Boils are inflammations of the hair follicle. They can appear anywhere on the body where there is hair, but they mainly occur on the face or buttocks. Boils can be extremely painful and melt together to form a so-called carbuncle.
If the inflamed area heals, healing with scarring usually occurs. Therefore, it is also strongly discouraged to express the boils themselves, because the inflammation is usually only worse. In the facial area a boil can also be very dangerous.
The complication of a boil in the face is rare, but should not be underestimated. Depending on where exactly the boil is located on the face, extreme caution is required. If the boil is located in the area between the nostril and the outer corner of the mouth, the bacteria can migrate through a venous plexus (pterygoid plexus) in the direction of the brain and cause irreparable damage through inflammation in the brain, as well as thromboses.
The vena angularis, which runs from the nose to the eye, can also carry the infection towards the brain. Therefore, especially in the case of pronounced furuncles in this area, an absolute ban on speaking is called for. In addition, these patients are usually admitted to the hospital as in-patients and provided with liquid food until the ban on chewing and speaking can be lifted again. If a fever develops during the occurrence of a furuncle without an explainable cause, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Causes of facial furuncles
Boils are caused by the penetration of bacteria, usually the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, into the skin and multiply along the hair. A local inflammation is triggered at the hair follicle and pus is produced by the body’s own immune system. If there is also an inflammation of the area around the hair follicle, it is called a boil.
Why some people are more prone to boils and carbuncles is not exactly clear. However, there are some risk factors for the development of the inflammation. Among them are:
- Smoking: Patients who smoke have a 10 times higher risk of getting boils
- Congenital immune disease also have an increased risk of developing boils
- Diabetes mellitus
- Skin diseases such as impetigo or sycosis also favour the development
- Lack of disinfection, especially after shaving, can make it easier for bacteria to penetrate the skin due to the damage caused by shaving
The symptoms of a furuncle on the face are
- Reddening of the skin (roundish form) with a rough knot under the skin or as a yellowish pus clot visible
- Swelling of the face, i.e. where the boil is located
- Pain
- Pressure feeling in the skin
The dermatologist recognizes the boil by means of a visual diagnosis.
Furuncles stand out due to their typical appearance with a reddish border of a pustule, which feels rough. The typical places where boils appear are A smear can be taken to clarify the pathogen.
- Face area
- Armpits
- Nose area
- Butt
- Chest area
For the therapy of a boil in the face there are different ointments available, mostly pulling ointment is used.
Also antibiotics like amoxicilin can be administered to fight the infection. If the boil is very large, it can also be opened surgically and rinsed out with disinfectants. This should always be done by a doctor and never at home with non-sterile material such as needles.
In contrast to boils in other parts of the body, boils in the face should not be underestimated. Since the large venous vessels of the brain (the sinus durae matris) are very thin-walled and have no venous valves, a spread infection in the facial area (especially in the area of the nose and upper lip) can have serious consequences. In the worst case, sinus vein thrombosis or meningitis may occur.
For this reason, preventive treatment with an antibiotic may be useful in some cases. This depends on the pathogen responsible for the boil. In most cases this is the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, against which certain antibiotics (e.g. amoxicillin, cefpodoxime) are effective.
In order to determine the pathogen, a so-called antibiogram can be taken by means of a smear. Furthermore, antibiotics are used for the treatment of furuncles on the face as well as other parts of the body after a surgical opening of the furuncle. In the form of an ointment, the antibiotic can help the inflammation to subside more quickly.Ointments which have an anti-inflammatory, blood circulation-promoting and pain-relieving effect are called pulling ointments.
At the same time, they promote the activity of white blood cells and reduce the flow of sebum. The substance mainly responsible for the ointment’s effect is ammonium bituminosulfonate, also known as ichthyol. This is obtained from shale oil.
On the one hand, pulling ointment seems to promote the spontaneous opening of furuncles and abscesses, on the other hand it is described that it softens the skin in the area of application, so that the furuncle matures faster and opening by the doctor is made easier. Not only for boils, but also for other skin diseases such as acne, psoriasis and eczema, pulling ointment is used. Even for sprains and arthrosis, the application of pulling ointment can be helpful.
In addition to the pure ointment as a form of application, plasters containing pull-over ointment are also available in pharmacies. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, a doctor should be consulted before applying the ointment. Allergies to pulling ointment can also occur.
Furuncles are a widespread problem, which occupied many generations before us. Because of this, there is a whole range of different home remedies for the treatment of boils. Almost all of them are based to a large extent on the effect of heat, which is supposed to swell the furuncle, so that it finally breaks open.
At the same time, heat promotes blood circulation and inflammation and thus contributes to the maturation of the furuncle. The heat can be applied, for example, in the form of compresses repeatedly soaked in hot chamomile tea. Camomile tea has an additional antibacterial effect.
Fennel tea also has an antibacterial effect. Milk or bread soaked in warm milk is also often used to apply to boils. Finally, propolis in the form of a tincture or cream is also recommended.
This resinous mass produced by bees has antibacterial and antiviral as well as antimycotic (against fungi) effects. If no improvement of the furuncle is shown by the application of household remedies, a doctor should be consulted. Especially boils in the area of the nose and upper lips can have serious consequences.
As with most other diseases, there are a variety of homeopathic remedies available for the treatment of facial furuncles and furuncles in general. However, it must be said that no meaningful studies on the effect of homeopathic remedies in general are available to date. The theoretical principles of homeopathy (such as the principle of potentiation) even contradict current chemical and physical knowledge.
At the same time, the homeopathic remedies on offer are not regulated by the currently valid German Drug Law, but are subject to their own, scientifically unjustifiable, regulations. Myristica sebifera is often offered for draining furuncles. If the skin above the furuncle is warmed, natural healers recommend Belladonna, and in case of stabbing pain, Hepar sulfuris can be taken.
Other homeopathic preparations for the treatment of boils are Silicea, and Traumeel® tablets. If there is no improvement of the furuncle after application, a doctor should be consulted (as with other home remedies). Depending on the risk profile and hygiene, the prognosis is good so that furuncles do not recur or at least rarely. In high-risk patients, hygiene should be closely monitored to avoid renewed inflammation.
