Most types of cysts are more common in males than in females. Treatment for cysts and boils is different. This is because an infection causes a boil. But sometimes a benign cyst may become infected.
Most cysts are noncancerous and need no treatment. Occasionally , a cyst will disappear on its own. However, it may recur in time. Sometimes an epidermal cyst may become inflamed and swollen.
Some cysts may be troublesome or unsightly to some people because of their location. In these cases, treatment may involve surgical removal. A minimal incision method is recommended to prevent scarring. A study involving 82 people who had cysts removed reported no complications and no recurrences of the cysts.
If you have no systemic symptoms of infection, you can take care of a boil at home. To treat a boil at home, do the following:. If you have a noncancerous cyst, your outlook is very good. If you choose to remove a cyst, surgery is usually successful. Most boils heal on their own within one to three weeks. Some boils may require treatment by a dermatologist. But you can prevent a cyst from becoming infected by not picking at it or trying to pop it on your own.
If the boil does not drain itself, your doctor may wish to perform a simple procedure. In this procedure, a sterile needle or small blade is used to "nick" the skin over the top of the boil, and the pus is allowed to drain out. The area will then be cleaned and bandaged, and you will be sent home with instructions to wash, apply antibacterial ointment, and re-bandage the area several times daily as discussed above.
You may also be prescribed a course of antibiotics to be taken by mouth. These measures can help prevent a recurrence of the boil s and decrease the possibility that you may unknowingly spread the germ to others. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, be sure to take the full course of treatment to avoid the development of bacterial resistance to the antibiotic.
Dermatology , p. New York: Mosby, Wolff, Klaus, ed. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill, Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Skinsight's terms of service and privacy policy.
You may need to have surgery to drain deep or large boils. Get treatment from your provider if: You have a fever or other symptoms with the boil. The boil causes pain or discomfort. You have a boil on your spine or the middle of your face. A boil lasts longer than 1 week. A boil comes back. It is important to keep a boil clean. To do this: Clean boils and change their dressing often. Wash your hands well before and after touching a boil. DO NOT reuse or share washcloths or towels.
Wash clothing, washcloths, towels, and sheets or other items that have touched infected areas in hot water. Throw out used dressings in a sealed bag so that fluid from the boil does not touch anything else.
Antibacterial soaps and creams cannot help much once a boil has formed. Outlook Prognosis Some people have repeated boil infections and are unable to prevent them. Boils in areas such as the ear canal or nose can be very painful. Boils that form close together may expand and join, causing a condition called carbunculosis. The bumps quickly fill with pus, growing larger and more painful until they rupture and drain.
Areas most likely to be affected are the face, back of the neck, armpits, thighs and buttocks. You can usually care for a single boil at home. But don't attempt to prick or squeeze it — that may spread the infection. Boils can occur anywhere on your skin, but appear mainly on the face, back of the neck, armpits, thighs and buttocks — hair-bearing areas where you're most likely to sweat or experience friction. Signs and symptoms of a boil usually include:.
A carbuncle is a cluster of boils that form a connected area of infection. Compared with single boils, carbuncles cause a deeper and more severe infection and are more likely to leave a scar. People who have a carbuncle often feel unwell in general and may experience a fever and chills. You usually can care for a single, small boil yourself. But see your doctor if you have more than one boil at a time or if a boil:.
Most boils are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacterium commonly found on the skin and inside the nose.
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