Treating boils and carbuncles

Most boils get better without the need for medical treatment and can be successfully treated at home.

Self care

One of the best ways to speed up the healing process is to apply a warm face cloth to the boil for 10 minutes three or four times a day. The heat increases the amount of blood circulating around the boil, which means more infection-fighting white blood cells are sent there.

When the boil bursts, cover it with sterile gauze or dressing to prevent the spread of infection. After this, wash your hands thoroughly using hot water and soap. This will helpprevent you spreadingbacteria to other parts of your body orother people.

Over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or Painkillers, ibuprofen , can help relieve any pain caused by the boil.

Drainingboils

See your GP if you have a larger boil that feels soft and spongy to the touch (the medical name for this is a fluctuant boil).

Once a boil becomes soft and spongy, it's unlikely to burst open by itself and probably won't respond well to treatment with antibiotics .

Your GP may be able to remove the pus using a technique called incision and drainage. In some cases, your GP may refer you to your local hospital for this treatment.

Incision and drainage involves piercing the tip of the boil with a sterile needle or scalpel. Thisencourages the pus to drain out of the boil, which should help to relieve pain and stimulate the recovery process.

Before having the procedure, it's likely you'll begiven a local anaesthetic to numb the affected area.

Never attempt to squeeze or pierce a boil yourself because this can spread the infection.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are usually recommended:

• for all cases of carbuncles
• if you have a high temperature
• if you develop a secondary infection, such as cellulitis (an infection of the deeper layer of the skin)
• if you have a boil on your facefacial boils have a higher risk of causing complications
• if you're in severe pain and discomfort

A seven-day course of a penicillin-basedantibiotic calledflucloxacillin is usually recommended. If penicillin is unsuitable foryou, alternative antibiotics, such as erythromycinand clarithromycin, can be used.

It's important to finish the course of antibiotics even if the boil goes away, otherwise the infection could return.

Treating recurrent boils and carbuncles

Boils and carbuncles that keep returning often need further treatment.

Most people with recurrent boils develop them because they're carriers of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (staph bacteria). In this case, treatment may be necessary to kill these bacteria.

Treatment depends on where the staph bacteria are found on your body. Bacteria on the skincan be treated with antiseptic soap. Staph bacteria in the nose will need to be treated with a prescribed antiseptic cream for up to 10 days.