What does a boil look like in the healing stage?
603927
If there is a scab there, and it has been properly drained - it seems like you are well on your way to healing. If you are still concerned, I would check with the Doc.
953899
Actually boils can be passed from one person to another. And it can be if you touch something that the boil has touched, example if someone sat on something and their boil touched it, then you sat on the same thing and your skin came in contact with the bacteria, then it could enter your system, especially if you had a scratch, cut or insect bite where the bacteria could get in.
308126
Thats really odd. usually if any swelling or pain, would appear as soon as your surgery is done with. If it hurts that bad, i would really recommend calling your doctor. It could be draingage, or an infection. Try putting ice on the area.
904204
Put ice on it. At first, it will seem like the ice is doing more bad than good but it really isn't. The ice just quickens the process of healing.
499402
It could be a boil from sweat and irritation. You should see a doctor, they may have to cut it open and drain it, and pack it for a little bit. If its not too bad you may be perscribed antibiotics to remove the infection. You can try placing warm compresses on the site to see if you can bring it to a head. Then attempt to drain it yourself. Be carful because you may cause a worse infection if your not clean or careful.
746813
Yes, go to the hospital!  Even if it is just a boil (doesn't sound like one) it's still big and needs to be taken care of properly.  Why be in pain if you don't have to be?
371298
depends on what you're healing and the severity of it.
573738
Apply moist warm compress (microwaved washcloth will do - just be careful it's not TOO HOT).  Apply to site and then cleanse, using antiseptic (to kill bacteria now that the site is opened a bit).  I recommend tea tree oil to cleanse.  Near anti viral in it's properties and very kind to skin (won't dry it out).\n\nIf it's meant to , the boil will break.  If this occurs be certain you keep the wound (and it is a wound) very clean and as dry as you can.\n\nIt may (with the compress and cleansing) reduce itself and go away.\n\nGood Luck.
919530
"What are the categories of burns?\n\nThe categories of burns and their treatment very much depend on the depth, area and location of the burn. Burn depth is generally categorized as first, second or third degree. A first degree burn is superficial and has similar characteristics to a typical sun burn. The skin is red in color and sensation is intact. In fact, it is usually somewhat painful. Second degree burns look similar to the first degree burns; however, the damage is now severe enough to cause blistering of the skin and the pain is usually somewhat more intense. In third degree burns the damage has progressed to the point of skin death. The skin is white and without sensation.\n\nRegardless of the type of burn, the result is fluid accumulation and inflammation in and around the wound. Moreover, it should be noted that the skin is the body's first defense against infection by microorganisms. Damage to the skin can predispose the burn victim to both infection at the site of the wound as well as internally."\n\nDo not break the blister if at all possible. the blister helps to prevent infection from occuring. It also helps to protect the new skin while it is forming. As you read the information above that talks about the types of burns, the only burn that does not hurt is 3rd degree. This is because all of the nerve endings have been destroyed. Then once the blister has broken on its own, use  triple antibiotic ointment and a sterile dressing. Then watch for signs of infections: redness, swelling, drainage, fever. If any of those occur either call your doctor or go into your local urgent care.
352781
Pop them.\n\nActually, steralize a needle, clean the boil and lance it. Then put antibiotic ointment on it and keep it coveredc and it will heal like any other wound.
448825
This is not that simple to answer.  Ideally, I would like to see the pressure ulcer in order to stage it and decide on the best protocol for treatment.  I deal with this daily and I've healed stage IV's .  I hope you will contact me about this..I'd like to help.  nurselmh@sbcglobal.net
444381
I think you mean "pilonidal cyst"...\n\nI have first-hand experience of this: I HAVE ONE TOO!\n\nThis is my experience, yours may differ...\n\nI noticed it about four years ago. It felt like the area slightly to the left of my tailbone was larger than it used to be. I found that if I pressed the area hard with a piece of tissue it would bleed a little and there was some pus present. It hasn't been a huge pain in the a** (sorry!) because under normal circumstances it's not the area I normally sit on. It sometimes flares up and becomes very apparent when I've been in the car a long time, and it's especially noticeable when I recline in a hard bottomed chair in that state. Every few months it will get inflamed much like a blister or a boil. That's when it gets very painful to sit on. This will last for about two days and then it will pop. I might notice some blood on the back of the toilet seat and sometimes I can feel a wet sensation as it soaks into my underwear. Once it pops it will be sore for another day and return to it's hardly noticeable state.\n\nLike I said it's not a huge problem and I considered surgery for a while until I read some first-hand accounts. Apparently the surgery is no problem but the recovery takes weeks and means constant dressing changes to what is essentially a very painful, deep wound. Sitting is especially difficult and if you have to sit a lot then you'll definitely be out of action for a few weeks.\n\nSometimes I rub tea tree oil onto it after a shower. This seems to bring the swelling down for a few days.\n\nOh yeah, forget that crap about cancer. That's just an example of someone b***s***ing for points. Cancer doesn't even come into it.\n\nHere's some more info:\n\nA Pilonidal (Abscess, Cyst, Sinus, Dimple) is an abscess in the natal cleft (more commonly referred to as your butt crack) that tends to become infected and cause intense pain and drainage. Sometimes a Pilonidal contains hair and sometimes they don't. \n\nThe term "Pilonidal" technically means "nest of hairs". This is not always true and there are people who have Pilonidal abscesses that have no hair in them. Many doctors will tell you that all Pilonidals are caused by hair, this has not been proven to be the case.  A Pilonidal cyst is basically an abscess of pus and hair beneath the outer skin - a boil gone very, very bad. Pilonidal abscess are prone to excruciatingly painful infections and they can expand (tunnel) .\n\nThe term "Pilonidal Cyst" is actually incorrect.  99% of all Pilonidals are actually abscesses, not cysts.  Use of the word "cyst" has caused a great deal of misinformation about treatments among doctors and patients alike. Pathologists and surgeons on rare occasions find the sac is lined with epidermis, made up of cells from skin, but only cells from the outer layer of skin. That outer layer, which we call epidermis, contains no follicles. Pathologists find epidermis lines the sac only in rare late cases where epidermis has crept into a long-standing abscess in an attempt to heal it. They never find a sac lined with intact skin and follicles, only an occasional sac lined with epidermis.\n\nWhile the terms Pilonidal Cyst and Pilonidal Sinus are frequently used interchangeably, they are not technically the same thing. A Pilonidal is an abscess; a pocket of pus and infection below the skin. A sinus is a cavity/passageway that links the abscess with your outer skin. Not everyone who has a Pilonidal abscess has a Pilonidal Sinus; the sinus (and there can be more than one) is a small dimple-like hole, usually below the actual abscess, which allows it to drain. \n\nPilonidal abscesses usually occur at the top of the "natal cleft" (aka your crack). Their usual position is slightly to the left side, with sinus openings traditionally right along the midline (middle) of the cleft. Many people have cysts lower in the cleft
3969
No.  If you have a boil and you think it's HIV I can assure you it is not.  \n\nAids spots are a late stage symptom, not an early one.  If you had "aids spots" you would already know you have aids, they appear years and years after the disease starts.  You would have had other symptoms first.  \n\nWhat your asking about is called Kaposi sarcoma.
867661
Hello,\n\nI'll keep this short...Boil are caused for numerous reasons.\n\nHygiene could be one of them, boils are laos contagious for example if a person burst out the boil and doesn't take care of it like cleaning and putting a plaster on it, it wcould transfer to someone else...i didn't believe that but since speaking to a doctor and a dermatologist i reconsidered. \n\nThe natural stuff that i know works are\nturmeric powder\ngarlic\nvitamin a\nvitamin e\n\n......if u are pressed for time try some antibiotic may be topical as in a cream or a pill....but i think only docotrs can prescribe antibiotics....\n\nHope it helps...
844455
Actually, the small amount of water initially added will immediately boil. This localized, violent reaction will cause the water (and nearby acid) to project upward, possibly into your face. ALWAYS add acid to water.
696305
You can use hot compresses to help bring it to a head and drain it, but truthfully the safest thing to do is visit your doctor and have him lance and drain it.  You risk infection if you drain it yourself.  Depending on the size, he will place "packing" in the boil after draining it, and you may have to go several times to have that changed.
1187518
It soumds very much like boils. If it is:\n\nAsk your doc to culture the pus. Beg hir if necessary! It's especially important to have the culture done if you've had surgery or been hospitalized before this started, because some germs are resistant to some antibiotics, and can be picked up more easily in hospitals than in the community.\n\nThen ask about an Rx for an antibiotic to which the bug (it's probably some kind of staph infection) is sensitive. You should also ask for Bactroban ointment to put in your nose twice a day for 5 days each month until the tube is empty.\n\nPeople often have a colony of staph living in the nasal passages. These usually don't cause any problems, but recurrent boils, abscesses--what you described--are one of the problems they certainly DO cause.\n\nI suffered from boils all over the place, and each time I had one treated, they'd lance it, put me on antibiotics, it'd go away, and one or two weeks later another would pop up. This in SPITE of the fact that I kept insisting that I had a history of a resistant bug. ~sigh~ It took several years--because of insurance--to get to someone who would listen to me.\n\nI did the research and knew what treatment I needed, but ~I~ can't write a script, so I had to wait until I was hospitalized with shaking chills 'til I finally got the treatment I needed. You feel somewhat foolish whining about a little infection, but those suckers hurt REALLY bad, and the fact is, they are dangerous.\n\nI haven't had another since the treatment in December.\n\nBe persistent, bug the docs, do some research at REPUTABLE sites, and good luck.\n\nMeanwhile, warm, wet compresses for pain, wash your hands constantly, keep your fingers off the owies (yeah, right, but you should) and call the doc again.