Boils

A boil is a hard and painful lump that fills with pus. Most boils go away on their own. See a GP if you keep getting them.

Things you can do to help boils

There are things you can do to treat boils yourself and stop them coming back.

Do

• soak a clean cloth in warm water and hold it against the boil for 10 minutes 4 times a day

• clean the area around the boil with antibacterial soap if pus comes out

• cover the area with a dressing or gauze until it heals

• bathe or shower every day and wash your hands regularly

• take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain

• wash your towels and bedding at least once a week at high temperature

• try to lose weight if you are very overweight and have boils between folds of your skin

Don’t

• do not pick, squeeze or pierce a boil

• do not share your towel with other people until the boil has gone

• do not go to a swimming pool or gym until the boil has gone –⁠ you could pass the infection on to others

See a GP if:

• you've had a boil for 2 weeks and the things you've tried are not helping
• you keep getting boils
• you have a group of boils (carbuncle)

Treatment for boils

A GP can check if you need treatment.

You may need:

• a small procedure to drain the boil to get rid of the pus
• antibiotics

Causes of boils

You may be more likely to get boils if you have a long-term condition that affects your immune system, such as diabetes or HIV.

You may also be more likely to get boils if:

• you're a man
• you've been in close contact with someone with boils
• you have certain skin conditions, such as eczema
• you take certain medicines, such as steroids
• you’re living with obesity or malnutrition

Carbuncles are less common and mostly affect middle-aged men.