Home Remedies and Herbs for Boils

Boils refer to a pus-filled lump under the skin caused by a bacterial infection. They start out as red, tender lumps but eventually fill with pus and grow to look like large pimples. Boils can become very painful and rupture on their own. They’re most commonly found on the face, neck, buttocks, breast, groin, and armpits as these are areas that see the most hair follicle irritation. A cluster of boils is called a carbuncle. Boils can be cared for with at-home remedies, but it’s best to avoid squeezing or trying to drain the boil on your own as this can send the infection deeper into the skin or cause it to spread.^{1, 2}

What Causes Boil?

Boils are caused by infected hair follicles. They most commonly occur due to the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, but other bacteria or fungi can get into the hair follicle and infect it. Boils may occur at the site of a small injury as this allows the bacteria to enter under the skin.^2,3,4

Risk for boils increases if:

• You’ve had close contact with someone who has a staph infection.
• You have diabetes since your body has a harder time fighting off infection.
• You have other skin conditions, such as eczema or acne, since the damage caused by these other conditions can allow bacteria under the skin.
• You have a weakened immune system.

Boil Symptoms

Boils begin as small, tender, and red areas of skin and can grow to feel like a cyst. As the boil grows, it will become increasingly painful. Draining the boil typically helps reduce the pain. Boils may be anywhere between the size of a pea to the size of a golf ball. They may look white or yellow in the center, spread to other areas of the skin, or be accompanied by oozing, crusting, itching, or weeping. In more severe cases, boil symptoms can include fatigue and fever.³

Consult your doctor if:

• You have diabetes and get a boil.
• You get many boils over the course of several months.
• Your boil grows to the size of a ping-pong ball.
• Your boil is accompanied by a fever.
• Your boil symptoms don’t improve after a week of home treatment.

Boils can typically be treated at home by washing the area daily and placing a warm wet washcloth on the site for several minutes a few times per day.2 This will help naturally open and drain the boil. Herbal remedies may be used to help fight the infection, or your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/boils-and-carbuncles/home/ovc-20214754
2. http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/zx1778
3. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001474.htm
4. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/boils-and-carbuncles/symptoms-causes/dxc-20214768