A boil is a purulent perifollicular inflammation accompanied by the formation of a necrotic plug. It is a fairly common infection that can become active at any age. The factors predisposing to this disease are, for example, various types of injuries (as a result of squeezing pimples), low immunity of the body and the lack of proper personal hygiene. Golden staphylococcus is most often responsible for the boils.
A boil is simply a painful ulcer that results from periventicular inflammation. At first, a small spot appears, in which pus or pus with blood begins to accumulate over time. The boil is most often caused by an infection with staphylococcus aureus.
Do not attempt to treat this ailment on your own, especially when skin lesions are located in the middle of the face and there is a risk of transmission of infection and inflammation in the adjacent veins, which may lead to cavernous sinusitis (a condition that is life-threatening). The boil is often accompanied by a high temperature, pain and swelling of the eyelids, and chills.
Learn more about folliculitis.
A boil is a condition that most often affects people:
- with reduced immunity,
- suffering from diabetes,
- struggling with kidney and / or liver diseases,
- abusing alcohol,
- obese
- with cancer,
- improper nutrition (lack of adequate ingredients to strengthen our body in the diet),
- suffering from HIV and AIDS.
While the main cause of boils is considered to be staphylococcal bacteriaof which Staphyloccocus aureus (golden staphylococcus) has the greatest share in the formation of the disease. The colonization of staphylococcus begins in the hair follicles, but it can also penetrate damaged skin due to cuts or abrasions, which ultimately leads to cellulitis. The formation of boils may also be related to the penetration of insect larvae under the skin.
It should be mentioned that each of us can be a carrier of staphylococcuswhich occurs in skin folds, the nose and throat, and the scalp. During the decline in immunity, the staphylococcus that lives on the human skin becomes a threat to him.
Symptoms of a boil
The most common skin lesions accompanying the disease are:
- on the face,
- on my back,
- in the external ear canal of the armpit,
- on the buttocks,
- on the upper and lower limbs,
- on chest.
There is a blue-red, painful lump on top of which a hair-pierced pustule appears at the top after a few days. The middle part undergoes necrosis and separates as the so-called the plug necrotic leaving a crater-like cavity. Skin lesions are often accompanied by malaise, high body temperature and enlarged lymph nodes.
A single lesion requires local treatment:
- ichthyol compress,
- a soda compress,
- the use of ointments with an antibiotic.
Once a necrotic plug has formed, it can be surgically removed. The lesions are located on the face – apart from surgical treatment, antibiotics are generally administered, mainly penicillins or first-generation cephalosporins. You can use Solux lamp irradiation.
In the case of cluster boils with many pimples – oral or intravenous (in a hospital) antibiotics are often recommended.
Dig. 4.4. Boil
If left untreated, the boil ruptures by itself and automatically gets rid of the mucus. We can make compresses ourselves at home using disinfecting preparations, e.g. altacet. After the pus oozes out, it is necessary to decontaminate the wound with salicylic alcohol, and apply an ointment containing an antibiotic to the plug itself. Nevertheless, it is not recommended to treat this type of skin lesions on your own, because they may spread to other areas. Therefore, it is worth consulting a doctor and adjusting the individual type of treatment.
In each case, it is important to treat the boil, because its occurrence (especially in the cluster form) may lead to unpleasant complications, e.g. sepsis or endocarditis and bone marrow inflammation.
Note: Boils like to come back. Such situations require the implementation of even over a month of antibiotic therapy!
The recurrence of boils is related to the failure to heal ailments the first time. In addition, it should be remembered that such skin lesions spread easily over the skin.
Unfortunately, even contact with someone with a boil can transmit the infection. This is especially true when a healthy person has come into contact with the purulent discharge of the boil. To minimize the risk of spreading the disease to others, follow the recommendations below.
- Do not squeeze or cut boils.
- Avoid skin irritation in the area of the boil.
- Do not cover skin lesions with a bandage or other dressing.
- Avoid physical activity while you are ill to reduce the risk of sweating in the area of the boil.
- Remember about proper personal hygiene.
- Try to gently wash the skin lesions and their surrounding area several times a day using antiseptic agents.
- Remember to use the medications prescribed by your doctor regularly.
- If you are diabetic – also use preparations for diabetes and remember to regularly check with your doctor.
Source: A. Kaszuba, Z. Adamski “Practitioner’s guide. Dermatology”; XNUMXst edition, Czelej Publishing House
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- Systemic lupus erythematosus, i.e. a wolf in human skin
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