Skin boils look like large pimples and can sometimes be mistaken forspider bites. Boils appear as a red to purple lump on the skin with a white head. The head contains a white-yellow pus. Due to inflammation, boils can itch and hurt.
Boils are relatively common and can heal within two weeks with proper care. Treatment is typically done at home. You may need to see your healthcare provider, though, if the boils are very bad or get worse.
This article will discuss some of the common causes and symptoms of skin boils. It will also provide information on how to treat a skin boil and when you should call a healthcare provider.
What Causes Skin Boils?
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoSkin boil.Getty Images
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.
Getty Images
Boils form when normal bacteria on the surface of the skin invade hair follicles. These are stocking-shaped structures in the skin that produce hairs. The infection often includes a group of follicles.
Symptoms of Skin Boils
Why Do Boils Itch?Boils often itch and hurt due to the body’s inflammatory response to infection. In fact, your skin may itch before a boil actually appears.
Why Do Boils Itch?
Boils often itch and hurt due to the body’s inflammatory response to infection. In fact, your skin may itch before a boil actually appears.
Boils come in all sizes. They may begin pea-sized and can grow to the size of a golf ball. This can happen quickly. A boil that develops multiple heads is called a carbuncle.
Once the boil forms, you may feel fatigued or generally ill. See your healthcare provider if you develop a fever or chills.
Common Locations for Boils
Boils occur most commonly on the face, neck, armpit, buttocks, groin, and thighs. However, they can occur in the hair follicles located anywhere on the body.
Who Is At Risk for Skin Boils?Boils occur more often in teenagers and young adults. People in communal living situations are also at higher risk. This includes those who live in:Military barracksHomeless sheltersOther types of close-quarters housingThe spread of the infection in these places can be prevented with antibacterial soaps and good hygiene.People with certain health conditions are also more likely to get boils. These conditions include:Diabetes, a disease that affects your body’s ability to control blood sugarSkin conditions likeeczemaPoor nutritionObesity, or having an excessive amount of body fatA weakened immune system, such as in people taking drugs that suppress the immune systemAthletes who play contact sports or share equipment also have an increased risk of spreading the bacteria that cause boils.It is possible for boils to occur only once. Some people, though, get them repeatedly.One study found that up to 10% of people who get a boil will develop another one within a year.Some conditions, like diabetes, make recurrence more likely.
Who Is At Risk for Skin Boils?
Boils occur more often in teenagers and young adults. People in communal living situations are also at higher risk. This includes those who live in:
The spread of the infection in these places can be prevented with antibacterial soaps and good hygiene.
People with certain health conditions are also more likely to get boils. These conditions include:
Athletes who play contact sports or share equipment also have an increased risk of spreading the bacteria that cause boils.
It is possible for boils to occur only once. Some people, though, get them repeatedly.
One study found that up to 10% of people who get a boil will develop another one within a year.Some conditions, like diabetes, make recurrence more likely.
Treatment For Skin Boils
Home Care
There are some first aid tips you can try at home to make boils more tolerable. These may help them heal on their own.Home care for boils include:
Do not pop the boil or try to drain ityourself. It should break and drain naturally.
Never reuse a cloth you used on a boil unless it has been washed in hot water. Do not share items that have been in contact with the boil. Be sure to wash everything that touched the boil in hot water.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderSee your healthcare provider if:The boil is on your spine or your face.The boil lasts longer than one week.You have a fever or chills.The boil is painful or in an uncomfortable spot.The boil comes back.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See your healthcare provider if:The boil is on your spine or your face.The boil lasts longer than one week.You have a fever or chills.The boil is painful or in an uncomfortable spot.The boil comes back.
See your healthcare provider if:
Medical Treatment
It’s important to take medications as prescribed and carefully follow your healthcare provider’s instruction on how to care for your surgical incision after drainage.
The infection (pus) inside the boil is extremely contagious and can spread through skin-to-skin contact or contaminated objects. Therefore, it’s important to wash your hands with antibacterial soap and keep the boil covered with a clean dressing. Carefully dispose of any used dressings or bandages.
Is It Normal to Have a Boil on Your Breast?
Complications
Possible complications of boils include:
Boils on Buttocks: Why They Keep Coming Back
Summary
Bacterial infection is usually the underlying cause of boils. When the bacteria infect a hair follicle, it forms a red swollen bump. These bumps may develop whiteheads. That said, boils itch and may be tender.
Boils occur most often in teenagers and young adults, and in people in communal living situations. People with obese, poor nutrition, or weakened immune systems are also at higher risk.
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.Ibler KS, Kromann CB.Recurrent furunculosis - challenges and management: a review.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2014;7:59-64. doi:10.2147/CCID.S35302MedlinePlus.Boils.NHS.Boils.Ilyas M, Maganty N, Ginsberg Z, Sharma A.Skin infections due to bacteria in solid organ transplant recipients: a review.Dermatology.2017;233:358-365. doi:10.1159/000484405Shallcross LJ, Hayward AC, Johnson AM, Petersen I.Incidence and recurrence of boils and abscesses within the first year: a cohort study in UK primary care.Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(639):e668-e676. doi:10.3399/bjgp15X686929Johns Hopkins Medicine.Folliculitis, boils and carbuncles.
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.Ibler KS, Kromann CB.Recurrent furunculosis - challenges and management: a review.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2014;7:59-64. doi:10.2147/CCID.S35302MedlinePlus.Boils.NHS.Boils.Ilyas M, Maganty N, Ginsberg Z, Sharma A.Skin infections due to bacteria in solid organ transplant recipients: a review.Dermatology.2017;233:358-365. doi:10.1159/000484405Shallcross LJ, Hayward AC, Johnson AM, Petersen I.Incidence and recurrence of boils and abscesses within the first year: a cohort study in UK primary care.Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(639):e668-e676. doi:10.3399/bjgp15X686929Johns Hopkins Medicine.Folliculitis, boils and carbuncles.
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.
Ibler KS, Kromann CB.Recurrent furunculosis - challenges and management: a review.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2014;7:59-64. doi:10.2147/CCID.S35302MedlinePlus.Boils.NHS.Boils.Ilyas M, Maganty N, Ginsberg Z, Sharma A.Skin infections due to bacteria in solid organ transplant recipients: a review.Dermatology.2017;233:358-365. doi:10.1159/000484405Shallcross LJ, Hayward AC, Johnson AM, Petersen I.Incidence and recurrence of boils and abscesses within the first year: a cohort study in UK primary care.Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(639):e668-e676. doi:10.3399/bjgp15X686929Johns Hopkins Medicine.Folliculitis, boils and carbuncles.
Ibler KS, Kromann CB.Recurrent furunculosis - challenges and management: a review.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2014;7:59-64. doi:10.2147/CCID.S35302
MedlinePlus.Boils.
NHS.Boils.
Ilyas M, Maganty N, Ginsberg Z, Sharma A.Skin infections due to bacteria in solid organ transplant recipients: a review.Dermatology.2017;233:358-365. doi:10.1159/000484405
Shallcross LJ, Hayward AC, Johnson AM, Petersen I.Incidence and recurrence of boils and abscesses within the first year: a cohort study in UK primary care.Br J Gen Pract. 2015;65(639):e668-e676. doi:10.3399/bjgp15X686929
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Folliculitis, boils and carbuncles.
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