Boils
Boils
Mini-Strategies for Mega-Pimples
Boil, boil, soiled and troubled; skin that burns, oh nasty bubble!
This mutation of a classic line from Macbeth might make Shakespeare turn over in his grave, but it aptly describes the witch's brew of pus, infection, pain and inflammation that make up a boil.
A boil occurs when bacteria--usually Staphylococcus aureus--invade a hair follicle in the skin, travel down the follicle and form a collection of infected pus at the base. The boil often comes to a head when the fluid naturally pushes its way to the skin surface.
The result is a swollen, hard red bump on your skin.
"The most common places for boils to form are in blocked hair follicles on the buttocks, inner thighs and under your arms--areas with a lot of moisture," says Sheryl Clark, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Cornell Medical Center and an assistant attending physician in medicine at the New York Hospital, both in New York City. Oc casionally, boils can also form on the face or neck. A stye on your eyelid is also a type of boil.
When To See A Doctor
If you have just one boil, you're probably safe treating it at home, says Wilma Bergfeld, M.D., head of clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. But you should see a doctor if: * The area around a boil becomes red. * A boil is deep and contains lots of pus. Your doctor may inject it with a steroid to decrease swelling and inflammation. * You develop multiple boils. * You develop a boil on your upper lip, nose, cheeks, scalp or forehead. Infection in these areas can gain easy access to the brain. * You develop a boil on your breast. Also, if you're breastfeeding, stop until the boil has been treated. Otherwise, you could pass highly infectious bacteria on to your infant. * You get boils frequently. You may be harboring bacteria somewhere in your body.
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FIRST-AID FOR BOILS Never pop a boil, says Dr. Clark. "A boil drains a large amount of highly infected fluid. If you squeeze it, you will actually spread the infection and make it worse." Instead, try these doctor-recommended steps.
Apply warm compresses. "Warm, moist heat increases blood flow to the area, which may bring the boil to a head and speed healing," says dermatologist Karen E. Burke, M.D., Ph.D., an attending physician at Cabrini Medical Center in New York City and at Greensboro Specialty Surgical Center in North Carolina.
Apply a washcloth soaked in hot water to the boil for 20 to 30 minutes, two or three times a day, until the boil comes to a head. "Sometimes that allows the boil to pop on its own and drain," says Dr. Clark. Once the boil pops naturally, it should feel better immediately, and it should heal in several days.
Reap the benefits of benzoyl peroxide. Especially if a boil is large, the acne preparation benzoyl peroxide may help dry it out. "An over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide agent such as Oxy 10 can be used twice a day to dry out the lesion and reduce its size," says Wilma Bergfeld, M.D., head of clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. "Benzoyl peroxide is also an antiseptic, so it kills bacteria."
Try a saline solution. Once a boil pops, apply saltwater to draw out pus and fluid and dry it out. "In a clean basin or sink, mix a teaspoon of salt for every cup of hot water. Dip in a washcloth, wring it out and hold it on the boil. When it cools, redip it and reapply," suggests Dr. Clark.
Wash away germs. Keep the area clean by washing with a liquid antibacterial soap and water, especially when a boil has started to drain. "Tap water is fine unless it's an open wound; then use sterile bottled water," says Dr. Bergfeld.
Apply antibacterial ointment. Bacitracin or Neosporin can help kill off any bacteria that is inside the boil or on the skin, says Dr. Clark.
