How to Get Rid of a Boil

It is possible to get rid of a boil at home, particularly if they are small. This involves using a warm compress to gradually draw pus out of the boil. There are also over-the-counter "draining salves" that can help.

A boil (furuncle) forms when bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus infiltrate a hair follicle and cause a pus-filled pocket called an abscess. A boil should never be popped as it can rupture the walls of the abscess and force the infection into deeper tissues. If a boil needs to be manually drained, it is best done by a healthcare provider.

At-Home Care

Boils can be extremely painful. They are often situated in places like the armpits, buttocks, and thighs where tissues rub together and cause even more pain They can also cause unsightly blemishes on the face or neck.

Because of this, people are often tempted to pop a boil to alleviate the pain or embarrassment of having one. This should be avoided.

The safe treatment of a boil starts with the application of a warm compress to the skin. This not only softens the skin and makes pus more liquid, but it also relaxes the opening of the follicle and clears away debris blocking the pore.

To safely treat a boil at home:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Soak a washcloth with warm water, no hotter than 100° F (37.8° C) for children, 120° F (49° C) for adults, and 100° F (37.8° C) for older adults.
3. Apply to the boil for five minutes.
4. Re-soak the washcloth and apply again for five minutes, repeating for a total of 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Repeat three to four times a day.

It may take five to seven days for the boil to open and drain freely. When this happens, wipe away the pus with a clean cloth, and clean the skin with soap and water. Continue with warm compress treatments until the pus is fully drained.

OTC Treatments

The drainage of a boil is easier if the boil has a head (a distended white bump near the skin's surface filled with pus) but can work even if there is no head. It just may take a bit longer.

For deeper boils, there are so-called "draining salves" or "drawing salves" you can buy online or from specialty pharmacists that can increase the effectiveness of warm compresses. They contain topical ingredients like ammonium bituminosulfonate that reduce inflammation which contributes to pore blockage.

Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) can help ease pain during at-home treatment.

When drainage occurs, you can also apply iodine or a topical antibiotic like Polysporin, Neosporin, or Bacitracin to prevent secondary infection, but this is generally not needed as long as you keep the skin clean.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

A boil that does not respond to at-home treatment after a week to 10 days should be seen by a healthcare provider.

There are other reasons for more immediate treatment:

• A boil that is increasing in size rapidly
• A very large boil that may spontaneously rupture on its own
• A boil that causes extreme pain and/or interferes with sleep or your ability to function
• A boil on your face, which can lead to scarring or affect nerves involved with vision
• A boil on the spine, which can compress spinal nerves, causing neurological symptoms
• A boil with rapidly spreading red streaks (a sign of cellulitis)
• A boil accompanied by high fever or chills and increasing redness, heat, and pain
  

Medical Treatment

Larger boils or those that are resistant to home treatment may need to be drained by a healthcare provider. To accomplish this, the provider will make an incision to enable drainage of pus (referred to as lancing).

Lancing is done on an outpatient basis in a doctor's office or clinic with a scalpel or small lancing tool. Light pressure may be applied but no squeezing is involved.

The procedure can vary based on the size of the boil but is generally performed as follows:

1. The boil and surrounding skin are sterilized with an antiseptic swab.
2. The skin may be numbed with a topical lidocaine and/or the injection of a local anesthetic.
3. Once the skin is numbed, an incision is made and the pus is drained.
4. A sterile saline solution may be used to flush out the cavity.
5. The boil may be packed with gauze to help soak up any pus or fluids and dressed with a sterile bandage. Most wounds are left open to heal on their own. The dressings are changed daily.
6. Oral antibiotics are generally reserved for boils on the face, if multiple boils are involved, or there are signs of cellulitis or a severe systemic infection.

Prevention

Boils commonly occur when Staphylococcus aureus found on the skin infiltrates a hair follicle. Poor hygiene can contribute by allowing S. aureus to multiply unchecked, while breaks in the skin can provide the bacterium easy access to underlying tissues.

People with weakened immune systems, such as those with uncontrolled diabetes, are most at risk.

To reduce the risk of boils:

• Practice good hygiene, bathing or showering regularly with soap and water.
• Wash your hands regularly and whenever they are dirty.
• Promptly clean and dress any skin injury.
• Keep your fingernails trimmed short to avoid abrasions.
• Avoid hot tubs or spas which contribute to folliculitis (follicle infection).
• Avoid tight clothing in hot, humid weather which promotes bacterial growth.
• Replace razors or clean electric trimmers periodically.
• Avoid picking your nose which is richly populated with S. aureus.
• Manage your blood sugar if you have diabetes.

Summary

You can get rid of a smaller boil by applying warm compresses several times a day to promote drainage. Boils that are non-responsive to home treatment or are large, extremely painful, on the face, or accompanied by fever and chills should be treated by a healthcare provider. The treatment may involve lancing, manual drainage, and possibly antibiotics.

Never pop a boil as doing so can force the infection into deeper tissues, increasing the risk of cellulitis.