Boils

What is a boil?

A boil is a hard, painful lump under your skin that fills with pus (a thick, yellow-white fluid). Think of it like a big, deep spot that's much more painful than a normal pimple. Boils can appear anywhere on your body, but they're most common in areas where skin rubs together or where you have hair follicles.

What does a boil look like?

A boil usually starts as a small, itchy or tender spot. Over a few days, it becomes:

• Red and swollen
• Hard and painful to touch
• Filled with pus that may leak out
• About the size of a pea or larger

Sometimes several boils can join together to form a larger, more serious infection called a carbuncle.

What can you do at home?

Most boils will heal on their own, but you can help speed up the process:

Do:

• Soak a clean cloth in warm water and hold it against the boil for 10 minutes, 4 times a day
• Keep the area clean with antibacterial soap
• Cover the boil with a clean dressing if pus comes out
• Wash your hands regularly
• Have a bath or shower every day
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief
• Wash your towels and bedding weekly in hot water
• Try to lose weight if you're very overweight and get boils in skin folds

Don't:

• Pick, squeeze, or try to burst the boil - this can spread infection
• Share towels with others until the boil has completely healed
• Go swimming or to the gym - you could pass the infection to others

When to speak to your GP

You should make an appointment with your GP if:

• You've had a boil for 2 weeks and home treatment isn't helping
• You keep getting boils
• You have several boils clustered together

When to get urgent help

Contact your GP urgently or call NHS 111 if you have a boil and:

• It's on your face
• The skin around it feels very hot, painful, and swollen
• You feel hot, cold, or shivery (signs your body is fighting infection)
• You have a condition that affects your immune system, like diabetes

These could be signs that the infection is spreading, which needs quick treatment.

What causes boils?

Boils happen when bacteria get into hair follicles or small cuts in your skin. You might be more likely to get them if you:

• Have diabetes or another condition that affects your immune system
• Are male
• Have been in close contact with someone who has boils
• Have skin conditions like eczema
• Take certain medicines like steroids
• Are very overweight or not eating well

Treatment options

If you need to see a GP, they might:

• Drain the boil using a small, safe procedure
• Prescribe antibiotics if the infection has spread

Remember, most boils heal naturally with good home care. However, don't hesitate to speak to your GP if you're worried or if the boil isn't improving.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.