BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSkin abscessAbscess - skin; Cutaneous abscess; Subcutaneous abscess; MRSA - abscess; Staph infection - abscessA skin abscess is a buildup of pus in or on the skin. Causes Skin abscesses are common and affect people of all ages. They occur when an infection causes pus to collect in the skin.Skin abscesses may occur after developing:A bacterial infection (often staphylococcus) A minor wound or injury Boils BoilsA boil is an infection that affects groups of hair follicles and nearby skin tissue. Related conditions include folliculitis, an inflammation of one ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Folliculitis (infection in a hair follicle)FolliculitisFolliculitis is inflammation of one or more hair follicles. It can occur anywhere on the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A skin abscess may occur anywhere on the body. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Fever or chills, in some cases FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ChillsChills refers to feeling cold after being in a cold environment. The word can also refer to an episode of shivering along with paleness and feeling ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Local swelling around the infected spot Hardened skin tissue Skin lesion that may be an open or closed sore or a raised area Redness, tenderness, and warmth in the area Fluid or pus drainage Exams and Tests Your health care provider can diagnose the problem by looking at the affected area. The drainage from the sore may be sent to the lab for a culture. This can help identify the cause of the infection. Treatment You can apply moist heat (such as warm compresses) to help the abscess drain and heal faster. Do not push and squeeze on the abscess.Your provider may cut open the abscess and drain it. If this is done:Numbing medicine will be put on or into your skin. Packing material may be left in the wound to help it heal.You may need to take antibiotics by mouth to control the infection.If you have methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or another staph infection, follow instructions for self-care at home. Self-careStaph (pronounced staff) is short for Staphylococcus. Staph is a type of germ (bacteria) that can cause infections almost anywhere in the body. One ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Most skin abscesses can be cured with proper treatment. Infections caused by MRSA respond to specific antibiotics.MRSAMRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA is a "staph" germ (bacteria) that does not get better with the type of antibiotics...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Complications that can occur from an abscess include:Spread of the infection in the same area Spread of the infection into the blood and throughout the body Tissue death (gangrene) GangreneGangrene is the death of tissue in part of the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have any signs of skin infection, including:Drainage of any kind Fever Pain Redness SwellingSwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Contact your provider right away if you develop new symptoms during or after treatment of a skin abscess. Prevention Keep the skin around minor wounds clean and dry to prevent infection. Call your provider if you notice signs of infection. Take care of minor infections promptly.Open ReferencesReferencesAmbrose G, Berlin D. Incision and drainage. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 37.Marks JG, Miller JJ. Localized erythema. In: Marks JG, Miller JJ, eds. Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 15.Que Y-A, Moreillon P. Staphylococcus aureus (including staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 194.AllVideoImagesTogSkin layers - illustration The skin is the largest organ of the body. The skin and its derivatives (hair, nails, sweat and oil glands) make up the integumentary system. One of the main functions of the skin is protection. It protects the body from external factors such as bacteria, chemicals, and temperature. The skin contains secretions that can kill bacteria and the pigment melanin provides a chemical pigment defense against ultraviolet light that can damage skin cells. Another important function of the skin is body temperature regulation. When the skin is exposed to a cold temperature, the blood vessels in the dermis constrict. This allows the blood which is warm, to bypass the skin. The skin then becomes the temperature of the cold it is exposed to. Body heat is conserved since the blood vessels are not diverting heat to the skin anymore. Among its many functions the skin is an incredible organ always protecting the body from external agents. Skin layersillustrationSkin layers - illustration The skin is the largest organ of the body. The skin and its derivatives (hair, nails, sweat and oil glands) make up the integumentary system. One of the main functions of the skin is protection. It protects the body from external factors such as bacteria, chemicals, and temperature. The skin contains secretions that can kill bacteria and the pigment melanin provides a chemical pigment defense against ultraviolet light that can damage skin cells. Another important function of the skin is body temperature regulation. When the skin is exposed to a cold temperature, the blood vessels in the dermis constrict. This allows the blood which is warm, to bypass the skin. The skin then becomes the temperature of the cold it is exposed to. Body heat is conserved since the blood vessels are not diverting heat to the skin anymore. Among its many functions the skin is an incredible organ always protecting the body from external agents. Skin layersillustration Tests for Skin abscess Indium-labelled WBC scanRelated Information Folliculitis(Condition)Boils(Condition)Endocarditis(Condition)Osteomyelitis(Condition)Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)(Condition) Review Date: 11/18/2022 Reviewed By: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, 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. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Skin abscessAbscess - skin; Cutaneous abscess; Subcutaneous abscess; MRSA - abscess; Staph infection - abscessA skin abscess is a buildup of pus in or on the skin. Causes Skin abscesses are common and affect people of all ages. They occur when an infection causes pus to collect in the skin.Skin abscesses may occur after developing:A bacterial infection (often staphylococcus) A minor wound or injury Boils BoilsA boil is an infection that affects groups of hair follicles and nearby skin tissue. Related conditions include folliculitis, an inflammation of one ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Folliculitis (infection in a hair follicle)FolliculitisFolliculitis is inflammation of one or more hair follicles. It can occur anywhere on the skin.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A skin abscess may occur anywhere on the body. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Fever or chills, in some cases FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ChillsChills refers to feeling cold after being in a cold environment. The word can also refer to an episode of shivering along with paleness and feeling ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Local swelling around the infected spot Hardened skin tissue Skin lesion that may be an open or closed sore or a raised area Redness, tenderness, and warmth in the area Fluid or pus drainage Exams and Tests Your health care provider can diagnose the problem by looking at the affected area. The drainage from the sore may be sent to the lab for a culture. This can help identify the cause of the infection. Treatment You can apply moist heat (such as warm compresses) to help the abscess drain and heal faster. Do not push and squeeze on the abscess.Your provider may cut open the abscess and drain it. If this is done:Numbing medicine will be put on or into your skin. Packing material may be left in the wound to help it heal.You may need to take antibiotics by mouth to control the infection.If you have methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or another staph infection, follow instructions for self-care at home. Self-careStaph (pronounced staff) is short for Staphylococcus. Staph is a type of germ (bacteria) that can cause infections almost anywhere in the body. One ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Most skin abscesses can be cured with proper treatment. Infections caused by MRSA respond to specific antibiotics.MRSAMRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA is a "staph" germ (bacteria) that does not get better with the type of antibiotics...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Possible Complications Complications that can occur from an abscess include:Spread of the infection in the same area Spread of the infection into the blood and throughout the body Tissue death (gangrene) GangreneGangrene is the death of tissue in part of the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have any signs of skin infection, including:Drainage of any kind Fever Pain Redness SwellingSwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Contact your provider right away if you develop new symptoms during or after treatment of a skin abscess. Prevention Keep the skin around minor wounds clean and dry to prevent infection. Call your provider if you notice signs of infection. Take care of minor infections promptly.Open ReferencesReferencesAmbrose G, Berlin D. Incision and drainage. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 37.Marks JG, Miller JJ. Localized erythema. In: Marks JG, Miller JJ, eds. Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 15.Que Y-A, Moreillon P. Staphylococcus aureus (including staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 194.