When Can Boils Become a Health Issue?

When a hair follicle becomes severely infected, it often leads to the development of a boil on the skin. A boil is often round, red, large, and quite painful to the touch. If you’ve ever had the unfortunate experience of dealing with a boil, you probably already know that the boil can often increase in size after a few days and may harden. This is because there is pus inside of it needs to be drained. In some instances, the boil will burst and subside on its own in a matter of days. However, there are times when it takes much longer for it to burst. Some people deal with boils for weeks at a time.

Who Is More Likely to Get Them?

Although a boil can happen to anyone, there are some people who are more likely to end up dealing with them than others. Boils are more common in teenagers and men. It’s not uncommon for men living in group homes or military environments to end up with boils because of the bacteria that may spread throughout the small and crowded living quarters.

Is It Important to See a Medical Professional?

Not all boils are as simple as others. If a boil appears on the skin and doesn’t go away after two weeks, it is important to seek help from a medical professional. While many boils will burst on their own time, there are some that don’t burst at all, which means a medical professional will need to drain it out for you. Once the pus is drained out, the swelling and redness starts to subside, and the boil eventually goes away for good.

It’s even more important to see a medical professional if the boil appears on your face. Most people don’t want to walk around with such swelling on an area of the body that everyone else can see, so having it drained out quickly and efficiently by a professional is the way to go.

Can You Treat the Problem at Home?

The best solution to getting rid of your boil is to make an appointment with a medical professional. Attempting to handle the boil yourself can be dangerous and should be avoided.

If you have a boil on your skin and you don’t know how to properly handle it, let Windsor Dermatology assist you. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 609-443-4500 to find out how we can help you.

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