Rule no 1: Resist any desire of your body to pick it up or explode it!
At first you can confuse boiling and grain, as both are red and raised bumps. But there is an essential difference between the two skin lesions: boils are usually caused by a bacterial infection with Staphylococcus aureus, also called staphylococcal infection, while pimples appear when oil, dead cells and bacteria clog pores . In addition, boils tend to be firm and painful to the touch. Boils are not just the only mysterious masses on your skin.
Staphylococcus is usually a harmless bacteria that lives on the skin around the nose, mouth, genitals and rectum. But it can cause an infection once it gets into the skin through a cut or other injury. And so, a boil will form. Ingrown hairs are extremely common sites for boils because bacteria can infect hair follicles, small openings in the skin where hair grows. Boils are often found in moist areas of the body such as the buttocks, thighs, groin and armpits.
Because these painful and pus-filled masses can take up to three weeks to heal completely, here's how to get rid of boiling effectively and safely.
Do not jump, do not pick up and do not squeeze
As a push button, a boil must reach a whitish-yellow head to flow and release the body from its infectious substance. But do not give in to the irresistible need to choose or blow up! "If boiling will break, let it act on its own," said Anthony M. Rossi, a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. "And do not squeeze it any more, because it could push the bacteria to a deeper level."
Use a hot compress
The second golden rule on how to get rid of boiling: use a warm washcloth so that the skin reaches the head. Place a clean cloth under warm or hot water, but do not boil it because you do not want to burn the skin. Then apply the hot cloth to boiling for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times a day, until boiling. "A hot pill also helps reduce pain and inflammation," says Dr. Rossi.
Pop an ibuprofen
Staying at your desk all day can be a pain in the buttocks, literally, if your boil is in the buttocks. Take a dose of paracetamol or ibuprofen to calm the pain and suffering until swelling decreases.
Disinfect with warm water and soap.
If boiling occurs during the application of compact heat or at any other time, allow it to drain on its own. Then disinfect the opening with antibacterial soap and warm water. It's a much gentler alternative to cleaning an open sore compared to using rubbing alcohol, which can hurt.
Cover the burst with a sterile gauze bandage.
Once the ulcer is cleaned, cover the boil with a loose gauze dressing to prevent bacteria from spreading to other parts of the body. Change the bandage at least once a day until the pus stops flowing.
Wash your hands immediately after
To make sure the infection does not spread to another part of you or another person, wash your hands with soap for at least 20 to 30 seconds after taking care of boiling. "It's very important not to touch it too much because boils carry many bacteria," says Dr. Rossi. If you do not have water or soap, take an alcohol-based hand cleaner in your pocket or purse.
Do not share anything with your friends or family.
Everything your boil has been in contact with could infect others. It is best to avoid sharing bathing clothes, towels, clothes, bath water and razors with your loved ones until the complete disappearance of the infection.
Call your doctor if boiling does not go away.
If you do not see any signs of improvement after two weeks, go to your doctor.
Fortunately, most boils are not caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of Staphylococcus bacteria that has become resistant to many antibiotics. But if MRSA is not treated properly, the infection can quickly turn boiling into a deep, painful abscess that must be drained surgically. Worse, bacteria could penetrate deeper beyond the skin and cause life-threatening infections throughout the body.
Also watch for signs of fever, chills, excessive and / or extended pain, or boils. If the boil-out rules have not worked, your health care provider may need to prescribe an antibiotic to fight the staph infection or drain the abscess with a sterile needle.
