Boils advice

Boils advice 

Boils are known to be contagious and spread not only from one person to another but also from one part of the body to another. If a family member has boils you can take the following precautions to ensure that the boils do not spread:

1. Keep things like razors, towels, body loofahs and other implements that come into direct contact with the body separate for the person with boils
2. Let the person not touch the boils as far as possible. After cleaning the boil or applying a compress or handling it in any other way, hands should be washed with antibacterial soap or rubbing alcohol
3. Wash the person's clothes separately in hot water to which some disinfectant has been added.
   
   
   
4. Sterilize any material that comes into contact with the boil.
   

To give relief to a person suffering from boils you can use a warm wet washcloth as a compress. You can also use the following by wrapping up in a gauze bandage and applying them to the boil.

• Cabbage leaves
• Warmed tomatoes slices
• Mashed garlic
• Onion slices
  

If the boil feels tight to touch and about ready to burst, try pricking it with a needle. But be sure to sterilize both the needle and your hands before doing this. And also wash immediately afterwards with an antibacterial soap.