Home Remedy To Bring A Boil To A Head

If you notice a large, inflamed bump on your skin that seems to be filled with pus, you may have a boil, known medically as a furuncle. Boils may appear on the neck, face, breasts or buttocks, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website in the article "Bacterial Skin Infections." If it's OK with your doctor, you can bring your boil to a head and drain it using items from around the house.

Causes

A boil occurs when a hair follicle becomes infected, according to MayoClinic.com in the article "Boils and Carbuncles." If several hair follicles become infected at once, a cluster of boils may form, known as a carbuncle. A boil may begin as an irritated, red lump, but may become larger and more swollen as it fills with pus.

Solution

According to Rodney Basler, M.D., dermatologist and assistant professor at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies," bringing a boil to a head will help it drain and heal more quickly. Wet a clean washcloth with warm water, then wring it out and place it over the boil for 20 minutes. Do not use the same washcloth more than once on the boil, because a wet washcloth may harbor bacteria if it is left sitting around.

Time Frame

Place a warm compress on the boil three to four times a day, says Dr. Basler. Continue to use a warm compress until you see a white head on the tip of the boil. This may take up to a week. Continue to use warm compresses until the boil bursts, then apply very gentle pressure to remove the pus. Place warm compresses over the boil for an additional three days after it has burst.

Considerations

Place a bandage over the boil after it has come to a head, if desired. The pus may leak, causing a stain on your clothing. Although it is not crucial, MayoClinic.com recommends soaking the boil in saltwater instead of plain water, which may make the boil come to a head more quickly than a regular warm-water compress.

Expert Insight

In rare cases, bacteria may enter the body through the boil and cause blood poisoning, especially if the boil becomes infected, notes MayoClinic.com. Symptoms of blood poisoning, or sepsis, include rapid breathing, a fever and an increase in heart rate. Go to the emergency room immediately if you think you may have sepsis.