A boil refers to a skin infection that can occur on an oil gland or a hair follicle. The affected area becomes red with a small bump that develops thereafter. This bump turns white in next 4-7 days, as the pus starts accumulating under the skin. These boils can occur on any body part. The most common parts, however, are arms, face, under armpits, chest, neck, back, thighs, shoulders, buttocks and the area around the vagina. The boil that develops on eyelid is known as sty. Read more about Tips to Pop a Boil
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Pop a Boil Tips
The most common method to deal with boils is to pop it out. This helps to get rid of the pus. Also, it provides relief from the incessant pain caused by the pus accumulation. However, there are some precautionary tips to take care of before popping a boil.
• Treat the Infected Area with Heat
Make sure to treat the boil with a heat pack before you pop it out. This helps to dilate the blood vessels surrounding the boil. Furthermore, this helps to ensure that the pus will be formed soon and that the skin will also become soft thus making the infected area ripe for popping.
• Avoid Popping a hard and small boil
Popping a boil is always accompanied by the risk of causing other infections. Beginning the heat pack treatment at an early stage can be helpful to drain the boil internally and not leading to popping. Make sure that you pop the boil only when a significant pustule or head is formed and the skin is soft enough to touch.
• Drain maximum pus
It is important that you drain out the maximum possible pus from the boil. It is also important to know that you should stop popping once you see some blood from the boil’s mouth. Putting unnecessary pressure can lead to permanent scars.
• Continue Heat Pack even after Popping
Make sure to apply the heat pack after popping the boil as well. Doing this would provide a continuous supply of nutrients and antibodies to the infected area. Moreover, it also reduces the chances of secondary infections.
• Protect from Infections
It is important to protect the infected area from infections of different kinds, especially after popping the boil. For this, get a povidone iodine ointment and some gauze and medical tapes. Apply good amount of the ointment over the popped boil. Then, cover the area using gauze and medical tapes. Follow the treatment for a few days or till the sore completely heals. However, make sure to change the dressing at least two times a day to prevent any sort of infection.
In addition to all the above treatments, it is also important to keep a watch if there is no serious infection. If the symptoms show serious infection, it is important to consult your doctor. The doctor would advise an antibiotic. Sometimes, it might become necessary to get an incision in case the boil grows under the skin. However, in such cases, make sure to get the treatment done by an experienced and licensed medical expert for a small mistake can lead to serious consequences.