Boils on the leg

A boil is an inflamed hair follicle (structures that surround the hair root and anchor the hair to the skin). The hair follicle and surrounding tissue are both purulent and painfully inflamed. In some cases, several adjacent boils can merge into a so-called carbuncle.

If there is an accumulation of furuncles over time, it is called furunculosis, the cause of which should be clarified in any case. A typical localization for a furuncle is the thigh (furthermore, face, neck, armpits, buttocks and genital area are also typical). In principle, however, any hairy part of the body can be affected.

Inflammation occurs in minimally injured skin areas due to a bacterial infection, which occurs mainly in people with a weakened immune system. In most cases, the pathogen is Staphylococcus aureus. The thigh is considered to be an exposed site for the development of a furuncle, as furuncles tend to develop in places where there is a lot of friction or increased sweating.

Friction causes skin damage, making it easier for bacteria to penetrate. This occurs especially with tight-fitting pants on the thigh, or due to the tight-fitting sock waistband on the lower leg. Underwear with too tight-fitting leg cuffs should also be avoided, as the friction that occurs causes furuncle formation, especially in the skin folds on the thighs (and also under the armpits).

Another reason for frequent placement on the leg is that insufficient disinfection after shaving leads to more frequent furuncle formation. Otherwise, a further promoting factor is an existing or still unknown sugar disease (diabetes mellitus). Underwear with too tightly fitting leg cuffs should also be avoided, since the friction that occurs causes furuncle formation, especially in the skin folds on the thighs (and also under the armpits). Another reason for frequent placement on the leg is that insufficient disinfection after shaving leads to more frequent furuncle formation. Otherwise, a further promoting factor is an existing or still unknown sugar disease (diabetes mellitus).