Boil may look like a bad pimple. But you get a boil when staph bacteria invade a blocked hair follicle or oil gland. The germs along with white blood cells and dead skin cells, form pus and cause swelling. Boils most often appear on the face, neck, scalp, buttocks, and armpits or sometimes on a woman's nipple. A cluster of boils is known as carbuncle a rarer and more serious form that needs medical help. Boils are usually not serious. They can be passed from person to person, though this is rare. People with diabetes or immune system problems and those exposed to some industrial chemicals are the most likely to get them. So people whose overall health is poor or who reuse corticosteriods such as cortisone.
Symptoms for Boils:
- Redness, swelling, tenderness, pain or throbbing of a lump under the skin
- red and swollen lump with a white or yellow pus filled center under the skin
Boil Prevention:
- Shower or bathe often
- If you are prone to getting boils, apply an anti bacterial cream after shaving
- Treat minor skin injuries right away
- Don't share towel or clothes. Clean sports gear well- for instance , straps on helmets and gym machines
- Eat balanced meals with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables
Home remedies for Boils:
Some of the major boil home remedy are listed below:
- Wash the infected area gently with anti bacterial soap
- Apply warm compresses (cloth soaked in warm water and wrung) to help the boil burst and drain
- Put an over the counter anti bacterial cream on the boil to keep the infection from spreading
- Don't press or pick the boil. This could spread the infection. When a boil bursts hold a warm clean compress against it to remove all the pus. Apply anti bacterial cream and cover the boil loosely with a bandage to prevent re-infection
- Since boils can be contagious, wash your hand well and launder towels, clothes and bed lenin in hot water and soap to avoid spreading the infection
When do you need home remedies for Boils
- If you have a boil on your face, a cluster of boils, or boils with a fever. You could get a more serious infection
- If the pain is severe. A doctor may drain the boil
- If you get boils often. Your doctor will want to find out what is causing them
