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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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im 39 and for the last few years have been suffering from spots on the insides of my thighs. They vary in size and usually form a white head then burst but they are leaving me with some really horrible scarring. While i am interested in preventing them i am very interested to see if i can reduce the scarring....can anyone please help





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I have had quite a similar problem and have found that rubbing bio oil into the scarred area in the morning and before i go to bed has greatly reduced the scarring. It took about 2 weeks before i started noticing a difference though so give it a chance. good luck!

I have very sore spots appear on my bottom cheeks both sides, they tend to pop on their own or i have been known to pop one ot two myself to try and make them go, however, they just scab over and scar me. sometimes i can have up to 6 at a time. I am overweight and suffer with PCOS can this have anything to do with the spots i get?





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hi louise i know exactly what your going through as i get them on the inside of my thighs..like yourself they leave scars and im also overweight with pcos...im unable to advise at the moment but im constantly striving to find a solution and as soon as i do i will post on here...gl x

For a few years now, I have been getting boils around the vagina area. Sometimes they are sore and produce puss or they dry up ad form a kind of blackhead. It really fustrates me because it doesn't just come and goes, rather it leaves scars there.





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i am a man and also have the same problem in the same area . My GP keeps giving me antibiotics ,but they have stop working the scars are so embarrassing can you give me any advice please

Don't wear knickers with elastic or lace around the legs - wear shorties or mens boxers. Never wear panty liners/ST. Once it's gone, start cleaning yourself with a liquid soap containing chlorhexidine (I get Hibiscrub from the chemist - it costs about £7 but lasts for ages and is worth every penny. I had the disgusting things for ten years and have now been free for six months. I saw a difference within a week. x

i suffer from boils, under my arm pits and between my legs, and i ve took antibiotics and they wont go, they can be very painfull at times, i dnt like haveing sex in the light, only at night and i feel really uncomfortable when im haveing sex 2, i just want them to go. please help me please.





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I'm not sure if this is boils, but I always have a very sore "boil" on my genitals, sometimes 3 or 4. They get larger and larger till they finally burst. Very sore to sit or have have sex with my husband. After weeks of waiting and they finally burst, a new one starts to form so I'm always fighting one. This has gone on for the past 15 to 20 years with the past 5 years being the worst. I'm 41. All I can do is keep it clean and put sudocrem on the boils to try and keep an antibiotic on them. Is my body lacking something or does it have too much of something. Please help me!





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Hi I have been having this for 5 years. Finally I had enough of always being in alot of pain and decided to do something quite drastic. I put savalon antiseptic liquid in the bath. (like dettol) and I bathed in this every day. Touch wood they have gone and I have no more forming. It has only been a week, but I think you will agree that is a long time, when you are used to living with these.

Hi Honey - I'm the same age and had the same problem for 10 years but have FINALLY been free of the disgusting things for six months. And it was so damn easy I just wish that doctors would take the subject of boils more seriously - I've seen several over the years and they've given me no help at all. Plus there's some really dumb - not to mention downright dangerous - advice out on the internet because there's no real help out there. And all it takes is three simple steps: Firstly - understanding - you are a carrier of the bacterium that causes boils. It doesn't mean that you are 'dirty', its just tough luck. These bacteria get into your body through small points of entry like your pubic hair or areas that are slightly chafed (this can be to such a minor degree that you wouldn't even notice it, like from the elastic in your knickers) Secondly, you need to get rid of existing boils. Again, ignore the rubbish that is posted on the internet. The only way to do this is to help the boil come to a head with the heat of a hot bath or something warm (I used a wheatbag heated in the microwave and covered with a flannel for cleanliness). It will come to a head when it is ready to. When it has come to a head gently squeeze all the pus out until only blood comes out and then clean it with an antiseptic wipe. Don't put anything on it and keep it clean for three days with antiseptic wipes morning and night, while you wear loose underwear like boxers. Thirdly, to keep free of the disgusting things. Prevent any kind of chafing - never, ever wear panty liners or sanitary towels, don't wear any knickers with lace or elastic in the legs (wear plain shorties or men's boxers) and wear men's boxers in bed at night until you've got the problem under control - remember, you are keeping the bacteria away from your body and this is easier than changing the sheets every day! And finally - and this is the golden bullet - get some liquid soap with chlorhexidine in it from your chemist (you will probably have to ask for it). The one I buy is called Hibiscrub, cost about £7 and lasts for ages as I only use it on the affected parts of my body. It's hospital-strength germwarfare and I swear by its efficacy. I swear that this will work for you and just hope you will be kind enough to let me know how you do. I started to notice a difference in about a week - and, as I said, this was having had the damn things continuously for ten years.

Don't use Savlon, you want a liquid soap such as Hibiscrub, which is operating theatre strength

i get boils in my ears and the burst and go away but a new boil returns theee next weeek,pleaseee help meee,





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I have large and enflamed lumps in my private area between my legs and my vagina. They are extremely sore and sometimes secrete puss. I don't know what it is or what to do please help!!!





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i have severe boils on the back fo me neck and have had them for 20 years, they are very sore as well as awful to look at. I hate having my haircut, my doctor is not in the slighest big interested, anyone any suggestions please





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I am getting very itchy kind of spots or sometinhg between my 2 but cheaks and i dont know what it is please help





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I keep getting boils around the vagina area and is very saw any advise how to treat it? Very painful to work and have sex, Unable to make a doctor appointment due to my shift work Plus i'am in the middle of changing doctors as our doctor don't tend to help with anything - more intrested trying to make us go private all the time instead of the nhs.





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Don't wear knickers with elastic or lace around the legs - wear shorties or mens boxers. Never wear panty liners/ST. Once it's gone, start cleaning yourself with a liquid soap containing chlorhexidine (I get Hibiscrub from the chemist - it costs about £7 but lasts for ages and is worth every penny. I had the disgusting things for ten years and have now been free for six months. I saw a difference within a week. x





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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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