Goodskin Dermatology

Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Boils

It began as a tiny red bump that you were sure was just a pimple. 

But it kept growing into an angry, red lump — that has become more painful by the hour. 

It’s now far past pimple status, and you’re wondering if you may be dealing with a boil.

We can help.

This article covers all things boils, including the signs, symptoms, and how to treat an infected boil to help you get back to feeling comfortable in your skin.

treatment boils

Table of Contents

What Are Boils?

A boil, sometimes referred to as a furuncle, is a hard, painful, puss-filled lump that develops underneath the skin 

Boils usually begin as small, red bumps, but quickly increase in size as they fill with pus. 

While they are generally found within an infected hair follicle, boils can also occur anywhere on the body. They are most likely to pop up in places that have more sweat, such as the face, neck, buttocks, armpits, and thighs. 

What Are the Symptoms of Boils?

It takes several days for a boil to develop. 

It starts as a hard, red, or purple, painful bump about the size of a pea, but over the next few days, the boil increases in size and may grow to the size of a golf ball. 

As it grows, the boil becomes softer, it may itch, and is noticeably more painful. 

Next, a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil that has a white or yellow center, similar to the appearance of a pimple. 

The skin around the head of the boil is red and shiny and may ooze and crust over as your body fights the localized infection.

Signs of a serious infection within a boil may include:

  • Fever
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Infected skin around the boil
  • Additional boils

Sometimes the bacteria that caused the infection may spread to other body parts. 

At Goodskin Dermatology, we understand how painful even a single boil can be and the effect it can have on your daily life and well-being. 

Schedule your appointment today.

What Causes Boils?

In general, boils are most often caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, also known as a staph infection.

They may, however, also be caused by other types of bacteria that are naturally found on the surface of the skin. 

Boils frequently occur in the hair follicles on the body. Damage to the follicle allows the bacteria to go deep into the follicle and the surrounding tissue and become infected.

You may be more likely to get boils if you have a medical condition, such as:

  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • HIV
  • Obesity
  • Chronic infection
  • Eczema; or
  • Conjunctivitis 

How Are Boils Diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will likely be able to diagnose a boil simply by looking at it. 

They may opt to send a sample of pus to the lab to be cultured for staphylococcus or other bacteria. This can be especially helpful for those who have a boil that isn’t responding to conventional treatment or have recurring infections.

treatment for boil

How Are Boils Treated?

Please note that treatment for boils may vary depending on the condition and individual patient. Always consult with your healthcare provider to see which treatment is recommended.

Boils may heal on their own after a few days of itching and mild pain. More often, however, they become increasingly painful as pus develops. Boils usually need to come to a head, open, and drain in order to heal. 

If you have a boil, you will want to clean it often and keep it covered with fresh, sterile band-aid or gauze. Always make sure to wash your hands with soap and hot water both before and after replacing your dressing. Throw out used dressings in a sealed plastic bag to keep the infected fluid from the boil contained.

It’s also important that you never squeeze a boil, since this can cause damage to the surrounding tissue and spread the infection.

Below are the most common skin boils treatments.

Heat

Applying heat is one of the most common and best treatments for boils since the heat helps increase circulation in the area. This allows more white blood cells and antibodies into the area to help fight the infection.

Place a warm, moist, compress on the boil for 10–15 minutes at a time, several times throughout the day to encourage draining and speed healing.

Continue applying compresses to the area until the boil opens and releases the accumulated puss.

Ointment

In addition to applying warm, moist, heat, a doctor may also prescribe ointment to draw the pus out of the boil.

The sulfur-rich medicated ointment bituminosulfonate (also known as Ichthyol) helps to both relieve inflammation and draw the infection out of the boil. 

The combination of the warm compress and bituminosulfonate ointment can be effective in speeding up the development of the boil, and hopefully allowing it to drain and heal on its own. 

Antibiotics

If your boil is particularly bad, or you suffer from recurring boils, your healthcare provider may give you antibiotics either orally, in the form of a shot, or as an IV drip. 

Antibiotics used to treat boils include:

  • Tetracycline
  • Clindamycin (Cleocin, Benzaclin, Veltin)
  • Doxycycline (Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin)
  • Erythromycin (Erygel, Eryped)
  • Gentamicin (Gentak)
  • Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
  • Mupirocin (Centany)
  • Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra)

In general, antibiotics are only needed if:

  • The boil is on your face
  • You have several boils if the infection starts spreading through the lymph vessels,
  • You have symptoms such as a fever, increased pulse rate, low blood pressure, rapid breathing, or if a blood test suggests that the infection is spreading to other areas of your body.

Surgery

Your healthcare provider may recommend that you have a small, outpatient surgery to drain a deep or large boil. 

The doctor generally follows this procedure: 

  1. Numb the area around the boil using local anesthesia.
  2. Pierce the skin that’s covering the boil. 
  3. Allow the boil to drain, applying gentle pressure to help pus escape, if necessary.

Depending on the size of the boil, one or more strips of gauze may be placed inside the open wound. The gauze helps to absorb any remaining pus. The gauze is usually replaced daily to keep the wound clean and allow the tissue to recover. A sterile saline solution may sometimes be used to gently clean the wound, and ointment applied,  before reapplying dressings. 

The need for a surgical procedure for a boil is most likely if you have:

  • Fever or other symptoms 
  • Extreme pain 
  • A boil on your spine or face
  • A boil that lasts longer than 1 week
  • Recurring boils
treatment for boils

Treatment for Boils FAQs

How Long Do Boils Last?

Depending on the size of the boil, it may take from one to three weeks for a boil to fully resolve. In most cases, a boil is not able to fully heal until it opens and drains, which can take up to a week.

Can Boils Go Away on Their Own?

It depends. 

Some boils may go away on their own following a period of mild pain and itching. This may take anywhere from several days to several weeks. 

More often than not, however, a boil becomes more painful as the pus builds up and puts pressure on the skin above. In general, boils usually need to open and drain before healing can take place.

Can Boils Be Prevented?

While you can’t guarantee that you will never get a boil, you may be able to successfully prevent boils by following these precautions:

  • Avoid sharing towels or clothing. 
  • Attempt to lose weight if you have boils between the folds of your skin.
  • Never pick, squeeze, or pierce a boil.
  • Do not share or reuse towels, washcloths, or clothing. 
  • Wash and dry your towels, bedding, and clothing at least once each week at a high temperature.

Goodskin Dermatology Provides High-Quality, Patient-Based Care for Boils

The professional team at Goodskin Dermatology is skilled and experienced in treating boils and other common skin conditions including, moles, rashes, and acne. 

With convenient locations in Hillsboro, Troutdale, Clackamas, and Aloha, our mission is to help our patients enjoy the benefits of skin that is healthy, vibrant, and beautiful. 

We offer the most current treatment for boils to ensure that you get the issue resolved — and keep it that way.

We’re proud to be known as a practice our patients can truly rely on — a place where they know they are respected, heard, and understood each and every time they walk through our door. 

Your health, wellness, and comfort are always our top priorities, and we look forward to helping you keep your skin looking — and feeling — its very best.

Schedule your appointment at Goodskin Dermatology online today!

The content in this blog should not be used in place of direct medical advice/treatment and is solely for informational purposes.

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