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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 am 23 and have been suffering from boils for about a year now, i have two children and i am scarred enough with stetch marks and now these spots boils things are scarring me too. My self confidence is lower now and i dont like to be naked to see the state of my body now. someone please help me??????





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hello , in between my thighs , i get lots of spots and boils , they are really unattractive and give scars , so im embarrest , also all over my body i have really dark hair ,but i am white , its also embaressing , please can you help me . xxx





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Oh thank god its only like the hair thing so its like shaving has made it that way... wow good i thought i had some nasty infection! Ive witnessed it gets bigger and sorer if touched... i tried to pop it but it wouldnt its sort of hard.. now ive been told not to pop it im hoping it goes away! well im preying! Ive put loads of sudocream on it and going to bed lol hopefully it will calm down tommroow please!! x j x





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i am 16 and i think i have boil under my armpit it is realy sore and sore when i put on a bra how can i treat it can u help mee ? x





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Iam 29. I have been having boils near my groin on and off for years now. Been to the doctors so many times.They are very painful,cant hardly walk. Been on antibiotics,they go,then a few months later they come back. I was told to have hot bath,but not to hot with sea salt and bathe in it for a while or hot water in a cup with sea salt,use cotton wool and bathe the boil.(wait for the water to cool down first) do this every day and the boil should pop,but it is painful. But i want to know is, why am i keep getting them.





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Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/

hi i am a 25 year old mum of 3 since having my son have had severl problems. he was a c section and i since have had a a breast absess which has been drained. And now really painfull boils lower down i used to get these offen but they would go away now ive got a large one's that has been weaping for what seems like forever and i think i also got a form of thrush this time it's all really sore and itchy and im feeling really low but cant face going to my gp with this i have tried canisan duo and i dont understand why this still remains the same do i need medical help?





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i get a lot of painful boil type things in my armpits and in my groin area, they weep yellow puss stuff and can stay for weeks. i have one that has been there for 6 months continusly weeping. where they have gone it leaves what looks like holes and they often come back in the same place.. please help me! i am so embarrased..





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omg i am exactly the same they leave scars and are so embarrassing if u have had any treatments since this post that have helped u please repost them

Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/

i am age 31 and a larger lady, i have alot of discolouration of the skin on my inner thighs upto and on my vagina. i also have a few lumps that swell and become very painfull at times, sometimes they burst and weep puss and blood. this can be very sore and it is distressing to me and very uncomfortable. please can you help and advise me as to what this may be and how to treat. i have taken photos of this if this would be helpful in your diagnosis. thanking you yvonne.





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I suffer from bartholin cysts which occur on the inner and outer lips of my vagina. They start off as lumps which then become larger and extremely painful until they burst oozing pus and blood. I have one at the moment and it is extremely painful -so much that i am having trouble sitting,walking and standing! Am being reffered to a gynogologist who may treat it with marsupilisation-draining,cutting and stitching of the labia which i am not looking forward to!!!





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im 16 and we think its a boil on my bum!! it kills meeeeeeeeeeeee, carnt walk or anything now its bleedingg whatt the hell :(





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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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