The skin around the bump may appear swollen and inflamed. Boils can appear anywhere on your body, but they are most likely to develop in areas where you experience a lot of sweating and friction. Common places include the face, neck, armpits, thighs, and buttocks.
You can monitor the growth of the boil by putting a pen mark at its edge so you can see if it expands. Alternatively, you can measure it every day. As the boil grows, it will typically become more painful and softer to the touch.
Keep in mind that you may not see the pus if the boil is fresh. Usually, the pus does not become visible until the later stages of the boil. Never attempt to pierce or squeeze the boil to drain the pus. Doing so could cause the infection to spread deeper into your tissues.
A carbuncle may be as big as 4 inches (10 cm) across. They typically take the form of a large, swollen area with a dense cluster of pustules at the highest point. [7] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Carbuncles or severe boils may also cause swelling in your nearby lymph nodes.
You have a boil or carbuncle on your face, spine or buttocks. Your boil is very painful or fast-growing. Your boil or carbuncle is accompanied by a fever, chills, or other symptoms of general illness. The boil is larger than 2 inches (5. 1 cm) across. Your boil hasn’t healed after 2 weeks of home treatment. The boil healed and then returned. You have any other concerns or are not sure whether the infection is a boil.
Your doctor might take a sample of fluid from the boil and send it to the lab for analysis. This can be useful for determining the best treatment for your boil, especially if it is caused by an antibiotic-resistant form of bacteria. Let your doctor know if you have any other health issues that may be related to your boils. Common risk factors for boils include diabetes, skin conditions such as eczema or acne, a weakened immune system from a recent illness or a medical condition, or recent close contact with someone who has boils or carbuncles.
Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions for home care. Always finish any course of prescribed antibiotics unless your doctor instructs you to do otherwise. Your doctor might instruct you to use warm compresses to relieve pain and encourage the boil to rupture. If your doctor drains the boil in the office, you may need to wear dressings over the wound while it heals. Additionally, you may have 1 or 2 stitches over the wound. Follow up with the doctor as directed to make sure the boil is healing properly.
