A boil is a lump that appears on the skin as an oversized pimple that is usually very painful. It is filled with pus, usually red and larger than a typical pimple. These oversized pimples are usually found on the face, under the arms, on the buttocks, or on the neck. These skin irritations are usually caused by a number of things, including skin infection, poor diet, poor health, or possibly due to a health condition. If you get these skin irritations often, you know how painful they can be. Read on for a few things you can do about boils to help them heal and to prevent them in the future.
Treating A Boil
If you have a boil on your body, you may be tempted to pick it or pop it. Doing this will only allow more bacteria into the already-infected skin, and could lead to more boils around the existing boil. Treating the boil should be done carefully and without puncturing the skin, which can also result in scarring. Instead, use a warm washcloth to cover the boil and help to not only keep it clean but to soothe the area. Hold the warm washcloth on the boil to reduce inflammation and pain. Repeat this daily for at least 15 minutes at a time until the boil begins to go away. You also need to keep the boil clean, so wash the area with soap and water and keep your hands off of your skin and away from the boil itself.
Preventing Boils
If you are prone to getting boils often, it could be due to a health condition. Those with diabetes are more prone to these skin infections, and you need to keep a close eye on your skin, as this infection could turn for the worse for those that are diabetic. If you are not in poor health or don't have any other type of health condition, but you get boils often, it could be because of a chemical you work with or around that irritates your skin, and causes these boils, or you may simply not be cleaning your skin well enough. Try using a loofah when bathing to remove dead skin cells and to prevent skin infections around the hair follicles. Be sure you are bathing daily and washing your face before going to bed at night to remove bacteria and dirt from the skin.
If you get boils often, make an appointment with your dermatologist to discuss treatment options and possible medication to help treat your boil.
For more information, reach out to a dermatology service.
