Get insights on how to treat a boil by using different treatments such as popping, lacing and others. You will also learn how to get rid of this skin condition by using various home remedies.
How do you Treat a Boil?
A boil or furuncle is a painful pus filled bump that develops on the surface of the skin. They are commonly caused by a bacterial infection that may enter your body through small cracks and injuries on the skin.
Other factors such as skin conditions, poor hygiene may also contribute to what causes boils on different parts of your body.
Furuncles can be small in size as a pea or as large as a golf ball and the larger it becomes the more painful it becomes too.
Although a boil may heal on its own especially when it is small in size, the following treatments may help to relieve the pain and reduce the healing time:
- Self-care treatment
You may perform self-care treatments while at home to fasten the healing process of a boil. The recommended treatments includes the following:
- Applying a warm compress to the boil
The earlier you start treating your boil, the less complication it may develop. Once you start noticing the symptoms of a boil such as redness and swelling, start the treatment immediately by applying a hot compress.
Place a clean wash cloth in hot water until it becomes wet, wring it to get rid of excess water and place it over the affected area until it cools. Apply this treatment several times for four day.
This treatment is very effective in speeding up the healing process. It helps in relieving the pain and excessive swelling. It also increases the circulation of blood on the affected area which is important in transporting white blood cells and antibodies that helps in fighting the infection.
The heat causes the dead skin cells, dead bacteria and dead white blood cells to come near the skin surface inform of pus for drainage. The affected areas must be kept clean, you should also wash your hands using antibacterial soap and dispose any dressing carefully to avoid spreading the infection to other parts of your body or other people.
- Cleaning the boil using antibacterial soap
Washing the boil using warm water and antibacterial soap is very effective on how to treat a boil especially once it starts draining. It helps in preventing the spread of the boil to other parts of your body, family and friends. The towel used in drying after washing the furuncles should also be washed thoroughly in warm water using antibacterial soaps. Other dressing material should be disposed carefully.
- Continue to apply a warm compress after the boil opens
Do not stop applying a warm compress on the boil once it starts to drain. Continue to apply warm compress until it heals completely. It helps in relieving the pain that may occur after drainage. While applying the compress ensure that the affected area is clean. Clean the surrounding areas using antibacterial soap.
- Medical treatment
Larger boils may require a medical treatment to heal. You may be required to visit your doctor, the following treatment may be performed to heal your condition:
- Incision and drainage
Your doctor may cut the boil open to allow it drain. This method works best on how to treat a boil especially when it’s large. However, squeezing, piercing with needle or cutting should not be tempted at home.
It may cause the boil to become re-infected with bacteria or it may result to spread of bacteria that may cause multiple boils on other parts of your body. While at home, you are supposed to allow the boil to drain by itself as you continue to apply a warm compress. According to Wikipedia.
How to Get Rid of a Boil
A boil may heal on its own but large boils may causes a lot of pain and other discomforts that may affect your daily activities. There are various treatments that can help to get rid of a boil fast, they include the following:
Proper care of the boil
Taking good care of your boil especially when it begins to drain is important in helping it to heal faster. Wash the boil, areas around and your hands using antibacterial soap to avoid infecting the other parts of your body. Cover it with a loose bandage that will not interfere with the drainage.
Try a warm compress
Applying a warm compress over the boil is among the effective ways on how to get rid of a boil on your inner thighs and other areas that may be affected. It helps in alleviating the pain as wells as drawing the pus closer to the skin. This remedy is done by wetting a wash cloth with warm water and placing it over the boil for several times a day.
Apply over-the-counter antibacterial cream
Anti-bacterial cream are also effective on how to treat a boil fast. Apply the ointment gently around the boil before covering it with a gauze dressing. Ensure that the dressing is free or loose enough to allow the boil to continue draining. The anti-bacterial creams may help to prevent the spread of infection.
Taking antibiotics
Taking prescribed antibiotics is also effective in healing the boils. Antibiotic therapy is also recommended in case of recurrent boils. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics especially when the boils develop on sensitive areas such as the armpit, breast, near the eye or on the buttocks. The antibiotics are not supposed to be taken for a longer time as you may develop resistance.
Visiting your doctor
A boil may not require an emergency attention, but there are various condition that may require a doctor’s treatment to get rid of a boil. If you are having a weak body immune system as a result of other conditions like diabetes and cancer, you are supposed to visit your doctor right away after noticing symptoms of a boil. You are also supposed to visit a doctor in case of:
- Severe symptoms such as fever and excessive pain
- Recurrent of boils on the same area
- A boil that fails to heal after two weeks
- Swelling of the lymph nodes
- Other body conditions such as diabetes and heart diseases
Home Remedies for a Boil
A boil is an infectious skin condition that affects the hair follicles or glands. When this condition is not controlled, it may spread to the surrounding areas to cause a carbuncle.
Therefore, the various treatment that can be done while at home using natural ingredients and other home remedies that includes:
- Salt water soak
Applying a warm Epsom salt compress on the boil helps to fasten the healing process as well as relieving the pain. It helps to draw the pus closer to the skin surface and also bring the boil to head which is important for drainage. This remedy is effective on how to treat a boil by killing the bacteria.
You simply need ¼ cup of Epsom salt, 2 cups of water and a wash cloth. Dissolve the salt into the water, place the wash cloth into the solution to wet and place it over the boil, leave it there for 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat the procedure three times a day for four days.
- Apply apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains both anti-microbial and antiseptic properties that is effective in killing the bacteria that causes various skin conditions including the boils. It works best when mixed with equal amount of honey. You simply mix the two and dilute with some water before using a cotton ball to apply on the furuncle.
- Use tea tree oil
Tea tree oil works best in treating the boils due to its antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It helps in speeding up the healing process by fighting the bacteria in the affected area. It also prevents the spread of bacteria on the surrounding areas.
You may apply few drops of diluted tea tree oil directly to the boil. Alternatively, mix lavender oil and tea tree oil. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and dab on the furuncle. Apply this remedy twice or thrice a day until your condition is healed.
- Turmeric
Turmeric has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that are effective on how to treat a boil by speeding up the healing process. It also helps in relieving the pain and other discomforts caused by the boil. To use it, you simply mix two teaspoon of turmeric powder and a few drops of water to make a paste. Apply the paste directly on the boil twice or thrice a day until the boil heals.
Turmeric can also be used together with other ingredients for fast results. A mixture of turmeric powder, milk cream and vinegar makes a good combination that helps in speeding the healing process of a boil.
- Onion
An onion has antiseptic properties that are effective on how to treat a boil on thigh and other parts that are affected. When applied on the boil, it helps in healing the boil by fighting the bacteria, drawing the heat out of the boil and alleviating the pain and other symptoms. According to top 10 home remedies.
To use this remedy, you will require a fresh onion. Cut it into slices and place them over the boil. Use a clean wash cloth to cover them. Change the onion slices after every 4 hours until the boil becomes ready to drain.
- Garlic
Garlic has strong natural antibacterial properties that is effective in treating a boil fast. It aids in healing the boil by killing the bacteria and fastening the maturity of the boil to drain. You simply crush 3 pieces of garlic and obtain a juice from it. Using a cotton pad, apply the juice directly on the surface of the boil.
- Neem
A neem was use from traditionally in treating various skin condition. It has natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties that are effective cure for boils in the armpits and other parts. Wash and grind some neem tree leaves to make a paste and apply directly on the boils.
How to Pop a Boil
Popping or squeezing a boil is not recommended to be done at home. It may be tempting to pop but you should allow the boil to drain by itself. Popping may spread the infection to the areas around to cause carbuncle.
Piercing or pinching may also leave a scar. However, there is a recommended procedure that you are supposed to use to help in draining the boil.
Apply a warm compress over the boil. It helps to soften the boil and draw the pus closer to the skin surface for drainage. Warm compress is among the best methods on how to treat a boil. It also helps is minimizing the pain during the drainage process.
When it starts to drain, apply a little pressure on the areas around by pulling the skin away from the boil rather than squeezing. Use a gauze to catch pus. Wash your hand and the affected areas using warm water and antibacterial soap. You may apply an ointment and cover the area using a bandage. Continue to apply a warm compress until the boil heals.
Lancing a Boil
In some cases, the boil may not show any improvement even after applying a heat on it. You may consider lancing if you are experience the following symptoms; fever, severe pain and body weakness. It is recommended to seek a health care provider for lancing. You may also perform the procedure by yourself. You will require the following equipment’s:
Cleansing supplies, numbing agent, a sterile scalpel and a gauze. Prepare the boil and yourself by washing your hand and the affected area using antibacterial soap, put on the gloves, checking the head of the boil, disinfecting the area with iodine and applying the numbing agent.
Stab the skin above the boil with a scalpel and allow it to drain. Wipe away the pus using the gauze and clean the area using warm water and antibacterial soap. Cover the wound with a loose bandage. Lancing is effective on how to treat a boil when other treatments have failed.