Carbuncles & Boils

Self-Care Options To Prevent And Treat Carbuncles

Understanding how to prevent and treat carbuncles and boils requires that you understand exactly what they are.  When a staph bacteria infect your hair follicles, the result is carbuncles (or boils) that are pus-filled, painful bumps that form under your skin.  The lumps start out as small and tender to the touch, usually reddish.  As they fill with pus, they get larger and more painful until finally- the carbuncles will rupture and drain.

People most likely to get carbuncles include people with acne or similar skin problems, diabetes, or a suppressed immune system.  People without these issues can also get boils, but are at a reduced risk.

Preventing Carbuncles And Boils

If you have a single boil, as long as you don’t attempt to “pop it” like you would a pimple, or lance it, you can probably treat the boil at home rather than seeking medical care.  You should always call your doctor if the carbuncle is extremely painful, however, or it lasts longer than two weeks.  Also, if you have a fever with a carbuncle- be sure to get medical advice for treatment as the infection might require a surgical procedure to drain the infection, or antibiotics.

Unfortunately, preventing carbuncles is not always possible.  Sometimes, preventing staph infections can be as simple as cleaning cuts and scrapes with warm soap and water then following with an over-the-counter antibiotic cream.  Tight clothing can chafe your skin, so you may want to avoid constricting clothing.

At Home Treatments For Carbuncles And Boils

If you happen to get a boil or carbuncle, you can do a few things at home without the assistance of a doctor to encourage the infection to heal faster.  You’ll also help prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of your body.

Using a warm cloth, compress the carbuncle for about ten minutes every few hours.  Using salt water will help the boil rupture, and allow it to drain faster.  Add a teaspoon of salt to a quart of heavily boiling water, dip your cloth in and then allow it to cool just enough so that it is comfortable to apply to your carbuncle.

Wash the boil two or three times each day, with a mild soap and then apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream before covering with a bandage.

Always wash your hands after treating your boil.  If you don’t, the carbuncle could leak fluids onto your hands, and then you’re at risk to spreading it to other areas of your body.  For the same reason, never squeeze, pop or otherwise lance a boil to let it drain- it must occur on it’s own.

Bookmarks
Bookmark This |