Boils
A boil is a deep bacterial infection of a hair follicle and the tissue around it. A painful lump forms and gradually fills with pus.
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Medicines commonly prescribed for Boils
For informational purposes only. Always consult a doctor before using any medicine.
Dosage form: TABLET, 500 mg/125 mgActive substance: amoxicillin and beta-lactamase inhibitorManufacturer: Almus Farmaceutica S.A.U.Prescription requiredDosage form: ORAL SOLUTION/SUSPENSION, 100 mg amoxicillin; 12.5 mg clavulanic acid/mlActive substance: amoxicillin and beta-lactamase inhibitorManufacturer: Laboratorio Reig Jofre, S.A.Prescription requiredDosage form: TABLET, 500/125 mg/mgActive substance: amoxicillin and beta-lactamase inhibitorManufacturer: Farmalider S.A.Prescription required
A boil is a deep bacterial infection of a hair follicle and the tissue around it. A painful lump forms and gradually fills with pus. Most boils settle on their own, but two things are worth knowing from the outset: they must not be squeezed, and there are locations and situations where you should seek help without waiting.
How it develops
- first a red, firm, painful lump around a hair;
- over 2–4 days it enlarges, softens and develops a yellow point of pus;
- it then drains on its own and the pain settles quickly;
- healing takes 1–2 weeks, sometimes with a small scar;
- typical sites: neck, face, armpits, buttocks, thighs and areas of friction;
- if several neighbouring boils merge, a carbuncle forms — larger and more painful, with several draining points and often fever.
When to see a doctor
- the boil is on the face, particularly around the nose, lips or eyes — in this area infection can spread inwards and you should not wait;
- also on the spine, near the groin or in the ear canal;
- it is larger than 1–2 cm or still growing;
- there is fever, chills or general malaise;
- redness is spreading around it and the skin is hot;
- red streaks run towards the nearest lymph node;
- it has not drained within a week;
- boils keep recurring;
- you have diabetes, reduced immunity or take immunosuppressants;
- there are several at once, or a carbuncle has formed;
- it is an infant.
What to do at home
- warm compresses for 10–15 minutes, three or four times a day: this is what most helps it come to a head and drain;
- wash the area with water and mild soap;
- cover with a clean dressing and change it daily or when it becomes wet;
- pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen;
- wash your hands before and afterwards;
- if it drains on its own, let the pus out, clean gently and re-cover;
- loose clothing that does not rub.
What not to do: squeeze it, pierce it with a needle or open it yourself. This drives the infection inwards, enlarges the scar and, on the face, is genuinely dangerous. Do not apply steroid creams either.
Medical treatment
- incision and drainage — the main treatment for a mature boil. It is done under local anaesthetic, relief is immediate and the scar is smaller than if it bursts on its own;
- antibiotics — not in every case. They are used where there is fever, surrounding cellulitis, a facial site, multiple lesions, diabetes or reduced immunity;
- culture of the pus — useful for recurrent episodes or where treatment is not working, including to detect a resistant staphylococcus;
- blood tests for recurrent cases: glucose, full blood count, iron studies and assessment of other causes.
If they keep coming back
Recurrent boils almost always have an explanation, and finding it is what breaks the cycle.
- staphylococcal carriage in the nostrils: confirmed by swab and treated with a decolonisation regimen prescribed by a doctor — nasal ointment and antiseptic washes;
- undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes;
- iron deficiency;
- atopic dermatitis and damaged skin;
- obesity and friction in skin folds;
- smoking;
- reduced immunity;
- within a household, transmission between family members via shared towels and clothing;
- watch out for hidradenitis suppurativa: repeated painful nodules in the armpits and groin are not ordinary boils and need different treatment.
How to prevent them
- a daily shower and your own towel;
- wash bedding and towels at a high temperature during a flare;
- do not share razors, towels or clothing;
- shave in the direction of hair growth with a clean blade;
- treat eczema and avoid scratching;
- breathable clothing and a change after exercise;
- cover any wound;
- manage weight and blood glucose.
Common questions
Is it contagious? The bacterium does pass on through direct contact and shared items. Covering the lesion and washing hands removes almost all the risk.
Can I burst it in the shower? No. Wait for it to drain on its own or have it drained properly.
Do antibiotic ointments help? Little: the infection is deep and the ointment does not reach it. What works is moist heat and, if needed, drainage.
Will it scar? A small boil usually does not. Large ones, and any that have been squeezed, will.
Is it just a big spot? No. Acne and boils are different processes and are treated differently.
Online consultation
In an online consultation the doctor reviews photographs, decides whether drainage or antibiotics are needed, identifies the locations where waiting is unwise and, if boils keep recurring, plans how to find the cause and break the cycle.
This material is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation.
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Medically reviewed by
Reviewed on Jul 2, 2026
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