Boils are painful, swollen, red bumps that form over a few days. They can appear alone or in a cluster, and grow to 3-10cm before they burst and drain pus. The boil develops when bacteria in the skin (staph) get into a hair follicle and cause an infection. If the boil or carbuncle doesn’t drain on its own, your healthcare provider can use a scalpel to open it in a sterile environment. Once opened, the boil can be kept clean and covered with a loose, gauze bandage until it heals. Never try to open or squeeze a boil yourself at home, as this can spread the infection to other areas of the body and lead to serious complications, including organ failure, sepsis, coma and death.
Most boils heal on their own with basic home care and good hygiene within about 3 weeks of developing. Boils that don’t improve or grow larger, are very large, or appear to be clustered or deep under the skin need medical attention and may require antibiotic treatment.
The best home treatments for a boil include keeping the area clean and applying warm compresses several times a day to encourage drainage. Warmth increases pressure inside the infected pore, which helps to break down and drain the boil. Putting warm, wet compresses over the boil can also help ease pain and speed healing. Using home remedies that increase blood flow or have antibacterial, antiviral or immune boosting properties can also help.