Boils are round or capsule structures containing liquid, semisolid, or gaseous material, which can appear in various locations on the body. Boils appear on the skin, on the knees, on the brain and kidneys. Women can also get ulcers on the chest, vagina, cervix, or ovaries. Boils are caused by infection, genetic disorders, parasitic infections, injury, injury to cells, or blocked ducts. All of these different types of boils will have different symptoms and treatment methods, depending on their location.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Determining the Type of Boil
Step 1. Distinguish between sebaceous and epidermoid boils
Epidermoid ulcers are more common than sebaceous boils. Both have slightly different symptoms so the treatment will be slightly different. So, you must properly diagnose the type of boil on your skin to get an effective treatment.
- Both types of boils are skin-colored or yellowish-white, with a smooth surface.
- Epidermoid ulcers are more common. These boils grow slowly and are usually not painful. You usually don't need to treat it, unless the boil is causing pain or becoming infected.
- Sebaceous boils, now known as pillar boils, are often found in hair follicles on the head. These boils form in the glands that produce sebum (an oily substance that surrounds hair). When this normal secretion is trapped, it develops into a sac that holds a cheese-like fluid. These boils are often found in areas near the neck, upper back, and scalp.
Step 2. Distinguish a boil on the chest and a tumor
Boils can be on one or both chests. Without a mammogram or needle biopsy, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between these two types of chest lumps. The symptoms of a boil in the chest include:
- Smooth bumps that move easily with noticeable edges
- Pain or numbness in the lump
- Both of these feelings will get worse right before your period
- These two flavors will get lighter when your period ends
Step 3. Understand acne boils
Acne is a general term used to describe various types of small pimples, blackheads, pustules, whiteheads, and boils. Acne boils are red, raised, usually 2-4 mm in size, round, and are the most severe form of acne attack. The infection in boils is deeper than pustules or whiteheads. These boils are painful.
Step 4. Identify ganglion ulcers
These boils are the most common type of lump found on the hands and wrists. These ulcers do not cause cancer and are usually harmless. These boils also contain fluid and can quickly appear, disappear, or change in size. You usually don't need to treat these boils unless they interfere with hand function or are very poor in appearance.
Step 5. Determine if your pain is the result of a pilonidal ulcer
In this condition, a boil, abscess, or bulge forms on the cleavage of the buttocks, starting from the end of the spine to the anus. These boils can result from wearing tight clothing, excess hair, sitting for long periods of time, or obesity. Symptoms include pus from the buttocks area, numbness in the boil, or skin that feels warm, tender, or swollen near the tailbone. There may also be no symptoms other than a visible bulge at the base of the spine.
Step 6. Identify Bartholin's gland ulcers
These glands are located on either side of the vaginal opening and serve to lubricate the vagina. When these glands are irritated, painless swellings form and are called Bartholin's ulcers. If the boil isn't infected, you may not notice it. The infection can occur within a few days resulting in a feeling of numbness, fever, discomfort when walking, pain during intercourse, and the appearance of a soft, painful bump near the vaginal opening.
Step 7. Determine if a swelling is caused by a testicular ulcer
Testicular ulcers, also called spermatocellular or epididymal ulcers, are usually painless, cancer-producing fluid-filled bumps that are located in the scrotum above the testicles. You should see a doctor to determine the difference between boils, cancerous cell growth, or infection of the testicles.
Step 8. Consider seeking additional opinions if you are not satisfied with your doctor's diagnosis and treatment
Although most pillar and epidermoid boils do not require medical attention, if you seek medical advice and are not satisfied with the results, seek additional opinion. Most sebaceous and epidermoid boils are not at risk, but there may be other conditions similar to these boils.
- In a case study written at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the authors present two cases, with melanoma and a large oral cavity, which were initially misidentified and thought to be sebaceous ulcers.
- There is a wide variety of infectious processes that may be mistaken for a sebaceous boil, including boil, furuncle, and carbuncle.
Part 2 of 4: Preventing Boils
Step 1. Understand the types of boils that cannot be prevented
Pillar ulcers develop after puberty and tend to be hereditary. This means that these boils occur in both sexes and if one of the parents carries the gene that causes pillar ulcers, the risk of their children developing these ulcers increases. Seventy percent of people who experience this condition will get several boils during their lifetime.
- There is no specific cause for boils that develop in the chest tissue.
- Doctors don't have clear answers about the risk factors for and prevention of acne boils, but this type of boil is believed to be associated with increased hormone levels during puberty and pregnancy, as well as a serious infection of hair follicles blocked by sebum (oil in the skin).
Step 2. Understand preventable boils
Most boils can't be prevented, but some can. For example, pilonidal ulcers can be prevented by wearing loose-fitting clothing, maintaining a normal weight, and standing up after sitting every 30 minutes throughout the day.
- According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there is no effective way to prevent epidermoid boils. However, there are groups of people who seem to be more at risk of developing these boils: men than women, people with acne, and people who spend a lot of time in the sun.
- People who have had hand injuries are more likely to develop epidermoid or ganglion ulcers on their hands.
- Bartholin's gland ulcers can appear after an injury to the area of the vaginal opening.
Step 3. Reduce the risk of ulcers forming
While most boils cannot be prevented, you can reduce your risk of developing preventable boils. Use oil-free skin care products and avoid overexposure to the sun.
Shaving and trimming the hair can also form boils. Avoid shaving and trimming excessively in areas previously affected by boils. Do this to prevent new boils from forming
Part 3 of 4: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Treat epidermoid and sebaceous boils at home
Signs of infection include an area that is swollen, red, tender, or warm. If home remedies for these boils are not effective or you experience symptoms, which could indicate an infection, seek medical advice from your doctor.
If the boil causes pain or discomfort when walking or having sex, medical care is needed to treat it
Step 2. Apply a warm, wet compress over the epidermoid boil to prevent it from drying out and heal it
Your compress should be hot but not so hot that it burns the skin. Place a compress over the boil two to three times a day.
- Acne boils respond better to ice than heat.
- Bartholin gland ulcers can be treated at home using warm sitz water. This method involves soaking in a few inches of warm water to allow the boil to drain.
Step 3. Avoid pinching, squeezing, or trying to pop an epidermoid or sebaceous boil
This can increase the risk of infection and leave scars. Also, never pull, squeeze, or try to pop a boil. This will make the infection worse and increase the risk of tissue damage.
Step 4. Let the epidermoid boil dry naturally
Once the boil has drained, cover it with sterile fluid, which you can change twice a day. If a large amount of pus begins to drain from the boil, the skin surrounding the boil turns red, the area becomes warm and smooth, and blood begins to ooze from inside the boil, you should seek medical advice.
Step 5. Keep the area around the boil clean
To prevent infection, keep the boil and the area around it clean. Clean the boil and the area around it with an antibacterial soap or cream.
Part 4 of 4: Requesting Medical Treatment
Step 1. Know when to call your doctor
Most boils are harmless and will heal on their own, although others may require medical treatment. Call your doctor if the boil is painful or swollen, or if the surrounding skin becomes warm, as these are all signs of infection.
Step 2. Ask your doctor to remove it
If a boil is getting in the way of your daily life, don't try to solve it yourself. Talk to your doctor to determine if surgery is a safe and recommended option.
Step 3. Evaluate available surgical options
These options will vary depending on the location, size, and how the boil interferes with bodily functions. There are three options for removing boils on the body. You and your doctor should discuss each of these options to determine the best option for your condition and type of boil.
- Incision and drainage (I&D) is a simple procedure that involves a doctor making a 2-3 mm incision in the boil and slowly removing its contents. This can be done in the office for boils on the skin, such as epidermoid and sebaceous boils, as well as pilonidal boils on surfaces that are not deeply injured or infected. I&D can be used for boils on the chest, ganglion ulcers, testicular ulcers or Bartholin gland ulcers in a patient, either under general or local anesthesia. However, there is a higher chance that an ulcer will occur if the wall is not removed. In this method, the boil wall cannot be removed.
- A minimal excision technique can remove the walls of the boil and its fluid-filled center. The boil will be opened and drained before the walls are pulled. Stitches may or may not be necessary, depending on the size of the wedge. This technique is the treatment of choice for boils on the chest, boils on the testicles, boils of the Bartholin's gland, and ulcers of the ganglion. Surgical excision is very rarely performed for acne boils. Surgical excision is performed under general anesthesia and often on an outpatient basis, while local anesthesia is used for epidermoid or sebaceous ulcers. (15)*******
- Laser surgery is an option for epidermoid boils when they are large or in thick areas of skin. This option involves opening the boil with a laser and slowly squeezing the fluid out. A month later, minimal incisions will be made to remove the boil wall. This method gives a good aesthetic result, in cases where the boil is not inflamed or infected.
Step 4. Determine if you need to get rid of the boil on the skin
There are treatments that can be done at home to drain and heal sebaceous and epidermoid boils. However, you should seek medical attention if the area is infected, the boil is growing rapidly, is in an area that is constantly irritated, or is disturbed for aesthetic reasons.
Step 5. Determine if removal of the boil on the chest is necessary
Treatment is not necessary for fluid-filled ulcers that are in the chest. If you haven't reached menopause, your doctor will ask you to monitor your boils every month. The doctor may need to prick it with a small needle to drain the boil.
- If you notice a boil that lasts two or three months that doesn't resolve spontaneously, or increases in size, your doctor may suggest an ultrasound.
- Your doctor may recommend oral contraceptives to regulate your menstrual cycle hormones. This treatment is only used in women who experience severe symptoms.
- Surgery is needed only if the boil is uncomfortable, discharges with blood, or the doctor believes that there is an unusual growth pattern. In this case, the entire boil will be removed under general anesthesia and the draining and slicing technique will leave the capsule intact and increase the risk of the boil coming back.
Step 6. Consult a dermatologist to treat acne boils
A dermatologist will initially prescribe medications used to treat other types of acne. If you don't get good results, your doctor may suggest using isotretinoin or Accutane.
Accutane is an effective treatment that helps prevent scars. However, this medication can cause birth defects, increase the risk of depression and suicide, and affect lipid levels, liver function, blood sugar, and white blood cell counts. You should have a blood test once a month to monitor your response to the treatment
Step 7. Seek treatment for ganglion ulcers
Treatment for these boils usually does not require surgery and involves supervision. The area of the boil can be deactivated if any activity increases the size, pressure, and pain of the boil. Draining the fluid on the boil may be done if the boil is causing pain or restricting activity. In this procedure, the doctor removes fluid from the boil using a small needle, under sterile conditions.
If the symptoms don't subside through methods that don't require surgery (needle draining or immobilization), or the boil returns after draining, your doctor may suggest ulcer surgery. During surgery, part of the tendon or joint capsule will also be removed. This is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia, but often on an outpatient basis
Step 8. Treat a Bartholin's gland boil
The type of treatment depends on the size, discomfort, and whether or not the boil is infected. Take a sitz bath (sit down and soak in a few cm of warm water) several times a day to drain the boil.
- Surgical treatment and draining will be used if the gland is very large or infected and sitz baths are ineffective. Anesthesia or local anesthesia will be used. The catheter will be kept in the gland to keep it open for up to six weeks to drain the boil completely.
- Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat the infection.
Step 9. Understand the treatment of boils on the testicles
This treatment will first be done by investigating whether the boil is harmless (does not cause cancer). If the boil is large enough that your testicle feels heavy or hangs down, surgery may be necessary.
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia does not recommend surgery for adults. They advise young men to self-examine and report a change or increase in size, which may indicate the need for surgery.
- Percutaneous sclerotherapy is an option that reduces the risk of surgery to the scrotum and has been shown to have good results in research. Using ultrasound to guide the injection of a sclerosing agent, 84% of the men in the study were symptom free for six months. Sclerosing agents will reduce the size and symptoms of boils on the testicles. This procedure has much less physical risk and recurrence.
Tips
Most boils cannot be prevented and do not lead to cancer. In many cases, the doctor will wait and see the available approach options before suggesting an intervention or surgical procedure
Warning
- Do not crack, squeeze, or pull the boil. This increases the risk of infection and tissue injury.
- Most boils on the skin will go away on their own. If you want your boil to be removed quickly, call your doctor to discuss treatment options based on the size, location, and type of boil you have.
- Always wash your hands before and after dealing with boils or other skin infections.
