Do the words unsightly, painful and irritating sound familiar to you? These are just a few of the words, which are used to describe boils, also known as abscesses and furuncles. Although usually benign, unless preventive measures are taken, these lesions can recur lasting up to months and years in an unlucky few.

An Overview Of Furuncles

Furuncles are collections of pus that presents as a painful fluid-filled lump or a hard nodule. They usually present in areas of friction or trauma, but can occur at any part of the body. Common locations include the buttocks, groin, face, armpits and near the waistline (e.g. one of the most frequent areas is a too tight belt). Both people with immune deficiencies and those with normal immune systems may acquire furuncles. Sometimes itching in the affected area may be present before the furuncle appears.

Furuncles usually develop at hair follicle sites but can develop in other places too. The bacteria that usually causes these type of infections is known as staphylococcus which is found on the surface of human skin, although other types of bacteria or fungi may cause this problem. A damaged hair follicle can allow the bacteria to enter the skin and enter the subcutaneous tissue.

Increased sweating and tight clothing can predispose to infection. The lesion often starts as a red pimple and can then turn into a fluid-filled bump that can become painful in a matter of days. As more purulent material and tissue develop under the skin, the pain can become excruciating. Tender furuncles in particular are ones that develop in the nose or ear. Sometimes the infection can spread and form multiple tunnels resulting in what is known as carbuncles, which are simply a collection of connecting furuncles. If carbuncles become uncontrolled, especially in those with poor immune systems, severe infection can enter the bloodstream lead to sepsis and death.

Treatment For Furuncles

Thankfully, most of the furuncles improve in a matter of days on it's own. Warm wet compresses to the area four times a day can help with pain relief and diminish swelling. Most times furuncles open up on their own, allowing the purulent material to drain. If the furuncle does not drain however, and the doctor deems it necessary, a procedure known as incision and drainage can help speed healing. In this situation a physician uses a surgical blade to open and drain the wound. If the type of bacteria causing the furuncle is in question, the physician will often take wound cultures to makes sure the correct antibiotics are taken. Topical antibiotic creams such as Bactroban or Neosporin used alone are usually not sufficient to eradicate the infection due to the inability to penetrate the skin, however they can prevent its spread. Antibiotics taken by mouth or injection are often prescribed.

Prevention of furuncles from occurring requires attention to hygiene, such as routine handwashing with antibacterial soap. Most people when seeing a boil try to squeeze it or "pop" it themselves with a nail or pin. I would advise against it. Unless you are using sterile instruments, a simple boil can turn it into a severe skin infection if adequate precautions are not taken. If you are concerned about a boil and it has not healed within a week, it is a good idea to see your doctor.