A bump forms as pus collects under the skin. Boils sometimes develop at sites where the skin has been broken by a small injury or an insect bite, which gives the bacteria easy entry. Although anyone — including otherwise healthy people — can develop boils or carbuncles, the following factors can increase your risk:.
Rarely, bacteria from a boil or carbuncle can enter your bloodstream and travel to other parts of your body. The spreading infection, commonly known as blood poisoning sepsis , can lead to infections deep within your body, such as your heart endocarditis and bone osteomyelitis.
It's not always possible to prevent boils, especially if you have a weakened immune system. But the following measures may help you avoid staph infections:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Boil Open pop-up dialog box Close. Pain lessens when the boil drains. A boil may drain on its own.
More often, the boil needs to be opened to drain. The health care provider can usually diagnose a boil based on how it looks. A sample of cells from the boil may be sent to the lab for a culture to look for staphylococcus or other bacteria.
Boils may heal on their own after a period of itching and mild pain. More often, they become more painful as pus builds up. Boils usually need to open and drain in order to heal. This most often happens within 2 weeks. You should:. Your provider may give you antibiotics to take by mouth or a shot, if the boil is very bad or comes back. Dinulos JGH. Bacterial infections. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 9. But sometimes a benign cyst may become infected.
Most cysts are noncancerous and need no treatment. Occasionally , a cyst will disappear on its own. However, it may recur in time. Sometimes an epidermal cyst may become inflamed and swollen. Some cysts may be troublesome or unsightly to some people because of their location. In these cases, treatment may involve surgical removal. A minimal incision method is recommended to prevent scarring.
A study involving 82 people who had cysts removed reported no complications and no recurrences of the cysts. If you have no systemic symptoms of infection, you can take care of a boil at home. To treat a boil at home, do the following:. If you have a noncancerous cyst, your outlook is very good. If you choose to remove a cyst, surgery is usually successful.
Most boils heal on their own within one to three weeks. Some boils may require treatment by a dermatologist. But you can prevent a cyst from becoming infected by not picking at it or trying to pop it on your own. Good hygiene is the best way to prevent boils. If you have a boil, wash your hands thoroughly and often. This helps keep the bacteria or fungi from spreading to other areas of your body or to other people. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Boils. Top of the page. Topic Overview What are boils? How do you treat a boil? You can sometimes care for a boil at home. Do not squeeze, scratch, drain, or open the boil. Squeezing can push the infection deeper into the skin.
Gently wash the area with soap and water twice a day. Dry it well. Put warm, wet cloths on the boil for 20 to 30 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day. Do this as soon as you notice a boil. The heat and moisture can help the boil to open and drain, but it may take 5 to 7 days. A warm compress or waterproof heating pad placed over a damp towel may also help.
Keep using heat for 3 days after the boil opens. Put a bandage on it so the drainage does not spread. Change the bandage every day. If the boil is draining on its own, let it drain.
0コメント