| The best way to deal with boils is to prevent | | | | abrasive brush (such as a loufa) often helps. It will |
| them occurring. Avoid getting tired and run down | | | | help to break up oil plugs that build up around hair |
| and make sure you eat a healthy, balanced diet. | | | | follicles. |
| Drink plenty of water (around two litres per day), | | | | Apply warm compresses, and soak the boil in |
| don't drink too much alcohol and take some | | | | warm water. This will decrease the pain and help |
| exercise. | | | | draw the pus to the surface. Once the boil comes |
| Your doctor may drain a large boil or carbuncle by | | | | to a head, it will burst with repeated soakings. This |
| making a small incision in the tip. This relieves pain, | | | | usually occurs within five to seven days of its |
| speeds recovery and helps lessen scarring. Deep | | | | appearance. You can make a warm compress by |
| infections that can't be completely cleared may be | | | | soaking a wash cloth in warm water and |
| covered with sterile gauze so that pus can | | | | squeezing out the excess moisture. |
| continue to drain. Sometimes your doctor may | | | | Patient education is an important part of the |
| prescribe antibiotics to help heal severe or | | | | treatment of boils and carbuncles. Patients need |
| recurrent infections. | | | | to be warned against picking at or squeezing boils |
| A skin boil is also called a skin abscess. The | | | | because of the danger of spreading the infection |
| simplest definition of this term is a severe | | | | into other parts of the skin or bloodstream. It is |
| infection deep in the skin. Generally a boil generally | | | | especially important to avoid squeezing boils |
| begins as a tender area of skin that may become | | | | around the mouth or nose because infections in |
| red in time. | | | | these areas can be carried to the brain. Patients |
| The term boils on the buttocks refers to a | | | | should also be advised about keeping the skin |
| Pilonidal cyst. This actually occurs the area of the | | | | clean, washing their hands carefully before and |
| buttocks that forms a crease. The cysts may | | | | after touching the boil or carbuncle, avoiding the |
| begin as a tiny area where the skin follicles | | | | use of greasy cosmetics or creams, and keeping |
| originate. The irritation will grow and become firm | | | | their towels and washcloths separate from those |
| over time, causing severe pain. It will become so | | | | of other family members. Some doctors may |
| painful that it may be impossible for a person to | | | | recommend an antiseptic soap or gel for washing |
| sit down. This may be the result of long trips or | | | | the infected areas |
| extended periods of time of sitting. | | | | Milk cream is beneficial in the treatment of boils. |
| If you are prone to skin boils, there are measures | | | | One teaspoon of milk cream, mixed with half a |
| that you can take to prevent boils from | | | | tea spoon of vinegar, and a pinch of turmeric |
| developing: Washing your skin with antibacterial | | | | powder, makes an excellent poultice. It helps in |
| soap will prevent bacteria from building up and | | | | ripening the blood boils and in their healing without |
| infecting your pores. The regular use of an | | | | allowing them to become septic. |