Boils and Skin Abscesses: Why They Form, Safe Home Care and When They Need Draining

A boil is a painful red lump that forms when a hair follicle becomes infected, usually with staphylococcus bacteria. It fills with pus, then usually bursts and heals on its own within about two weeks. A larger collection of pus is called an abscess, and a cluster of boils is a carbuncle.

Imagine squeezing a sore lump on your neck before work, and by the evening the redness has spread and you feel feverish. Patience and a warm compress would have been the safer route.

Signs of a boil

• A tender red or darker lump that grows over a few days
• A white or yellow head of pus in the centre
• Common on the face, neck, armpits, buttocks and thighs

Safe home care

• Hold a warm, clean compress on it for 10 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day
• Don’t squeeze, pop or prick it, as this can push infection deeper
• When it bursts, clean it gently and cover it with a dressing
• Wash your hands after touching it and don’t share towels
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen can ease the pain

See a doctor if

• It is on your face, or very large and painful
• You have a fever or feel unwell
• The skin around it becomes hot, swollen or spreading
• It hasn’t improved after two weeks, or you keep getting boils
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system

A doctor may drain a large boil or abscess with a small cut under local anaesthetic. Antibiotics are not always needed after drainage. People who keep getting boils may be checked for diabetes or for carrying staphylococcus bacteria in the nose.

But won’t it heal faster if I pop it?

No. Squeezing can spread the infection into the surrounding skin or bloodstream and leave a scar. Warm compresses help the boil drain naturally and safely.

Sources: NHS, “Boils and carbuncles” and “Skin abscess”; American Academy of Dermatology, “Boils and carbuncles”. This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your own nurse, doctor or pharmacist.