What is a boil? This is a common question. We will deal with him in more detail.
A furuncle is called a local purulent inflammatory process, which is most often caused by staphylococcus. Its development is carried out in the bags of hair follicles. In some situations, multiple foci may appear, and a disease called furunculosis may occur. This disease is on the list of pyoderma.
Consider the main causes of the disease and methods of treating a boil at home.
Staphylococcus as the main cause of inflammation
As already noted above, the main causative agent of purulent inflammation of the hair follicles on the body is staphylococcus. There are quite a few varieties of this microorganism, but only about ten percent of them carry a pathogenic principle. As a rule, malaise develops precisely when the active reproduction of these forms of staphylococcus begins.
What is a boil, not everyone knows. We will deal with this in more detail.
What factors lead to the appearance of a boil?
The development of a purulent process in hair sacs, as a rule, is facilitated by the following factors:
- The appearance of increased sweating with a violation of the function of protecting the skin.
- Getting minor traumatic skin lesions due to scratching, scratches and abrasions, through which an infection gets into the hair structure under the skin.
What are the other causes of boils? Here is some of them:
- Contact of the skin with pathological secretions of the body against the background of rhinitis, frontal sinusitis and other inflammatory infectious pathologies.
- Non-observance of personal hygiene.
- Another possible cause of boils is contact with building or chemical household dust or chemicals.
- Decreased immunity against the background of severe chronic diseases.
- The development of hormonal dysfunction, which is formed due to diabetes mellitus or an excess of secretion of adrenal hormones. An imbalance of hormones leads to trophic disturbance of the skin, a decrease in the local protective reaction, which forms a favorable environment for the occurrence of pathogenic microbes.
We will examine in more detail what a boil is.
Forms of manifestation and stage of development
The development cycle of such a phenomenon as a boil usually consists of the following three phases:
- Stage of infiltration. At this stage, the skin around the focus of infection becomes denser, reddens and swells. In this area there are painful sensations. In the center of the infiltrate, a hair follicle is visible. A common concept for this stage is the maturation of the boil. Very often a boil develops in the nose.
- The stage of necrosis occurs on the third day of development. Around the hair with an inflamed follicle, a certain rod is formed, which consists of pus and dead tissue. A convex abscess of white color appears on the skin surface. The thin tissue membrane that covers it is opened, and then the pus comes out. Against this background, the patient may feel relief associated with a reduction in pain. Swelling in this case completely decreases, and redness in turn decreases. The term used in folk medicine to denote this stage is the breakthrough of the boil.
- At the healing stage, a skin defect formed after the rod rejection process that resembles an ulcer heals. After large boils, scars and scars may remain.
On average, as practice shows, the full development cycle with the healing process of boils on the body is approximately ten days. The following areas are referred to the places of the most frequent localization of boils:
- Cheeks, nose, behind-the-ear area or forehead.
- Neck.
- The skin of the forearms and elbows.
- The area of the hips, buttocks.
Very rarely boils are found on the knees or legs. A boil on the face is the most common phenomenon, since it is there that the skin is abundantly equipped with sebaceous glands, into which all sorts of pathogenic organisms constantly penetrate. Especially unpleasant are those abscesses that are located on the nose or above the upper lip. The boils of the ear canal are very painful.
What do we know about boils located on the face
The following symptoms are signs of furunculosis on the face:
- The presence of severe pain and characteristic infiltrate.
- The presence of violations of facial expression, and, in addition, chewing function.
- An increase in temperature along with chills and general weakness.
- In case of pressure on the boil, severe pain can occur.
It is important to emphasize that the process of self-extrusion of boils on the face is fraught with the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the vascular bed. This can lead to subsequent inflammation of the veins and their thrombosis. As a result, the face may swell, turn blue, it is very likely that severe pain will occur at the site of inflammation. A sharp increase in temperature is not ruled out, while the general condition becomes severe. In such a situation, it is better to seek medical help.
Infection can sometimes spread to brain tissue, which entails encephalitis, and inflammation of the meninges in the form of meningitis is not excluded. By the way, among the rules of dermatology there is a recommendation not to touch boils (pictured), which are located above the upper lip.
The appearance of boils in other areas
Boils can occur in the armpits. In this case, the occurrence of hydradenitis is a purulent process of the sweat gland. Complaints that accompany this pathology are usually similar to those that occur when a normal boil appears. Additionally, pain occurs during movements with the hand.
A boil localized in the inguinal region can cause complications in the lymph nodes or vessels, probably the occurrence of cones. Thus, regional lymphadenitis is formed along with lymphangitis.
In women, boils can occur in the region of the labia. This is often complicated by infection in the bartholin glands. In this case, bartholinitis occurs, which is accompanied by severe swelling of the labia, soreness, severe redness.
The largest boils in size, as a rule, are formed on the skin of the buttocks and thighs.
The appearance of multiple boils
When a large number of boils occurs (in the photo), a disease called furunculosis appears. Often multiple boils are located in limited areas of the skin surface. Depending on the localization of boils, note:
- localized furunculosis, in which infiltrates are located in one area.
- Disseminated furunculosis. Painful lesions are common in various parts of the body.
Symptoms of boils are very unpleasant. Boils are difficult to treat and cause severe psychological discomfort. Abscesses are often found in various parts of the body. Furunculosis can recur - in the old place new boils often develop. In this regard, the following phases of this disease are distinguished:
- The development of acute forms of furunculosis. At the same time, multiple boils can occur on the skin at the same time, which go through all stages of development. Pathology ends with a complete recovery.
- The chronic form of furunculosis is characterized by the constant occurrence of new foci that appear on already healed areas of the skin.
What complications can boils give?
The most common complications of furunculosis are:
- The appearance of inflammatory processes of regional lymph nodes. This complication is called lymphadenitis.
- The development of inflammation that occurs along the regional vessels. This complication in medicine is called lymphangitis.
- The occurrence of a septic process, that is, blood poisoning.
- The appearance of inflammatory changes in the membranes and tissues of the brain. We are talking about meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis and so on.
- The development of joint inflammation, i.e. arthritis.
- The occurrence of pathologies of the kidneys, for example, glomerulonephritis or pyelonephritis.
Boil treatment
The symptoms of boils are the same in all people. The patient consults a doctor only in the most severe cases of the disease or in the event of any complication. At this disease home treatment is very common along with the use of traditional medicine. It is worth saying that often the question of what should be treated with a boil is solved by people who are very far from medicine.
The use of conservative treatment methods
Activities related to the provision of assistance in the event of a boil in the first stage of infiltration include the following measures:
- Applying a special dressing soaked in an antiseptic solution to the forming abscess. For these purposes, medical alcohol is best suited.
- Carrying out cauterization of a boil with an iodine solution.
- The process of heating with infrared rays.
- The use of laser therapy.
It is important to emphasize that warming compresses are contraindicated for the treatment of boils, since they help to spread the purulent process to the surrounding skin areas. It is not recommended to squeeze boils, this can lead to the spread of a pathogenic pathological process. In more difficult situations, an antibiotic-novocaine blockade of the boil section is produced. When an abscess appears, it is necessary to create all the conditions for its rapid opening as soon as possible.
We will analyze how to treat a boil at the stage of necrosis.
Necrosis Treatment
At the stage of necrosis, when the core has already formed, the treatment of the boil is carried out in three stages:
- The use of dressings with salicylic acid, melting the lid of the boil. Thanks to this dressing, the purulent contents exit.
- Careful removal of the shaft by means of a special clamp.
- Immediately after cleansing the purulent cavity, rubber drainage will prevent it for three days, which is subsequently removed, and the surface of the wound is treated with a solution of brilliant green.
In the treatment of such a phenomenon as a boil in the nose, various ointments can be prescribed, for example, gentamicin or tetracycline. Also suitable are ointments "Levomekol" and "Dimexidum". A reliable and proven remedy for treatment is ichthyol ointment.
Is boil removal required? Let's consider this question further.
Surgical aid
Surgical intervention is advisable in the case of the spread of purulent infiltration in the area of subcutaneous tissue with the subsequent formation of an abscess. In this case, the person requires surgical opening of the lesion and debridement. In this case, it is very important to clean the abscess cavity. Surgical intervention is carried out in a hospital.
How to treat a boil with antibiotics?
Antibiotics in the presence of boils are prescribed only by a doctor, depending on the degree of sensitivity of a staph infection to them. The tolerance of certain antibiotics to the patient is also taken into account. Among other things, antiseptic drugs are also used. They are necessary for a long healing process. Treatment of boils in children is carried out according to the same scheme as adults.
What activities are carried out to treat pathology?
Self-treatment by a person of severe forms of furunculosis, as a rule, does not bring any success, since with this ailment people need long-term outpatient and inpatient treatment with repeated preventive courses.
As part of the treatment of boils, doctors very often use local methods of influencing them. Much attention is paid, among other things, to the stimulation of the immune system and general measures of medical exposure to painful foci. For this, very often doctors use ultraviolet radiation along with laser therapy. In addition, treatment can be carried out using immunoglobulins, interferon, and so on.
Antibiotics for the treatment of furunculosis are prescribed only after establishing the sensitivity of a specific pathogen to them. The patient's reaction to these drugs is also taken into account.
Very often, people ask whether mechanical boil removal is required and what should be done if it is opened independently. In this situation, you need to wash your hands very carefully, then the purulent masses that stand out must be washed off with a solution of furatsilin using a gauze swab. After this, the cavity in the skin needs to be washed several times with hydrogen peroxide. If necessary, you can seek medical help.
Next, let's talk about the treatment of a boil at home.
Traditional Therapy
It is important to note that before starting independent treatment measures with the help of one or another folk technique, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
How to treat a boil at home is interesting to many, since this disease is quite common.
Among simple recipes that do not require a significant investment, the following can be distinguished:
- Treatment with coniferous baths. In order to cook them, you need to buy pine or fir essential oil in a pharmacy. For the procedure, twenty-five drops of oil are added to warm water. Immerse the affected area in such water daily for twenty minutes. It is better not to linger longer than the specified time, as some side effects are possible. Treatment of a boil at home does not end there.
- The use of aloe leaves. The leaves of this plant should be cut lengthwise. Then they are applied with pulp to the abscesses. Fixation of the leaves must be carried out using a breathable gauze dressing. In case of its absence, a band-aid is also suitable. Change this bandage once a day.
- For the treatment of boils, you can also prepare a homemade ointment. It is prepared from 100 grams of wax, in which half a liter of vegetable oil is added, as well as sulfur from conifers. Wax with sulfur is added to the hot oil, and after another half hour, another 100 grams of onion husks are poured. The resulting mixture is simmered for about an hour. Then it is poured into small jars for convenience. After the ointment hardens with it, the areas of the appearance of boils are lubricated. At home, this is very convenient.
So, a boil, and in common people this phenomenon is called simply "boil" often gives people a lot of different troubles. This inflammation is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus. White staphylococcus causes it much less often. The main cause of the development of the disease is a strong contamination of the skin along with microtrauma and weakening of the body's defenses. These unpleasant formations can also appear due to chronic diseases, diabetes mellitus and vitamin deficiency. There are many ways to treat a boil at home. Most often, treatment is undertaken with drugs that increase immunity and fight against bacterial infection. In the treatment of boils, traditional methods that offer many quite effective recipes based on the action of natural components do not go unnoticed. Most often, boils can be eliminated in just ten days. But in the event that the disease has caused complications, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Now you know what a boil is and how to deal with it.