This article was medically reviewed by Daniel Wozniczka, MD, MPH and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Dr. Wozniczka is an Internal Medicine Physician, who is focused on the intersection of medicine, economics, and policy. He has global healthcare experience in Sub Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. He serves currently as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and a Medical Officer for the Epidemic Intelligence Service in the CDC. He completed his MD at Jagiellonian University in 2014, and also holds an MBA and Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 2,388,526 times.
Ouch! Is that a boil you’re seeing? These pesky (and painful!) bumps can appear anywhere on your body, and develop when the skin around a hair follicle gets infected. As annoying as boils are, they’re easy to treat and care for at home—and we’re here to show you how.
Things You Should Know
- Treat small boils at home with warm compresses, using them several times each day for 10-15 minutes at a time.
- Cover the boil with a bandage after it bursts and apply new dressings each day.
- Call your doctor if your boil doesn’t get better in 1-2 weeks, or if you find yourself getting boils often.
- Most boils heal and clear up after 1-3 weeks. Carbuncles (clusters of boils) take about 2-3 weeks to heal.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
-
To prevent bacteria from spreading, always wash your hands thoroughly whenever you touch or clean your boil.[29]Thanks
-
Ask your doctor about taking diluted bleach baths to prevent boils.[30]Thanks
-
Slip into some loose-fitting clothes to keep any vaginal boils as comfortable as possible.[31]Thanks
Warnings
- Steer clear of the gym, pool, or any other public workout area while your boil heals—you don’t want to spread the infection to other people!Thanks
- Some people claim that essential oils, Epsom salts, and other natural remedies can treat and cure boils, but these types of treatments aren’t medically approved.Thanks
- Don’t use acne treatments to get rid of your boils. Although they look similar, pimples and boils are completely different skin conditions that require completely different treatments.[32]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5i99bytb9I&t=0m21s
- ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=zx1778
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21651-vaginal-boil
- ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/boils
- ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/boils
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/boils/
- ↑ https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=uh2789
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/folliculitis-boils-and-carbuncles
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/dosage/acetaminophen.html
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/dosage/ibuprofen.html
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21651-vaginal-boil
- ↑ https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/boils-and-carbuncles#toc-8
- ↑ https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/boils-and-carbuncles#toc-8
- ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/boil
- ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/boil
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/folliculitis-boils-and-carbuncles
- ↑ https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/boils-children
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513141/
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/boils/
- ↑ https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/boils-and-carbuncles#toc-8
- ↑ https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/how-treat-when-seek-help-boils
- ↑ https://patient.info/skin-conditions/boils-carbuncles-and-furunculosis#nav-2
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/boils/
- ↑ https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/boils-and-carbuncles#toc-8
- ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/boil/
- ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/boil/
- ↑ https://dermnetnz.org/topics/boil
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/treat-boils-styes
- ↑ https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/boils-and-carbuncles#toc-8
- ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/boil/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21651-vaginal-boil
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22468-pimples
About This Article
To get rid of a boil, cover it with a hot compress 4 times a day for at least 5 minutes each time. Keep doing this until the boil bursts naturally, then wash the affected area with antibacterial soap. So the infection doesn’t spread, cover the popped boil with antibacterial cream and wrap it up in gauze. While the skin heals, continue your hot compress treatments and change the gauze 1-2 times a day as needed. Talk to a doctor if your skin hasn't healed after 2 weeks. For tips from our Medical reviewer on how to prevent more boils from forming, read on!
Reader Success Stories
-
"This article has helped me a great deal. My boil was on my butt, I had been sitting for numerous hours for a great period of time and rather frequently. The information actually helped me drain and clean out this boil. The area is now flatter with minimal discharge."..." more