Contents
Prevention and medical treatment of boils
Prevention of boils
Can boils be prevented? |
It is not possible to systematically prevent the appearance of boils, but some basic hygiene advice can limit the risk of skin infection. |
Basic preventive measures |
Warning ! The boil can be contagious. It should not be “triturated”, as this may spread the infection to other areas of the body. The affected person and those around them should wash their hands and brush their nails regularly. It is advisable to boil clothes, sheets and towels that have come into contact with the boil. |
Medical treatments for boils
When a boil appears on the face, gets too big, gets worse quickly, or is accompanied by a fever, it is important to see it quickly for effective treatment and to avoid complications. |
Boil isolated
If you have a boil simple, local treatment is recommended, in combination with daily hygiene measures2.
At the beginning stage, it is possible to apply a compress of hot water for about ten minutes, several times a day, to relieve the pain.
The area should be washed with soap and water one or more times a day, then disinfected with a local antiseptic such as, for example, aqueous chlorhexidine, without rubbing.
You must then protect the boil with a clean bandage, taking care to wash your hands well before and after treatment.
Warning : It is strongly recommended not to pierce or incise the boil yourself (risk of spread or contagion, worsening of the infection).
It is also better to wear loose cotton clothes and change the laundry daily.
Complicated boils, anthrax or furunculosis
Some more serious cases require rapid medical treatment:
- facial boil
- multiple anthrax or boils,
- recurrent boils
- weakened immune system, diabetes
- fever
In these cases, the treatment is based on:
- strict hygiene measures and a daily chlorhexidine shower
- the doctor may incise and drain the boil to promote healing
- systemic antibiotic therapy for 10 days may be necessary
In some cases, it is also necessary to eliminate the bacteria which persist, particularly in the nasal cavity and which may cause recurrence. It may be useful to perform an antibiogram to detect possible resistance to antibiotics, in the event of a boil resistant to treatment.