Boil or furuncle is a skin disease caused by the inflammation of hair follicles, thus resulting in the localized accumulation of pus and dead tissues. Individual boils can cluster together and form an interconnected network of boils called carbuncles. In severe cases, boils may develop to form abscesses.



The organism causing boils is easily spread -- most caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Boils are just a description of what happend to infected skin. There are a variety of causes and many require prescription antibiotics, topical or oral to treat.

If they are boils then the puss from them will infect other parts of the leg. Boils can be caused by many things including hormones, illness, being run down etc. Usually, when a person keeps getting boils there is a bacterial problem and it may be systemic (inside your body).

The symptoms of boils are red, pus-filled lumps that are tender, warm, and/or painful. A yellow or white point at the center of the lump can be seen when the boil is ready to drain or discharge pus. In a severe infection, multiple boils may develop and the patient may experience fever and swollen lymph nodes. A recurring boil is called chronic furunculosis.

The primary treatment for most boils is heat application, usually with hot soaks or hot packs. Heat application increases the circulation to the area and allows the body to better fight off the infection by bringing antibodies and white blood cells to the site of infection.

Mild cases of folliculitis sometimes heal on their own. However, folliculitis may return or get worse. If your folliculitis spreads or returns, see your doctor for proper treatment. Deeper or more severe, you will need to take antibiotic pills. Your doctor may prescribe dicloxacillin, erythromycin, or cephalexin (such as Keflex). Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and ofloxacin (such as Floxin) are used for certain types of bacteria.

On occasion, and especially with larger boils, the the larger boil will need to be drained or "lanced" by a healthcare practitioner. Frequently, these larger boils contain several pockets of pus that must be opened and drained. The best thing to do is get a washcloth and wet it with the hottest water you can stand, put it on boil and keep it there untill cloth is cold. This will help bring it to a head. Once it comes to a head then you can lance it with a needle and get the puss out of it. You may need to use the heat more then once though.

There's an ointment called Boil-out, and there are several generic ointments called Drawing Salves that will get rid of them. Just apply a small amount of the ointment to the boil, cover it with a bandage and leave it on over night.

Soak it in luke warm salt water and slowly remove some of the cool water and add hot water, this will allow you to get the soak much hotter than if you just started with hot water. The boil should burst without much pain as the hot water relaxes the skin and the salt draws it out.