Boils

A boil often starts as an itchy or tender spot. Credit: DR HAROUT TANIELIAN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/82921/view Boils can sometimes leak pus. Credit: DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/251716/view Boils can appear anywhere on your body. Credit: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/251674/view When lots of boils form together it's called a carbuncle. Credit: Mediscan / Alamy Stock Photo https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-a-photograph-of-a-male-with-an-abscess-in-the-neck-11763483.html?pv=1&stamp=2&imageid=508EEC20-D4AC-45FD-858D-4AEDFE40568A&p=17774&n=0&orientation=0&pn=1&searchtype=0&IsFromSearch=1&srch=foo%3dbar%26st%3d0%26pn%3d1%26ps%3d100%26sortby%3d2%26resultview%3dsortbyPopular%26npgs%3d0%26qt%3dA7911G%26qt_raw%3dA7911G%26lic%3d3%26mr%3d0%26pr%3d0%26ot%3d0%26creative%3d%26ag%3d0%26hc%3d0%26pc%3d%26blackwhite%3d%26cutout%3d%26tbar%3d1%26et%3d0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3d0%26loc%3d0%26imgt%3d0%26dtfr%3d%26dtto%3d%26size%3d0xFF%26archive%3d1%26groupid%3d%26pseudoid%3d788068%26a%3d%26cdid%3d%26cdsrt%3d%26name%3d%26qn%3d%26apalib%3d%26apalic%3d%26lightbox%3d%26gname%3d%26gtype%3d%26xstx%3d0%26simid%3d%26saveQry%3d%26editorial%3d1%26nu%3d%26t%3d%26edoptin%3d%26customgeoip%3d%26cap%3d1%26cbstore%3d1%26vd%3d0%26lb%3d%26fi%3d2%26edrf%3d0%26ispremium%3d1%26flip%3d0%26pl%3d

There are things you can do to treat boils yourself and stop them coming back. Do soak a clean cloth in warm water and hold it against the boil for 10 minutes 4 times a day clean the area around the boil with antibacterial soap if pus comes out cover the area with a dressing or gauze until it heals bathe or shower every day and wash your hands regularly take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain wash your towels and bedding at least once a week at high temperature try to lose weight if you are very overweight and have boils between folds of your skin Don’t do not pick, squeeze or pierce a boil do not share your towel with other people until the boil has gone do not go to a swimming pool or gym until the boil has gone –⁠ you could pass the infection on to others

A GP can check if you need treatment. You may need: a small procedure to drain the boil to get rid of the pus antibiotics

You may be more likely to get boils if you have a long-term condition that affects your immune system, such as diabetes or HIV. You may also be more likely to get boils if: you're a man you've been in close contact with someone with boils you have certain skin conditions, such as eczema you take certain medicines, such as steroids you’re living with obesity or malnutrition Carbuncles are less common and mostly affect middle-aged men.