Symptoms

The furuncle becomes noticeable as a painful knot on the back. The affected area is extremely sensitive to pressure and strongly reddened. The boil is bulging with pus and the surrounding skin feels warm.

From a certain size on, the boil breaks through the skin and the purulent content empties outwards by itself. The inflammation then heals quickly, leaving a small scar. Rarely the boil recedes without spontaneous discharge.

If several boils appear close together, this is called carbuncle. Normally, boils on the back are harmless and do not cause any other symptoms apart from pressure sensitivity and pain. However, if the inflammation is very severe, patients may feel groggy and ill. A slightly elevated temperature may also occur.

If the bacteria get from the boils into the lymphatic system, an inflammation of the lymphatic system (lymphangitis) and the regional lymph nodes (lymphadenitis) occurs. It becomes problematic when the bacteria continue to enter the blood vessels, where they lead to life-threatening blood poisoning (sepsis). This topic might also be of interest to you: Abscess on the back

What is the best way to remove the boil?

The treatment of a furuncle depends on the severity of the inflammation. Small boils do not have to be removed specifically, but heal by themselves. Large boils and very painful lumps that lie deep under the skin should be removed by a doctor.

The doctor removes the boil on the back with a small surgical procedure. During this procedure, the boil is cut open and the pus is drained to the outside via a drain. The affected area is then rinsed with an antiseptic and the small wound is taped.

If the boil is not yet mature, i.e. if the head of pus is not yet on the surface, the doctor may prescribe a traction ointment. The traction ointment is applied on the inflammation and improves the blood circulation in the tissue, which makes the boil mature. The mature boil sometimes empties spontaneously by itself to the outside or is cut open by the doctor.