Largepimplesandboilscan look very similar. They are both swollen, painful lumps filled with a thick, yellowish fluid known aspus.
Despite their similarities, pimples and boils are not the same. They may have different bacterial causes and need different treatments to help clear the condition. They also develop on different structures of the skin and in different locations.
This article describes some of the differences between pimples and boils, and how each should be treated.
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This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoBoil.DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND
Boils and pimples can start out looking the same but will start to look and feel differently over time.
These characteristics account for differences in the appearance of boils and pimples.
What Does a Boil Look Like?
A boil starts as a painful, firm, red lump under the skin. Over the course of several days, the lump can grow larger, soften, and develop a pus-filled head.
Unlike a pimple, a boil can sometimes grow as large as a golf ball and start to ooze pus and clear fluid. The infection can also spread beyond the follicle to adjacent tissues, occasionally leading to a more serious infection known ascellulitis.
It is also possible to have several boils that gradually converge under the skin to form a larger, pus-filled pocket known as acarbuncle.
What Does a Pimple Look Like?
Because a pimple a limited to the hair follicle, it tends to cause a smaller, pus-filled bump that can be red, warm, swollen, and sometimes painful.
While several pimples may be situated closely together, they don’t converge into larger bumps the way that furuncles do.
Cystic acneis a type of acne easily confused with boils because the pimples are generally larger and can ooze pus on their own.Regular pimples won’t ooze unless they are intentionally or accidentally “popped.”
Most common pimples range from the size of a nail head to the size of a pea. Cystic acne pimples may grow as large as a dime.
1:27Click Play to Learn How to Handle Large Pimples
1:27
Click Play to Learn How to Handle Large Pimples
Location
Where Are Boils Likely to Be?
Furuncles tend to develop in high-moisture areas of skin whereS. aureusis more likely to proliferate and/or where hairy areas of skin rub together and create friction.
Common sites for boils include:
Where Are Pimples Likely to Be?
Pimples tend to develop in areas of skin where sebum-producing glands, calledsebaceous glands, are densely situated. The most common include:
Treatment
Boils often require aggressive treatment to clear the infection and prevent them from getting worse. Pimples often require prolonged treatment to control the underlying mechanisms that give rise to acne.
How Are Boils Treated?
You should never lance or “pop” a boil as it can force pus into deeper layers of skin and make the infection worse.
If a boil is large and fails to respond to home treatment, you should see a healthcare provider (such as adermatologist) who candrain the boilfor you. The same is true if you have multiple boils.
A healthcare provider may also opt to prescribeantibioticsif the boil is large, recurrent, or situated in sensitive areas such as in the ears or nostrils.
How Are Pimples Treated?
Pimples can also be treated at home with gentle skin care and over-the-counter (OTC) topical medications likebenzoyl peroxideandsalicylic acid.
As with boils, you should never “pop” a pimple as doing so can rupture the follicle and force pus into deeper tissues.
Sometimes treatment can go on for months and require ongoing care. If these at-home measures don’t help, you may need to see a dermatologist who can prescribe topical or oral drugs along with specialist procedures.
Treatment options include:
A big pimple under the skin may be a type of acne callednodular acne. Nodular acne requires a prescription from a healthcare provider since OTC drugs are usually not strong enough.
Antibiotics may also be prescribed if asecondary infectionhas occurred or you are at risk of infection due to a severe acne breakout.
When to Contact a Healthcare ProviderSevere furuncles or pimples may not respond to home therapy and require the care of a dermatologist. There are several ways to know when a dermatologist is needed.Seeking Care for a BoilYou don’t usually need to see a healthcare provider for a boil is small. Most will burst and heal on their own.However, you should seek medical treatment for a boil if:It is on your face, nose, or spine.It doesn’t heal within two weeks.It is large and painful.You develop a fever, chills, or other signs of a severe infection.Seeking Care for a PimpleMost people will opt to treat pimples at home and only see a healthcare provider when OTC treatments fail.As a general rule, it is time to see a dermatologist when:Pimple breakouts are severe, recurrent, or persistent.You have a pimple on the armpit, groin, or thigh (as it may turn out to be a boil).You get pimples before the age of 8 years.You started prescription medications within six months and suddenly have an acne breakout.You have developed (or are developing)acne scars.Pimples are causing you distress.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Severe furuncles or pimples may not respond to home therapy and require the care of a dermatologist. There are several ways to know when a dermatologist is needed.
Seeking Care for a Boil
You don’t usually need to see a healthcare provider for a boil is small. Most will burst and heal on their own.
However, you should seek medical treatment for a boil if:
Seeking Care for a Pimple
Most people will opt to treat pimples at home and only see a healthcare provider when OTC treatments fail.
As a general rule, it is time to see a dermatologist when:
PreventionYou can’t always avoid getting a boil or pimples, but there are simple measures you can take to reduce the risk.Preventing BoilsTo reduce the risk of a boil:Clean any cuts, wounds, or abrasions (even small ones) as soon as they happen.Wash your skin regularly with a mild antibacterial soap.Cover any cut or wound with a sterile bandage until it heals.Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to boost your immune system.Preventing PimplesTo reduce the risk of pimples:Gently clean your skin up to twice daily with a non-abrasive cleanser.Use skincare products labeled “alcohol-free.“Shampoo regularly, and keep oily hair off your face.Stay out of the sun, and avoid tanning beds.
Prevention
You can’t always avoid getting a boil or pimples, but there are simple measures you can take to reduce the risk.
Preventing Boils
To reduce the risk of a boil:
Preventing Pimples
To reduce the risk of pimples:
SummaryBoils and large pimples look similar but have different causes and treatments. Boils are infected hair follicles; pimples are blocked hair follicles.Pimples are rarely larger than a dime, and boils can be far larger than that. Pimples are mostly seen on the face, back, and upper chest, while boils are mainly seen in the groin, breast, thigh, and armpit areas.
Summary
Boils and large pimples look similar but have different causes and treatments. Boils are infected hair follicles; pimples are blocked hair follicles.
Pimples are rarely larger than a dime, and boils can be far larger than that. Pimples are mostly seen on the face, back, and upper chest, while boils are mainly seen in the groin, breast, thigh, and armpit areas.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Boils and carbuncles: overview.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037MedlinePlus.Acne.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.National Health Service (UK).Boils and carbuncles.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Treating acne? Is it time to see a dermatologist?Additional ReadingUS National Library of Medicine.Boils.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol.2016;74(5):945-73. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Boils and carbuncles: overview.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037MedlinePlus.Acne.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.National Health Service (UK).Boils and carbuncles.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Treating acne? Is it time to see a dermatologist?Additional ReadingUS National Library of Medicine.Boils.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol.2016;74(5):945-73. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Boils and carbuncles: overview.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037MedlinePlus.Acne.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.National Health Service (UK).Boils and carbuncles.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Treating acne? Is it time to see a dermatologist?
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Boils and carbuncles: overview.
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
MedlinePlus.Acne.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat different types of acne.
National Health Service (UK).Boils and carbuncles.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Treating acne? Is it time to see a dermatologist?
US National Library of Medicine.Boils.Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol.2016;74(5):945-73. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
US National Library of Medicine.Boils.
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol.2016;74(5):945-73. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
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