Overview

A boil is a hard and painful lump that fills with pus. Most boils go away on their own. See a GP if you keep getting them.

Boils

A boil often starts as an itchy or tender spot. Boils can sometimes leak pus.  Boils can appear anywhere on your body. When lots of boils form together it's called a carbuncle.

Things you can do to help boils

There are things you can do to treat boils yourself and stop them coming back.

Do

• soak a clean cloth in warm water and hold it against the boil for 10 minutes 4 times a day
• clean the area around the boil with antibacterial soap if pus comes out
• cover the area with a dressing or gauze until it heals
• bathe or shower every day and wash your hands regularly
• take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain
• wash your towels and bedding at least once a week at high temperature
• try to lose weight if you are very overweight and have boils between folds of your skin

Don’t

• do not pick, squeeze or pierce a boil
• do not share your towel with other people until the boil has gone
• do not go to a swimming pool or gym until the boil has gone –? you could pass the infection on to others

See a GP if:

• you've had a boil for 2 weeks and the things you've tried are not helping
• you keep getting boils
• you have a group of boils (carbuncle)

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have a boil and:

• it is on your face
• the skin around your boil feels hot, painful and swollen
• you feel hot and shivery
• you have a weakened immune system – this could be from taking treatments such as steroids, or having a condition like diabetes

You can call 111 or get help from NHS 111 online.

Treatment for boils

A GP can check if you need treatment.

You may need:

• a small procedure to drain the boil to get rid of the pus
• antibiotics

Causes of boils

You may be more likely to get boils if you have a long-term condition that affects your immune system, such as diabetes or HIV.

You may also be more likely to get boils if:

• you're a man
• you've been in close contact with someone with boils
• you have certain skin conditions, such as eczema
• you take certain medicines, such as steroids
• you’re living with obesity or malnutrition

Carbuncles are less common and mostly affect middle-aged men.