How to treat a boil, so as not to make blood poisoning

The desire to pick open unsightly boil cost the lives of many famous people. Besides Joseph Gilotenu Ignas, who is credited with the invention of the guillotine. Or the great Russian composer Alexander Scriabin. But do not let the bad old early.

What is a boil

Furuncles or boils called dense-rounded ulcers abscesses, sometimes swell on the skin surface.

Looks are not palatable. Something like this (there are other options for the size and the degree of redness of the epidermis around):

There is more trouble. Unlike conventional pimple, Which initially can be confused developing an abscess, boil pain, and the skin next to him looks inflamed and often at an elevated temperature. And in general, it is logical, if we understand where it came from muck.

What causes boils

To blame the bacteriaBoils - Treatments, Causes, and SymptomsMore precisely staphylococci. They live on the skin of each of us and in most cases do not cause any trouble. However, under certain conditions, may be in breach of the peace treaty.

When trauma, mechanical damage (eg, constant friction) or reducing skin immunity (it causes a variety of reasons: to beriberi diabetes) Staphylococci can penetrate the skin. In particular, in the hair follicle - a bag, from which hairs grow.

Inflammation develops in the hair follicle, so the center of the boil is always hair.

In response to the aggression of the body sends the same bag leukocytes - white blood cells, whose task - to absorb and digest microbes brazen. Destroying infection, leukocytes are dying themselves - so formed pus.

Dying protectors release substances that cause a local inflammatory reaction. Therefore, the skin around the battlefield swells, reddens and becomes hot.

Redness and tenderness persist as long as the boil will reveal not not emptied. The steps of this process looks like this:

How dangerous boil

Hair follicle is closely associated with blood vessels. If you inadvertently damage them (eg, trying to squeeze out the pus from the boil matured where the leukocytes are not yet defeated the microbes), - the bacteria can enter the bloodstream. And it is fraught with blood poisoning.

Together with the blood microbes get into the internal organs, which is why they begin to fail.

Especially dangerous in this respect boils on the face, neck or scalp. The infection rapidly to the brain and can lead to meningitis, Thrombosis of the veins of the brain and other extremely unpleasant condition.

How to treat a boil at home

Better - in any way. If you have a boil, the most thoughtful decision will trek to the doctor - therapist, dermatologist or surgeon. The specialist will examine the abscess will appreciate its location and size, will review your medical condition and the results will provide recommendations on how best to treat the boil you specifically. These recommendations need to be diligent and do at home.

If you have not yet got to the doctor, home treatment may be concluded only in the followingBoils - Treatments, Causes, and Symptoms:

• Use warm compresses. They will help reduce pain and accelerate the maturation of boils. Gently Apply a gauze soaked in warm water, 3-4 times a day for 15 minutes.
• Apply an antiseptic ointment on the boil with pulling effect: ihtiolovaya, heparin, sintomitsinovoy (what exactly to choose, it is better to consult a physician)

In no case do not open the abscess needle and squeeze the pus!

• If the boil was discovered independently, thoroughly wash the wound with antibacterial soap, then treat any antiseptic - can be an alcohol-based. Apply the ointment to the local antibacterial effect, for example levomekol or tetracycline, and apply a bandage. 2-3 times per day wound rinse with warm water and apply warm compresses to healing.

When should I seek emergency medical attention

If you have, in addition to the boil, there is at least one of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention:

• Fever (body temperature rise above 38,5 ° C).
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• The skin around the furuncle and distinctly red hot, and inflammation diameter exceeds 2.3 cm and is growing.
• The pain is too strong, you can not forget about it.
• There are new boils.

These symptoms indicate that the infection got into the blood. To become dire consequences not necessary as it is possible to start receiving faster antibiotics. To choose their doctor can only.

Also, special attention should be given medical people who boil develops on the background of diabetes, problems with cardiovascular system, iron deficiency anemia, any problems in the immune system or receiving suppressive immunity preparations. In this case, the body's defenses may not be enough to defeat the infection on their own. Therefore, you are likely to need additional therapy.

see also

• Where does the cold on the lips, and what to do →
• How to get rid of ingrown hair →
• Where are the pimples on your back and how to get rid of them →