Boils (furuncle, carbuncle) are painful swellings of the skin caused by deep skin infection with bacteria. Boils begin as red, tender swellings, which may later ooze pus. Some people have recurrent boils caused by:
The source of the bacteria is usually not known. Most boils appear "out of the blue."
Sometimes boils develop after exposure to someone with boils or another skin infection.
An antibiotic taken by mouth is usually required to eliminate the bacteria. Sometimes minor surgery is
Gentle heat, provided by a warm soapy wash cloth held over the area for 30 minutes three to four times a day, speeds up the healing process.
Putting medication on the boil will not cure it because the medicine does not penetrate into the infected skin, however a thin coat of antibiotic ointment (Polysporin) and a Band-Aid over the boil will keep the germs from spreading.
If your boil does not improve after treatment, please return to the office. Sometimes the bacteria are resistant to the first antibiotic.