Why do boils hurt so bad

Symptoms A boil may begin as tender, pinkish-red, and swollen, on a firm area of the skin. The main symptoms of a boil include: A bump about the size of a pea, but may be as large as a golf ball White or yellow center pustules Spread to other skin areas or joining with other boils Quick growth Weeping, oozing, or crusting Other symptoms may include: Fatigue Fever General ill-feeling Itching before the boil develops Skin redness around the boil.

Exams and Tests The health care provider can usually diagnose a boil based on how it looks. Treatment Boils may heal on their own after a period of itching and mild pain. You should: Put warm, moist, compresses on the boil several times a day to speed draining and healing.

Never squeeze a boil or try to cut it open at home. This can spread the infection. Continue to put warm, wet, compresses on the area after the boil opens. You may need to have surgery to drain deep or large boils. Get treatment from your provider if: You have a fever or other symptoms with the boil. The boil causes pain or discomfort. You have a boil on your spine or the middle of your face. A boil lasts longer than 1 week. A boil comes back. It is important to keep a boil clean. To do this: Clean boils and change their dressing often.

Wash your hands well before and after touching a boil. DO NOT reuse or share washcloths or towels. Wash clothing, washcloths, towels, and sheets or other items that have touched infected areas in hot water. Throw out used dressings in a sealed bag so that fluid from the boil does not touch anything else.

Antibacterial soaps and creams cannot help much once a boil has formed. Outlook Prognosis Some people have repeated boil infections and are unable to prevent them. Most boils are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacterium commonly found on the skin and inside the nose. A bump forms as pus collects under the skin.

Boils sometimes develop at sites where the skin has been broken by a small injury or an insect bite, which gives the bacteria easy entry. Although anyone — including otherwise healthy people — can develop boils or carbuncles, the following factors can increase your risk:. Rarely, bacteria from a boil or carbuncle can enter your bloodstream and travel to other parts of your body. The spreading infection, commonly known as blood poisoning sepsis , can lead to infections deep within your body, such as your heart endocarditis and bone osteomyelitis.

It's not always possible to prevent boils, especially if you have a weakened immune system. But the following measures may help you avoid staph infections:.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Boil Open pop-up dialog box Close. Boil A boil is a painful, pus-filled bump under your skin — the result of a bacterial infection of one or more hair follicles. Carbuncle Open pop-up dialog box Close. Carbuncle A carbuncle is a cluster of boils — painful, pus-filled bumps — that form a connected area of infection under the skin.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. This is because boils are walled off from your blood supply, making it difficult for the antibiotics to get in to work.

The risk of the infection spreading to your bloodstream is too high. You can, however, try these safe home treatments:. Be patient during this process. Let it drain on its own. Never try to cut or squeeze open a boil yourself.

With time, the boil may open on its own naturally. Draining can often be safely accomplished using only hot compresses , sanitary techniques, and proper bandaging. A boil is a painful infection that can resemble a pimple. You may be tempted to pop your boil, but popping it at home can cause infection or may cause…. Boils are painful, red bumps on the skin that are caused by bacteria.

Learn how to get rid of a boil and what you can do at home and with your doctor…. Learn about commonly prescribed antibiotics — some available over-the-counter — for treating boils. If you have a boil, you know how painful and…. Many boils can be treated at home. Discover home remedies for boils, such as a warm compress, oil, and turmeric. Also get the facts on causes and risk….

Raised bumps on the skin are common and can have a variety of causes, ranging from acne to skin cancer. Raised skin bumps are most often harmless, but…. Boils are caused by bacteria building up in a hair follicle and pushing up to the surface of the skin.