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Conditions

Boils

Boils

A boil is an inflamed swelling normally caused by infection to the hair follicle. They are filled with pus and are often sore and painful. They generally occur in places where there is friction between the skin and clothing, and particularly where there sweat catches, such as under the arms and between the buttocks. If a network of boils joins together, it can form a super boil, known as a carbuncle. The causes of boils are many, some occur naturally as a result of high occurrence of staphylocooci bacteria, but others may be caused by a weakened immune system (as a result of diabetes or stress) or by irritation to the skin caused by conditions such as eczema. Most boils will disappear on their own, but in serious cases they can be treated by a medical professional, who will normally drain the pus from the boil using a needle and syringe. Bursting boils is not recommended, as this can spread the infection on to neighbouring skin.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

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I have been getting boils for a while under my arm pits and i have scars from them. its a horrible pain.





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I have been getting boils for a long time and i do have scars on my legs arms and buttocks. since i have started shaving down below they have appeard there too and they are very painful. i have been on several anti-biotics but they keep coming bcak, i am overweight so i am concentrating on loosing weight to prevent them. I know how u all feel, its a horrible pain.





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Hi I have a hard lump in my groin that is so painfull There is no head on it. It sea to be getting bigger help!!!!





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I've been getting boils since I was 12 they were really bad for some time,I lost weight and I got the odd one, I recently put all that weight on and they are back with force, I'm in agony I can't sit down with out jumping coz of the pain I have 4 boils in one and another two big ones , can any one reccomend anything





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Hey, im 22 and ive got a rather large "boil" looking thing on my bottom but quite close to my vagina aswell. Do i pop it? Its really painfull to sit down, its literally throbbin. Help!





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I am 26 and on a few occasions have been getting boils on the inside of my vagina why is this ????. I am prone to boils being a larger lady and tend to get them when I am run down and I am at the minute. I have been tested and have a regular girlfriend and she has also gets tested frequently. I am just concerned about why this keeps happening.





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Hi, I'm only 21 and I'm suffering form the same symptoms as the woman who first commented. I've had multiple boils and scarring on my buttox and bikkini area, and now they're starting to appear on my breast as well. I've been to the doctors before for more moderate skin afflictions and they've never been able to fix the problem, so who do I turn to for help with my more advanced skin irritation????





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Ive had a boil problem since my teens, am now 31!I have scars and dark patches on my bottom and between my groin, this has really affected my sex life and self esteem. I recently plucked up the courage to go to my gp, but she did nothing and said its normal. How can it be normal, there must be medication or treatment for this!I have been getting them under my arms and one on my right breast, when they 'pop', it leaves a 'hole' and thats what scars it...please help..im desparate!! TA





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hey i am only 16 but have had similar symptoms since i was about 12 i have been to my gp several times and given general antibiotics it wasn't until i was referred to a dermatologist that i was prescribed the right antibiotics and given a antibacterial wash to use daily unfortunately there is no cure for them and have to live with the scars.

Hi, I'm 26 and had this Lump/Boil thing under my foreskin for as long as i can remember it doesn't hurt but still i'd like it removed i dont know whats in it either puss or blood? It doesn't have a head on it either. any idea's people??





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would appreciate it if someone could help identify my problem! seems that when the hairs came through on the shaft of the penis and ball sack skin, where the roots of the hairs are, little pale lumps can be seen which contain something like pus. I'm not sexually active and also at the opening of the penis is a little red and sore.





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

A boil is a painful, red bump on the skin usually caused by an infected hair follicle (a small sac in the skin that a hair grows out of). Read More »

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