5 Things You Need to Know About Boils and Carbuncles

1. The Bane of the Boil

Boils and carbuncles are local inflammation, generally caused by infection, of a hair follicle. The slightly raised boil starts out looking like a small, irritated circle on the surface of the skin, much like a pimple. A carbuncle is simply two or more boils on the same spot. As pus builds, the boil grows until it eventually ruptures and the puss drains out. Most often caused by infection, boils are extremely painful and contagious and you should treat them immediately.

2. Bring it to a Boil

There's not much you can do to treat boils once they've already started to form. The first and most important thing is keeping everything as clean as possible so you don't spread the boils to other parts of your body. This means washing all clothes and linen after one use. To hasten the process of the boil rupturing and draining, you can apply a cloth that's been lightly soaked in warm water that has about 2 tsp. of salt per quart. Apply the warm cloth to the boil for 15 minutes at a time, 3 times a day.

3. Stay Healthy

Boils and carbuncles are one of the quintessential maladies that drive people off a healthy living track. The discomfort causes sleep loss, the worry drives poor eating and the general unpleasantness and pain creates stress. It's critical that you not only keep to a healthy living program but even ramp up healthy aspects of your life. Double up on vitamin doses, get some air by taking a walk, increase your consumption of fresh vegetables and get as much sleep as possible.

4. Bring the Boil to a Simmer

There are plenty of alternative treatments for boils and carbuncles, which won't cure you but do help mitigate the effects of the boils, prevent the spread of the infection and take some of the pain out of the experience. Making a simple poultice by wrapping some freshly chopped parsley in gauze and then soaking the wrap in hot, salty water is one good natural treatment. The spice turmeric also has a purifying effect as does garlic, which is a natural anti-bacterial agent.

5. When it's Time to Throw in the Towel

Boils are generally not harmful, even if they are extremely painful and unpleasant. However, if left uncared for, the infection from the boils can enter the blood stream, causing major problems. Additionally, boils can also be symptoms of more serious conditions such as syndromes of antibiotic resistant infection such as MRSA. So, in all cases, the best first move is to see a doctor. If you haven't seen a doctor about a case of boils and the boils start to increase or grow larger without rupturing after 2 weeks, then a trip to the doctor is a must.