Free Medical Advice on Boils

A skin boil is an infection of a hair follicle. The medical term of a boil is furunculosis. When the hair follicle becomes infected, it fills with pus and is very painful. Personal hygiene does not cause boils but all sufferers of boils carry the staph virus on their skin. It is important to control the staph virus and good hygiene does play a role in reducing the frequency of boils.

Transmission Areas

The nose, armpits and inside of the legs are the most common areas for boils. It is possible to transfer the bacteria to other sites by the fingernails, fingers and nose. Itching or touching a rash transmits the staph virus to the hair follicle, which is considered a weak area of the skin. The staph settles into the follicle, causing a boil. The normal course for a boil is 10 days.

Tips for Care

Drain the pus from a boil at its earliest sign. Place a warm compress over the boil. This brings the pus to the surface of the skin. Gently pierce the skin either by pressing the sides of the boil together or with a sterilized needle. Sterilize a needle by placing it in rubbing alcohol for one minute before use. Clean the area with soap and water once the pus has drained. Place a gauze bandage and antibiotic cream over the boil, allowing the boil to continue draining. Make sure the boil is covered, as the pus is contagious.

Shower daily. Do not take tub baths as the staph virus can spread in the water. Use an antiseptic soap to remove the virus from the skin.

Do not share towels, bed linens, and clothing or make up with others to prevent the spread of the virus.

Change night clothing and underwear daily.

Wash hands frequently along with a hand sanitizer.

In the event of an outbreak, rub the entire body with rubbing alcohol daily for one week to prevent the spread of staph.

Considerations

It may be necessary to visit your physician if the boil does not go away after 10 days. Special antibiotics and testing may be required. Additionally, the physician may ask you to change your diet and take certain vitamins.

Diabetes, an immune or iron deficiency or anemia may have greater instances of boils; therefore, following a physician's advice is important in controlling boils. An infection that is uncontrollable with these types of health issues can cause more problems.