Treatment for Boils

You will not usually require any immediate form of emergency attention when you have boils. However, those with poor health or those that develop any form of complication from the infection will require a visit with your doctor or even to the hospital. If your boil is larger than the size of a pea and has a lot of redness around its area on the skin then you should seek medical help. Otherwise, treatment for boils can be done at home.

Home Treatment

Self care treatment for boils should only be applied for milder cases. If your boil is smaller than a pea then you can treat it at home without visiting a doctor. Anything worse than this will require immediate medical attention. The following paragraphs demonstrate some of the things you can do at home as treatment for boils.

Warm Compress

Applying warm compress will help treat boils. Soaking the boil and nearby affected areas in warm water will help reduce the amount of pain. This also helps draw out the puss to the very surface. The boil usually bursts with repeated soaking especially when it has come to a head.

You can make a warm compress by simply getting a wash cloth and soaking it in warm water. Make sure to squeeze out the excess moisture. It takes about a week of soaking before the boil will appear ready to burst. Take note that should never pop the boil using a needle. It will most likely result in making the infection even worse than before.

Antibacterial Soap

Part of home treatment for boils is to wash it with antibacterial soap when it starts to drain. You should keep washing the boil until all the pus is gone. After washing, apply medicated ointment on the surface and bandage it. Wash the infected area three times daily and keep using a warm compress.

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment for boils is done by your health care provider. In severe cases, a doctor will have to open up the boil in order to drain all the pus. An incision will be made in the direct area of the boil. Anesthetics will be used to numb the area where the boil is located.

Infections that have gone deep, doctors will usually keep the incision open for draining using some gauze. The gauze will only be removed in two days time. For more advanced cases, doctors may have to make blood tests if necessary. They will prescribe any needed antibiotics in case infections are really severe. In case you’re unsure if home treatment is enough for your condition, it is in your best interest to see your doctor for proper treatment for boils.