BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuBoilsFuruncleA boil is an infection that affects groups of hair follicles and nearby skin tissue.Related conditions include folliculitis, an inflammation of one or more hair follicles, and carbunculosis, a skin infection that often involves a group of hair follicles. FolliculitisFolliculitis is inflammation of one or more hair follicles. It can occur anywhere on the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CarbunculosisA carbuncle is a skin infection that often involves a group of hair follicles. The infected material forms a lump, which occurs deep in the skin and...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Boils are very common. They are most often caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. They can also be caused by other types of bacteria or fungi found on the skin's surface. Damage to the hair follicle allows the infection to grow deeper into the follicle and the tissues under it. Boils may occur in the hair follicles anywhere on the body. They are most common on the face, neck, armpit, buttocks, and thighs. You may have one or many boils. The condition may occur only once or it can be a long-lasting (chronic) or recurring problem. Symptoms A boil may begin as tender, pinkish-red, and swollen, on a firm area of the skin. Over time, it will feel like a water-filled balloon or cyst.CystA cyst is a closed pocket or pouch of tissue. It can be filled with air, fluid, pus, or other material.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pain gets worse as it fills with pus and dead tissue. Pain lessens when the boil drains. A boil may drain on its own. More often, the boil needs to be opened to drain.The main symptoms of a boil include:A bump about the size of a pea, but may be as large as a golf ball White or yellow center (pustules) PustulesPustules are small, inflamed, pus-filled, blister-like sores (lesions) on the skin surface.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spread to other skin areas or joining with other boils Quick growth Weeping, oozing, or crusting Other symptoms may include:Fatigue FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fever General ill-feeling Itching before the boil develops Skin redness around the boil Exams and Tests The health care provider can usually diagnose a boil based on how it looks. A sample of cells from the boil may be sent to the lab for a culture to look for staphylococcus or other bacteria.CultureA skin or nail culture is a laboratory test to look for and identify germs that cause problems with the skin or nails. It is called a mucosal culture...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Boils may heal on their own after a period of itching and mild pain. More often, they become more painful as pus builds up.Boils usually need to open and drain in order to heal. This most often happens within 2 weeks. You should:Put warm, moist, compresses on the boil several times a day to speed draining and healing. Never squeeze a boil or try to cut it open at home. This can spread the infection. Continue to put warm, wet, compresses on the area after the boil opens. You may need to have surgery to drain deep or large boils. Get treatment from your provider if:You have a fever or other symptoms with the boil. The boil causes pain or discomfort. You have a boil on your spine or the middle of your face. A boil lasts longer than 1 week. A boil comes back.It is important to keep a boil clean. To do this:Clean boils and change their dressing often. Wash your hands well before and after touching a boil. Do not reuse or share washcloths or towels. Wash clothing, washcloths, towels, and sheets or other items that have touched infected areas in hot water. Throw out used dressings in a sealed bag so that fluid from the boil does not touch anything else. Your provider may give you antibiotics to take by mouth or a shot, if the boil is very bad or comes back.Antibacterial soaps and creams cannot help much once a boil has formed. Outlook (Prognosis) Some people have repeated boil infections and are unable to prevent them. Boils in areas such as the ear canal or nose can be very painful.Boils that form close together may expand and join, causing a condition called carbunculosis. Possible Complications These complications may occur:Abscess of the skin, spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organ Brain infection Heart infection Heart infectionEndocarditis is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves (endocardium). It is caused by a bacterial or, rarely, a fu...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bone infection Bone infectionOsteomyelitis is a bone infection. It is caused by bacteria or other germs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection of the blood or tissues (sepsis) SepsisSepsis is an illness in which the body has a severe, inflammatory response to bacteria or other germs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal cord infection Spread of infection to other parts of the body or skin surfaces Permanent scarring When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if boils:Appear on your face or spine Occur along with a fever, red streaks coming out from the sore, a large build-up of fluid in the area, or other symptoms of infection Cause pain or discomfort Do not heal with home treatment within 1 week Come back after treatment Prevention The following may help prevent the spread of infection:Antibacterial soaps Antiseptic (germ-killing) washes Keeping clean (such as thorough hand washing)Open ReferencesReferencesDinulos JGH. Bacterial infections. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 9.Pulia M, May LS. Skin and soft tissue infections. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 126.AllVideoImagesTogHair follicle anatomy - illustration At the base of the hair follicle are sensory nerve fibers that wrap around each hair bulb. Bending the hair stimulates the nerve endings allowing a person to feel that the hair has been moved. One of the main functions of hair is to act as a sensitive touch receptor. Sebaceous glands are also associated with each hair follicle that produce an oily secretion to help condition the hair and surrounding skin.Hair follicle anatomyillustrationHair follicle anatomy - illustration At the base of the hair follicle are sensory nerve fibers that wrap around each hair bulb. Bending the hair stimulates the nerve endings allowing a person to feel that the hair has been moved. One of the main functions of hair is to act as a sensitive touch receptor. Sebaceous glands are also associated with each hair follicle that produce an oily secretion to help condition the hair and surrounding skin.Hair follicle anatomyillustrationRelated Information Carbuncle(Condition)Subcutaneous(Special Topic)Skin nodules(Symptoms)Abscess(Condition)Sepsis(Condition)Osteomyelitis(Condition)Endocarditis(Condition)Brain abscess(Condition)Spinal cord abscess(Condition) Review Date: 11/30/2022 Reviewed By: Ramin Fathi, MD, FAAD, Director, Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, Phoenix, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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BoilsFuruncleA boil is an infection that affects groups of hair follicles and nearby skin tissue.Related conditions include folliculitis, an inflammation of one or more hair follicles, and carbunculosis, a skin infection that often involves a group of hair follicles. FolliculitisFolliculitis is inflammation of one or more hair follicles. It can occur anywhere on the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CarbunculosisA carbuncle is a skin infection that often involves a group of hair follicles. The infected material forms a lump, which occurs deep in the skin and...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Boils are very common. They are most often caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. They can also be caused by other types of bacteria or fungi found on the skin's surface. Damage to the hair follicle allows the infection to grow deeper into the follicle and the tissues under it. Boils may occur in the hair follicles anywhere on the body. They are most common on the face, neck, armpit, buttocks, and thighs. You may have one or many boils. The condition may occur only once or it can be a long-lasting (chronic) or recurring problem. Symptoms A boil may begin as tender, pinkish-red, and swollen, on a firm area of the skin. Over time, it will feel like a water-filled balloon or cyst.CystA cyst is a closed pocket or pouch of tissue. It can be filled with air, fluid, pus, or other material.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pain gets worse as it fills with pus and dead tissue. Pain lessens when the boil drains. A boil may drain on its own. More often, the boil needs to be opened to drain.The main symptoms of a boil include:A bump about the size of a pea, but may be as large as a golf ball White or yellow center (pustules) PustulesPustules are small, inflamed, pus-filled, blister-like sores (lesions) on the skin surface.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spread to other skin areas or joining with other boils Quick growth Weeping, oozing, or crusting Other symptoms may include:Fatigue FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fever General ill-feeling Itching before the boil develops Skin redness around the boil Exams and Tests The health care provider can usually diagnose a boil based on how it looks. A sample of cells from the boil may be sent to the lab for a culture to look for staphylococcus or other bacteria.CultureA skin or nail culture is a laboratory test to look for and identify germs that cause problems with the skin or nails. It is called a mucosal culture...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Boils may heal on their own after a period of itching and mild pain. More often, they become more painful as pus builds up.Boils usually need to open and drain in order to heal. This most often happens within 2 weeks. You should:Put warm, moist, compresses on the boil several times a day to speed draining and healing. Never squeeze a boil or try to cut it open at home. This can spread the infection. Continue to put warm, wet, compresses on the area after the boil opens. You may need to have surgery to drain deep or large boils. Get treatment from your provider if:You have a fever or other symptoms with the boil. The boil causes pain or discomfort. You have a boil on your spine or the middle of your face. A boil lasts longer than 1 week. A boil comes back.It is important to keep a boil clean. To do this:Clean boils and change their dressing often. Wash your hands well before and after touching a boil. Do not reuse or share washcloths or towels. Wash clothing, washcloths, towels, and sheets or other items that have touched infected areas in hot water. Throw out used dressings in a sealed bag so that fluid from the boil does not touch anything else. Your provider may give you antibiotics to take by mouth or a shot, if the boil is very bad or comes back.Antibacterial soaps and creams cannot help much once a boil has formed. Outlook (Prognosis) Some people have repeated boil infections and are unable to prevent them. Boils in areas such as the ear canal or nose can be very painful.Boils that form close together may expand and join, causing a condition called carbunculosis. Possible Complications These complications may occur:Abscess of the skin, spinal cord, brain, kidneys, or other organ Brain infection Heart infection Heart infectionEndocarditis is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves (endocardium). It is caused by a bacterial or, rarely, a fu...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bone infection Bone infectionOsteomyelitis is a bone infection. It is caused by bacteria or other germs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection of the blood or tissues (sepsis) SepsisSepsis is an illness in which the body has a severe, inflammatory response to bacteria or other germs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal cord infection Spread of infection to other parts of the body or skin surfaces Permanent scarring When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if boils:Appear on your face or spine Occur along with a fever, red streaks coming out from the sore, a large build-up of fluid in the area, or other symptoms of infection Cause pain or discomfort Do not heal with home treatment within 1 week Come back after treatment Prevention The following may help prevent the spread of infection:Antibacterial soaps Antiseptic (germ-killing) washes Keeping clean (such as thorough hand washing)Open ReferencesReferencesDinulos JGH. Bacterial infections. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 9.Pulia M, May LS. Skin and soft tissue infections. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 126.