Boils and carbuncles are reddened, sore lumps on the skin generally triggered by a bacterial infection.
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What is a boil?
Boils can form anywhere on the skin, but one is likely to end up with one in areas where there is a combination of sweat, hair and friction such as the face, neck or thigh. Over time, pus forms within the boil which enlarges and becomes painful. Most boils later rupture and the pus drains without leaving a scar. Generally, it takes 2 days up to 3 weeks to occur.
What is a carbuncle?
A carbuncle is a cluster of boils that is shaped as a dome which forms over a few days. The commonly affected areas include the thigh, back or rear part of the neck. One can grow from 3-10 cm and even drain pus from several points.
What are the causes?
Boils and carbuncles are typically brought about by the Staphylococcus aureus which infects one or several hair follicles.
A boil forms when bacteria enters the skin via wounds. The immune system reacts by sending white blood cells to eliminate the bacteria. After some time, the combination of dead bacteria, dead skin cells and white blood cells accumulates within the boil to form pus.
Management of boils and carbuncles
Self-care measures
Generally, most boils settle without requiring medical care. An ideal way to hasten the healing is to apply a warm, damp cloth on the boil for 10-20 minutes at 3-4 times throughout the day.
The heat works by promoting the amount of circulating blood around the boil which sends more white blood cells into the area. Once the boil ruptures, it should be covered with sterile gauze or dressing to prevent the infection from spreading.
Always wash hands thoroughly after using warm water and soap. Remember that it is not advisable to pierce or squeeze a boil since it can spread the infection. Over-the-counter pain medications can be given to alleviate any discomfort.
Drainage
In case the boil does not heal, the doctor might suggest drainage. During the procedure, the area is numbed and a sterile needle is used to break the boil.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are generally given for:
- All cases of carbuncles
- Fever
- Secondary infections such as cellulitis
- A boil on the face due to the high risk for complications
- Significant pain and discomfort