.

Boils that form close together may expand and join, causing a condition called carbunculosis.

• Abscess of the skin, spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organ
• Brain infection
• Endocarditis
• Osteomyelitis
• Permanent scarring
• Sepsis
• Spinal cord infection
• Spread of infection to other parts of the body or skin surfaces

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if boils:

• Appear on the face or spine
• Come back
• Do not heal with home treatment within 1 week
• Occur along with a fever, red streaks coming out from the sore, large fluid collections around the boil, or other symptoms

Review Date: 10/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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