Boils
A boil is a hard and painful lump that fills with pus. Most boils go away on their own. See a GP if you keep getting them.
Check if you have a boil
Things you can do to help boils
There are things you can do to treat boils yourself and stop them coming back.
Do
-
soak a flannel in warm water and hold it against the boil for 10 minutes 4 times a day
-
clean the area around the boil with antibacterial soap if pus comes out
-
cover the area with a dressing or gauze until it heals
-
bathe or shower every day and wash your hands regularly
-
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain
-
wash your towels and bedding at least once a week at a high temperature
-
try to lose weight if you are very overweight and have boils between folds of your skin
Don’t
-
do not pick, squeeze or pierce a boil
-
do not share your towel with other people
-
do not go to a swimming pool or gym until the boil has gone – you could pass the infection on to others
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- you have a boil on your face
- you have a boil and a long-term condition such as diabetes
- the skin around your boil feels hot and painful
- you've had a boil for 2 weeks and the things you've tried are not helping
- you keep getting boils
- you have a group of boils (carbuncle)
- you have a boil and you feel hot and shivery
Treatment for boils
A GP can check if you need treatment.
You may need:
- a small procedure to drain the boil to get rid of the pus
- antibiotics
Causes of boils
You may be more likely to get boils if you have a long-term condition such as diabetes or HIV.
You may also be more likely to get boils if:
- you have close contact with someone else who has boils
- you cut your skin while shaving
Carbuncles are less common and mostly affect middle-aged men.
Page last reviewed: 9 September 2020
Next review due: 9 September 2023