Boils

Boils are a skin condition that is both painful and unsightly and can affect thenormal function of the affected skin area due to the discomfort it causes. These are usually called furuncles when they arise from hair follicles that arepresent all over the body. An infection of the Hair follicle or an oil gland results in a collection of pusand fluid, including dead Cells. These boils can appear individually or in clusters.An advanced boil can be called a skin abscess.
Symptoms of boils The initial symptoms of a boil include: Itching can develop before the boil appears. Redness and tenderness overthe affected area. The skin overlying and surrounding a boil will feel warmer than the rest of thebody. This will usually be followed by the appearance of pus-filled lumps. As the boil progresses, a yellow or white point appears at the center of the lump. Where there is more severe infection, the affected individual can develop feveralong with multiple boils. Sometimes, boils can also cause the lymph nodes draining the affected area to becomeswollen. Some of the areas where boils are more common include the back, underarms, face,lip, eyelids, nose, thighs and buttocks. What causes boils? Boils are usually the result of a bacterial infection. A small break in the continuityof the skin can allow infectious bacteria to enter and infect the follicles. Thisintroduction of infection can occur with vigorous scrubbing or during shaving. Such type of infections are more frequent in individuals with disorders that canadversely affect the Immune System of the body, such as diabetes, and can be precipitatedby poor hygiene and improper skin care or skin neglect. Treatment with steroidscan also cause the Immune System to weaken and predispose to infection. In addition, malnutrition with regard to micronutrients like vitamins A, C or Ecan increase the risk of developing boils and can increase the time which boilstake to resolve. Boils can occur in the follicle containing an ingrown hair. Normalhealthy individuals can also develop boils due to excessive scratching of the skin.The use of antiperspirants can also clog up skin and predispose the armpits andchest to boils. Types of boils Boils can be of different types based on factors such as infective organism, location,chronicity, etc. Some of the different boils include the following:
Furuncle This is an infection within the skin that is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcusaureus and can be associated with fever or chills. Cystic Acne This is a boil that occurs when an oil gland becomes clogged and infected. The deeper skin tissue is affected. More common on the face and is more rampantduring the teenage years.
Hidradenitis suppurativa Boils in this condition tend to occur over the hairy areas of the body that tendto sweat profusely. More common in the armpits and the groin. Usually requires surgical treatment to remove the infected sweat glands. Pilonidal cyst The location of these boils is fixed. They occur in the crease of the buttocks,in the region overlying the tailbone. The boil begins as an infection of a hairfollicle. These boils usually occur following prolonged sitting or poor hygiene. How to treat a boil? Boils tend to resolve by themselves if they are allowed to run their course. Thiscan take between 4 and 10 days. Some measures to help resolve boils include: Applying warm compresses that can help reduce the pain and hasten the draining ofpus by increasing blood circulation. After eruption of the boil, the area should be washed and cleaned with antibacterialagents and an occlusive bandage can be applied for 24–48 h. In the case of severe infection and multiple boils, consultation and treatment bya dermatologist may be required. Local application of Epsom salt can reduce the size of the boil and can speed upits drying. Recurring boils will need an alteration in skincare routine to include cleansingof skin with antiseptic soaps or cleansers. Larger boils can require attention from a medical practitioner in the form of ‘lancing’where the boil is drained in a sterile manner. Antibiotic treatment may be required to clear up the accompanying infection. When to call your doctor? Individuals with a compromised immune system, such aswith diabetes, will need to have all boils assessed by a doctor. If you are onsteroids or other medication that can affect your Immune System. A boil accompaniedby a fever needs immediate medical attention. A boil that does not appear to bereducing even after 7 days of its appearance requires medical attention.
Dietary changes Individuals with chronic or frequent boils will need to make suitable dietary changes to include skin-strengthening nutrients like vitamins A, E and C. Care should be taken to ensure an appropriate balance of the major nutrients such as carbohydrate, protein and fat. Immune-boosting herbal supplements may be an additional support during periods of increased physical and mental stress. Regular exercise will ensure adequate release of the hormones that regulate skin health and will also increase blood circulation to the skin. Massage over skin that is prone to developing boils is also a good way to prevent boils from developing.

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