Health Blurbs

Boils, aka furuncle, are painfully tender, pus-filled red and swollen skin bumps caused when bacteria, usually staph, infects your hair follicles. They can suddenly appear anywhere, however they are more common in your hairier, sweaty or friction areas, such as:

• face
• neck
• thighs
• armpits
• buttocks

Anyone can develop boils, but your risk increases if you have:

• acne
• diabetes
• poor general health
• other skin conditions
• suppressed immune system ~ corticosteroids, HIV

A boil grows larger and more painful for about a week, then eventually develops a yellowish tip that ruptures and drains. Generally they’ll clear completely within a couple of weeks. Boils can resemble the painful lumps caused by cystic acne, but are usually more red and painful.

Bacteria causing boils are normally on your skin, and cause several serious diseases, including:

• meningitis
• pneumonia
• endocarditis
• food-borne illnesses
• urinary tract infections

For relief treatment of your boil don’t squeeze it, this can spread its infection. Instead, apply a warm washcloth to the painful pus filled area. Using salt water to moisten your compress will help your boil rupture and drain quicker. Once your boil bursts and drains, it should spontaneously heal.

To help avoid a boil problem, always clean skin cuts, etc., and apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. And avoid wearing tight clothes that cause your skin to chafe.

Applying tea tree oil several times daily may help relieve pain, discomfort and speed healing. As it has been used as an antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal treatment for centuries. This oil can cause an allergic reactions.

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