What exactly are Boils?

We may had one or two before. But we may have most likely referred to it as a very big and ripe pimple. But they are technically referred to as, boils. So, what really are boils?

Boils are defined as confined skin infection. A boil is defined as confined, because it only affects are certain part of the skin or a local area. If you have a boil, the skin area that surrounds it is quite red in color.

A boil that starts on the skin is sore, red and quite tender. As days go by, the skin are becomes noticeable firm, later on hard and still have the feeling of soreness and tenderness. The following days it will have a soft middle or an “eye”. The “eye” will continue to grow and soften. The color of the center of the boil will change to white to yellow. The liquid inside the center or “eye” of the boil is actually, white blood cells that fights the infection from the bloodstream. There is also bacteria together with the white blood cells and proteins, and all together it is referred to as pus.

The final stage of the boil is when the pus creates a so-called head within the center of the boil. This “head” can be surgically removed or drained out through the skin surface. The pus that is inside the boil is referred to as abscess. That’s why a boil can also be called a skin abscess.

It is important to drain out the pus inside the boil. But only when the time is right. You cannot just poke the boil and try to squeeze out the pus. The ideal time is to wait for the head to sprout out from the pus or the center of the boil. The pus will be easier to drain out.

Basically, a boil is a skin infection. Boils have different types too. If you had, had some boils before. You may notice that they don’t look all the same. Here are the different types of boils:

* Furuncle or Carbuncle- this is a kind of boil that is caused by the Bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus. This kind of boil can have more than one opening on the skin surface. Depending on how bad it is, a person can have fever or chills. This kind of boil appears within a hair follicle.

* Cystic Acne- this is a kind of boil that occurs when the oil ducts on our skin become clogged and get infected. This kind of boil infects deeper located skin. At first it will look and seem like it’s just an ordinary pimple but it’s bigger and more inflamed. This kind of boil usually appears on the face.

* Hidradenitis Suppurativa- this kind of boil appear multiple amount under the armpits or the groin area. The reason for that is because the sweat glands get inflamed. When the sweat glands get inflamed, abscess forms under the skin surface. This kind of boil is hard to treat with antibiotics and ointment alone. Seeking a dermatologist help is advisable. Because this kind of boil are usually, surgically removed or treated.

* Pilonidal Cyst- this kind of boil is one of a kind and only appears inside the crease of the buttocks. They usually start as small infection on the skin surface. But with irritation, moisture from sweat in the buttock’s crease the small infection becomes quite inflamed, and the abscess will grow bigger, harder, painful and tender. It will make sitting down quite uncomfortable and painful.

Now, we all know what boils are and what kind of boils are there.