A skin boil, also known as a furuncle, is an infection that starts around a hair follicle and spreads to the surrounding skin, according to MedlinePlus. Boils are usually caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, but other bacteria or fungi on the skin's surface can also be at fault. They're usually the size of a pea, but can be as large as a golf ball, according to MedlinePlus. They can grow rapidly and spread, and can be itchy before the nodule forms and painful as the infected area fills with pus.
Warm Compresses
Boils usually need to drain before they can heal, according to MedlinePlus. But it can take two weeks for them to grow large enough to burst, drain and heal on their own. This process can be painful. But warm, moist compresses can speed the process and encourage draining. Patients can soak the area with a warm, moist cloth soaked in salt water for at least 10 minutes at a time every few hours, according to MayoClinic.com.
Hygiene
Patients should never squeeze or open a boil because that can spread the infection, according to MedlinePlus. But it is a good idea to wash it two or three times a day, apply an over-the-counter topical antibiotic and bandage it, according to MayoClinic.com. It's also important to clean a draining boil and change any dressings on it frequently to prevent the spread of infection. Patients should be sure to wash their hands after touching a boil, and not reuse any clothing, towels, sheets or other items that have touched a boil--and be sure to wash them thoroughly.
Antibacterials
Once a boil has formed, antibacterial soaps or lotions won't do it much good, according to MedlinePlus. But they can help prevent the spread of the infection to other areas of the skin, so it can be a good idea to apply them to the area around the boil, according to MayoClinic.com. If there are repeated cases of boils, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic in hopes of clearing the infection.
Medical Care
Any boil on the nose or face should be treated by a doctor, according to MedlinePlus. Also, patients should seek medical care if the boils keep recurring, take longer than two weeks to heal, or are accompanied by fever, red streaks or a buildup of fluid. A doctor may need to lance a boil, opening it up so that it can drain and heal.
