Cure for Boils

There is nothing quite as painful or unpleasant as suffering from a boil. Whether it is located on your skin, in your groin, in your armpit, or even on your face, a boil can be extremely painful and difficult to resolve. Finding an effective cure for boils is all about understanding what kind of boil you have and then determining the best way to go about getting rid of it.

Common types of boils

The term "boil" can apply to any number of things. In general, a boil is classified as a skin abscess that extends deep into the skin layers. Some of the more common types of boils include:

Carbuncle – This type of boil can occur on any part of the body. It is a deep abscess that may end up with multiple skin openings and extend across a fairly large area. It is common to experience chills and/or a fever when you have a carbuncle.

Hidradenitis suppurativa – This type of boil originates in the sweat glands, usually in the groin or the armpit areas. It usually shows up as multiple abscesses in these areas; one of the more difficult boils to treat, most often it requires a combination o antibiotic therapy and surgical removal.

Pilonidal cyst – This type of boil is commonly found in the skin crease areas of the buttocks. It often shows up after extended periods of sitting, leading to painful nodules and irritation.

Cystic acne – This type of boil is perhaps the most common of all, occurring primarily in teenagers. It is a severe form of acne that is quite painful; treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics, topical applications, and sometimes surgical draining of very severe lesions.

All of these kinds of boils are actually forms of skin abscess, which means they can extend deeply into the skin layers. They are often quite painful, and if left untreated can lead to other infections in other parts of the body. This is why aggressive treatment is usually the preferred cure for boils of these types.

Choosing a cure for boils

Since cystic acne is the most common type of boil, choosing a cure for boils often focuses on this condition. Common over the counter anti-acne formulas generally are not very effective when you have cystic acne; full treatment usually involves seeing your doctor or dermatologist to get prescription medications of one kind or another.

In most cases treatment will include antibiotic therapy (either orally via pills or topically via creams) alongside other medications such as tretinoin (commonly called Retin A) or isotretinoin (commonly called Accutane). Use of these other medications should be closely monitored and overseen by your doctor or dermatologist, as they can cause significant and unpleasant side effects in some people.

For the very worst boils and cystic acne lesions, sometimes the best approach is for your doctor or dermatologist to drain the lesion. After that he or she might choose to inject one of several mild steroid medications in order to reduce the skin inflammation more quickly and effectively. Once this is completed, the other medications typically have an easier time overcoming the condition and clearing up your skin.