Boils On The Body- Part 1

A boil is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After four to seven days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin. If the infection spreads to the deeper tissues of the skin, then it becomes an abscess or furuncle.

The most common places for boils to appear are on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks.

If several boils appear in a group, this is a more serious type of infection called a carbuncle.

Inflammation of hair follicles is called folliculitis, which can develop into a boil. This is common in the pubic area, especially after shaving.

Hidradenitis suppurativa, also called acne inversa, is a skin condition characterized by lumps under the skin, which often resemble pimples, particularly in the armpits, groin, and buttocks. It looks like boils but is not the same condition.

Causes of Boils

Boils are usually caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus (staph). Some staph infections develop into abscesses and can become serious very quickly. This germ can be present on normal skin and enters the body through tiny breaks in the skin or by traveling down a hair to the follicle.

The tiny breaks in the skin may be caused by cuts, scrapes, shaving, ingrown hairs, insect bites, or even skin diseases or conditions.

What Are Risk Factors for Boils?

Certain health problems make people more susceptible to skin infections such as boils. Examples of risk factors for boils include

diabetes mellitus,

problems with the immune system,

poor nutrition,

poor hygiene,

exposure to harsh chemicals that irritate the skin;

infection with community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA), and

intravenous drug use.

Other risk factors for contracting boils include close contact with others who have active infected boils and exposure to whirlpool footbaths at nail salons.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Boils? Are Boils Contagious?

Symptoms of a boil are initially a hard, red, painful pus-filled bump usually less than an inch in size. Over the next few days, the lump becomes softer, larger, and more painful. Soon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. Signs and symptoms of a more advanced infection are

red, painful, and swollen skin around the boil;

more boils may appear around the original one;

fever; and

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swollen lymph nodes near the boil.

An active skin boil is contagious because the bacteria that causes them is contagious. Until the boil is drained and has healed, it is contagious through skin-to-skin contact or sharing objects. Boils should be covered with a bandage to prevent spreading infection to other people.

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