Boils and carbuncles are sore and bumps filled with pus that forms under the skin once bacteria cause infections and inflames one or several hair follicles.
Boils or furuncles starts as red-colored, tender lumps that are filled with pus and grow larger and becoming excruciating until they break and drain. As for a carbuncle, it is a cluster of boils that forms an infection under the skin.
Symptoms of boils can happen anywhere in the skin but it is common on the neck, face, armpits, buttocks or thighs and areas where hair is growing and constantly exposed to sweat or friction. Some symptoms include:
- Red swelling skin found around the bump
- A painful, red bump that is similar in size as a pea
- There is an increase in the size of the bump as it fills with pus and sometimes reaches the size of a baseball.
- There is a yellow-white tip that occurs and ruptures which drains out the pus.
Carbuncles can be found in the neck, shoulders or thighs. It causes deeper and severe infections and leaves a scar on the affected areas. People suffering from carbuncles do not feel well and experiencing fever and chills.
Causes of carbuncle and boils
- The staphylococcus aureus bacteria cause the carbuncle and boil which is a kind of abscess. This is easily spread to other parts of the body and highly contagious. Carbuncle and boils can drain on their own.
- People with poor health are more susceptible to boils and carbuncles. People should maintain a healthy living since it can help minimize the occurrence of these conditions.
- People with poor hygiene and grooming are more susceptible for infections of boils and carbuncles since the bacteria that causes boils and carbuncles does not like to live in clean environments.
- Skin that is irritated by friction such as shaving or tight-fitting clothing serve as good breeding grounds for boils and carbuncles.
Treatment and home remedies
- Avoid popping a blister since this pushes the infectious pus deeper into the skin and will cause the spread of infections to other parts of the body. You can learn more about the infectious process by enrolling in a first aid class
- Apply a warm compress on the affected areas.
- Apply a clean washcloth that has been warmed using hot salt water on the affected areas. The boil or carbuncle will burst on its own and will drain out foul smelling mixtures of yellowish to brownish discharge together with blood.
- Continue with the application of warm compress for 5 to 7 days until the boils or carbuncles do not drain anymore.
- Apply antibiotic creams to the boil or carbuncle between soaking.
- An alternative is to use a boiled onion that is mashed and applied to the affected areas to help with the healing. Another option is to use grated garlic and mixed with olive oil that is applied to the boil and covered by a sterile bandage.