Boils

A boil often starts as an itchy or tender spot.

Boils can sometimes leak pus.

Boils can appear anywhere on your body.

When lots of boils form together it's called a carbuncle.

There are things you can do to treat boils yourself and stop them coming back.

• soak a clean cloth in warm water and hold it against the boil for 10 minutes 4 times a day

• clean the area around the boil with antibacterial soap if pus comes out

• cover the area with a dressing or gauze until it heals

• bathe or shower every day and wash your hands regularly

• take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain

• wash your towels and bedding at least once a week at high temperature

• try to lose weight if you are very overweight and have boils between folds of your skin

• do not pick, squeeze or pierce a boil

• do not share your towel with other people until the boil has gone

• do not go to a swimming pool or gym until the boil has gone –⁠ you could pass the infection on to others

• you've had a boil for 2 weeks and the things you've tried are not helping
• you keep getting boils
• you have a group of boils (carbuncle)

A GP can check if you need treatment.

You may need:

• a small procedure to drain the boil to get rid of the pus
• antibiotics

You may be more likely to get boils if you have a long-term condition that affects your immune system, such as diabetes or HIV.

You may also be more likely to get boils if:

• you're a man
• you've been in close contact with someone with boils
• you have certain skin conditions, such as eczema
• you take certain medicines, such as steroids
• you’re living with obesity or malnutrition

Carbuncles are less common and mostly affect middle-aged men.

The main symptom of a boil is a painful, pus-filled lump on your skin. A carbuncle happens when a group of boils form together.

A boil will often get better on it's own. Things you can do to help include holding a warm cloth on it, putting a dressing on it and keeping it clean.

Boils do not always need treatment. If treatment is needed, it can include draining the boil and antibiotics.

You can catch boils. You may be more likely to get them if you have a health condition like diabetes, eczema or HIV, or if you're a man.