Skin Abscess, Boil and Carbuncle: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Skin Abscess

No differential diagnoses present

Furuncle

Skin and subcutaneous (L00-L99).

  • Acne cystica – form of acne associated with cyst formation.
  • Acne inversa (also spelled acne inversa; synonyms: Acnetetrade; Hidradenitis suppurativa (misleading term, as the disease does not originate from the sweat glands, but from the sebaceous glands and terminal hair follicles), Pyodermia fistulans sinifica, sweat gland abscess) – chronic inflammatory and relapsing skin disease; preferred sites of manifestation are submammary (“below the female breast (mamma)”), genital and perianal (“in the vicinity of the anus“); Perifolliculitis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding a hair follicle, usually originating from folliculitis (hair follicle inflammation) caused by bacteria (usually Staphylococcus aureus)) especially in the armpits and groin and a pilonidal sinus (coccygeal fistula) lead to pronounced scarring overall.
  • Infected epidermoid cyst – bulging elastic node formed in the follicle by retention of the horny masses.

Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

  • Myiasis (skin maggot feeding).
  • Trichophytia profunda – fungal infection of the skin.

Carbuncle

Skin and subcutis (L00-L99)

  • Erythrasma – redness of the skin caused by bacteria of the Corynebacterium minutissimum type, resembling that of mycosis; occurs mainly in obese type 2 diabetics.
  • Phlegmon – purulent, diffusely spreading infectious disease of the soft tissues.