Boil Skin Infections, Best Natural TreatmentBoil skin infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Its medical name is furuncle. Because carbuncles are conglomerates of furuncles, they are described here as well. Some other infections are sometimes labeled as boils, but are not boils in the true sense. One example is a folliculitis. It is not a boil infection, but it has its similarities with boils, as folliculitis is infection in hair follicles just like the boils are, but the appearance is a little different. True boil skin infections develop in hair follicles. So does folliculitis, but folliculitis doesn't form boils, but rather pus filled blemishes more like large pimples. They are more superficial infections. Folliculitis involve multiple hair follicles, whereas a furuncle consists of one larger and deeper seated element. Furuncles and carbuncles (boil skin infections) are skin infections that involve deper layers than the folliculitis. These staph infections form pockets in the skin that are filled with pus, a fluid that includes bacteria, dead skin cells and infection-fighting white blood cells.
A carbuncle is a deeper skin infection that involves a group of furuncles in one skin location. Carbuncles are often found on the back of the neck, shoulders, hips and thighs, and they are especially common in middle-aged or elderly men. People with diabetes are more likely to develop carbuncles.
SymptomsA boil looks like a red, swollen, painful bump under the skin. As the infection gets worse, a whitish tip, also called a point or head, can appear at the center of the boil. This tip is usually the area from which the boil's pus will drain spontanuously, if the boil matures naturally, or is helped by application of soaks,- se below. A carbuncle looks like a cluster of interconnected boils. Whenever you have boil skin infections you may have a fever and feel generally sick. A fever is more likely to develop with a carbuncle than with a single furuncle.
TreatmentSome boil skin infections need no treatment. They may simply disappear due to the body's natural defence mechanisms. Some go through a ripening period before they spontanously rupture on the skin surface and drain through the head, cleaning up and healing naturally from the base up to the skin surface. Your doctor may lance the boil and evacuate the pus surgically, making the infected area more available for antibiotic treatment, either locally in the form of soaks or systemically by taking antibiotics orally. The draining will represent an effective pain relief wether it happens spontanuously or surgically. Small boil skin infections may subside without treatement, or by applying warm water soaks or Tamanu oil soaks regularly or even continually by soaking gas-compresses in tamanu oil and applying to the infected area for several days. This will even support the formation of a healthy scar tissue that is less visible than when scar develops without treatment. Most boils leave no scars though. Carbuncles naturally form scars more often that furuncles.
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