What are boils?
As is well known, boils are skin infections that occur due to bacterial infections in the hair follicles. When a boil occurs, it produces a hard lump less than an inch in size that is red, pus-filled, and painful to the touch. The longer the lump gets softer but larger and more painful to the touch.
Boils can appear anywhere Oh, boils can develop on the hands, boils on the neck, in the armpits. Areas where boils grow are areas that sweat or experience frequent friction, but boils can also grow on the chest.
Even if basically only one boil grows, but if it gets worse and grows several, it is a carbuncle or carbuncles. This condition indicates that the infection is more serious and is common in middle-aged people with weakened immune systems.
Types – types of boils
Boils can be divided into different types of boils. Come on, find out what the types are and the differences between each type.
Boils are bacterial infections that occur in hair follicles. In the case of a bacterial infection, the surrounding tissue can also be affected.
Furuncle-like boils can occur not only in the head area, but also in various other parts of the body. The characteristics of furuncle ulcers are:
- A reddish nodule appears, accompanied by pain
- The size of the lump may start out small, but over time it may increase in size
- Aside from being reddish in color, the lumps can also be purple in color
- Swollen area of skin around the lump
- There’s pus in the boil
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carbuncle
Carbuncles differ from boils in that they are made up of a group of closely spaced boils. The size of the carbuncle is larger and feels more painful, in addition, the appearance of carbuncles in the skin layer is even deeper.
The appearance of carbuncles is accompanied by pus inside the lump, and it is common for children with carbuncles to have symptoms of fever with chills. In such cases, do not hesitate and go to the doctor immediately to avoid the risk of more serious complications, such as sepsis or the risk of bacterial infection spreading to other organs.
Cystic acne is a boil that forms when oil and dead skin cells clog the hair follicles, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and thrive. Cystic acne can affect deeper skin tissue than normal acne.
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a condition in which boils continue to proliferate under the armpits and in the groin. This type of boil can heal on its own for mild conditions, but more severe ones may require surgery to remove the sweat glands for the skin inflammation to stop.
pilonidal cyst is a boil that starts in the folds of the buttocks and begins as a small infection where the hair grows. With irritation that continues to be subjected to pressure, the site becomes inflamed and hard lumps called boils grow.
Also read: 10 Common Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Indonesia
The difference between boils and acne
At first glance, boils and acne may look similar, but they are different skin conditions. Although they are physically close, there are several factors that set the two apart, find out what they are below!
Boils and acne have different causes. Bacterial infections in the hair follicles are the main cause of boils. Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria Staphylococcus aerusbut other fungi can also cause ulcers.
When the cause of pimples appears, it may be due to clogged pores and not an infection. When oil builds up on the face and dead skin cells meet bacteria, it can lead to acne Propionibacteria acnes and experience redness and inflammation.
Boils and acne also have a different location. It’s common for boils to grow in areas with wrinkles and frequent sweating, such as the B. in the armpits, on the inner thighs, on the feet and on the chest. This is a rare place for pimples to grow.
However, this does not mean that boils cannot grow elsewhere, as boils can also appear on the face and neck.
Because acne grows most frequently in the facial area, but also on the back, shoulders and chest area. acne that is cystic acne looks very similar to a boil.
Acne and boils are different sizes. The size of the boil is larger than the pimple. The comparison is that the size of the boil can be as big as a cherry or a nut, and the size can be even larger.
The size of the pimple is smaller than boils, even in a situation where it is inflamed and has a fairly deep infection.
Also read: How To Treat Eye Spots You Can Do!
Causes of Boils
What are the main causes of boils? Boils are caused by a bacterial infection, generally bacteria Staphylococcus aerus which live on the skin and in the human nose but do not cause infection. However, there are several risk factors that can increase the occurrence of ulcers, namely:
The cause of boils is indeed bacterial infection, but there are several risk factors that can increase the risk of boils, namely:
- There is direct contact with someone who has boils. Frequent direct contact with someone who has boils can increase the risk of transmission.
- Boils are generally more common in teenage boys.
- Environmental or personal hygiene that is not properly maintained.
- have a weakened immune system due to a disease such as HIV, diabetes or in a chemotherapeutic treatment.
- Have skin problems such as acne, eczema or scabies.
- obesity or are overweight.
Also read: Know 7 types of cancer treatment and their costs!
diagnosis of ulcers
Generally, doctors can diagnose whether or not a lump is an ulcer, but finding out whether the infection is a recurring infection or not responding to standard treatment requires a sample of pus, which is examined in the laboratory.
Boils can go away on their own, but if any of the following happen, get medical help right away:
- Incipient fever
- Red streaks appear or the skin around the boil turns red
- Experiencing severe pain
- A second boil appeared
- Furuncles do not drain
- have a history of heart disease or diabetes, have problems with the immune system, are taking medications that can suppress the immune system, such as corticosteroids or chemotherapy.
Symptoms of Boils
There are several symptoms that indicate an ulcer. Come on, find out what the symptoms of boils are below!
- Red bumps appear on the skin with pus inside
- The size of the resulting lump may increase
- The skin around the lump is reddish, swollen, and warm to the touch
- If you touch the lump, it will be painful
- Because there is pus in it, the lump will have a white or yellow spot on top
- Boils never dry up
In addition to these symptoms, when an ulcer develops, several other symptoms may also appear, namely:
- Other boils may develop in the area around the main boil
- Fever
- There is swelling of the lymph nodes near the boil
How to treat boils
There are several ways to treat boils. If the boil is small, it can be treated at home by:
- Compress boil with warm water for 10 minutes 4 times a day.
- If it breaks, be sure to clean it with sterile gauze and antibacterial soap, and be sure to cover it with sterile gauze.
- Change the bandages regularly, about 2-3 times a day.
- Wash hands thoroughly before and after treating boils.
However, if the condition of the furuncle is more severe and the pain is unbearable, paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used as pain relievers. Surgical procedures can also be performed to remove pus, then the cooking medication prescribed by the doctor is erythromycin or clindamycin, which contain antibiotics to treat the infection.
cooking complications
Although boils rarely cause complications, some complications can occur:
- scar tissue appears
- Recurring boils
- The infection spreads to the deeper layers of the skin
- The infection spreads to the bloodstream
- The infection spreads to other organs in the body or to the spinal cord
How to prevent boils
Boils can be prevented by keeping the body and surrounding area clean. Here are some ways to help prevent boils:
- Shower and wash your hands with soap and the right way, then rinse with clean water
- Clean and treat the wound properly
- Do not share personal items such as towels, razors or clothing with other people
- Get exercise and eat nutritious foods to keep your immune system healthy
- Avoid direct contact with people with skin infections
Boils are skin infections that occur due to bacterial infections but can be prevented by maintaining a healthy body and cleaning the environment and yourself. Protect the body from various threats by using Health insurance from Super You, which offers comprehensive health protection from IDR 135,000 per month!
