The treatment of a boil

Possibilities of therapy for a boil

The therapy of a boil depends on the degree and location of the infection. In the case of an uncomplicated boil, it is usually sufficient to carry out a local therapy, which consists of cleaning and disinfecting the affected areas of the skin on the one hand and applying warm compresses on the other. The combination of moisture and warmth often achieves that the boils empty spontaneously and then heal faster.

Disinfecting ointments contain active ingredients such as polyvidon iodine, which support the healing process. Vasodilating ointments ideally cause a healing of an immature follicle, but otherwise at least a faster maturation of the boil, which means a shorter time to healing. In rare cases it is necessary to treat a boil additionally by the administration of antibiotics. The terms “abscess” and “boil” are often used as synonyms. But there are some clear distinguishing features.

Opening the furuncle

If boils become painful, there is also the possibility of having a doctor open them surgically with a scalpel so that the pus can drain away. This results in pressure relief, which counteracts the penetration of the bacteria into the surrounding tissue. Another option for the chronic occurrence of furuncles (furunculosis) is the treatment with autovaccines, which is a kind of vaccination with the individual pathogen.

In the past, the use of a pulling ointment was also frequently recommended, but this is not recommended today, as this form of treatment can lead to an abscess, which then requires surgical therapy. It is very important that you never try to express boils, especially not if they are above the upper lip, because then there is a risk that the bacteria can reach the brain and lead to serious complications. If you have boils on your face or neck, you should rather make sure that you move as little as possible until the boils have healed, which in extreme cases (e.g. boils on the mouth) can also mean speaking little or limiting yourself to soft food.