Common Causes of Boils

Many people suffer from boils at one point or another in their life. Sometimes a boil appears and it must be treated immediately.  In addition, many people confuse boils with cases of acne. While it can be similar boils are not the same thing. Here is a look at the common causes of boils. An ugly, red, tender and painful lump on the skin around a hair follicle is the first sign of a boil. In a couple of days, a white ‘head’ develops on the lump as pus collects beneath the skin before the boil ruptures and the puss oozes out. With a more severe infection, several boils might appear as a cluster called a carbuncle at the same site. When the deeper tissues of the skin get infected, it is termed an abscess. Boils may be of many types, but causes of boils on the body, whether they are boils on back, legs, neck, or elsewhere on the skin, are usually bacterial infections that result from poor hygiene.

A Look at the Causes of Boils:

Most boils result from Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria entering the body through cuts, cracks, and wounds and settling at the base of hair follicles. Sometimes what causes boils on the body may be constant exposure to toxic chemicals that cause skin irritation. People with compromised immune systems like those who undergo chemo therapy or those who are prescribed corticosteroids are more likely to get boils as their body is unable to fight the bacterial infection. A foreign body lodged in the skin, like a thorn or a splinter, can cause boils on the skin. What causes boils on the human body may also be clogging of oil glands and skin pores, accumulating dirt and sweat on which bacteria can thrive. Another group of people who are likely to get boils are diabetics. You might be surprised to learn that boils are actually caused by bacteria. It is called Staphylococcus and can cause boils to grow into progress into problems. What happens is that the bacteria enters the skin, either through small cuts or breaks in the skin and infects the hair follicle deep inside the skin. In most cases, the human body has the ability to fight off these types of infections that enter into the skin with no problems. However, there are times when these germs can infect a hair follicle and cause problems. The problem is known as a boil.

Medical Problems that Cause Boils
There are other common causes of boils, other than infected skin follicles. People with diabetes have problems healing properly and for this reason many people that suffer from both type 1 and type 2 diabetes may begin having problems with boils. In addition, problems with the immune system can also cause people to develop painful boils. This is because their body is unable to fight off infections properly. Skin allergies and exposures to chemicals that irritate the skin will cause boils as well. Many people with skin allergies must be very careful about the type of products they use on their bodies to prevent boils from forming. Last of all, it is important to note that poor nutrition, and improper personal hygiene can also lead to boils. This is largely due to the fact that people who have poor hygiene are not watching others can properly and on a regular basis. Those who are bedridden are also prone to developing boils, because their body is in constant contact with the bed sheets.

Symptoms of boils need to be treated as soon as they appear to minimize the damage caused to the skin by boils and abscesses. For any treatment of boils, both on the neck or on the face, it is vital to understand that improving blood circulation to the area hastens healing. Apply a warm compress by soaking wash cloth in hot water and squeezing out the excess water before placing the cloth on the boil. The heat makes the blood rush to the spot, bringing with it more white blood cells to fight the infection. Repeated application of warmth soothes the pain and allows the pus to rise to the surface and form a ‘head’.  Within a day or two, the ‘head’ bursts and the pus drains out by itself. Apply an anti-septic ointment on the boil and allow it to heal, once the pus is drained out. If the pain worsens and the pus does not drain out, it may be necessary to get a medical practitioner to lance the boil and drain it to get relief from the pain. It is very dangerous to try and rupture the boil with a needle as this may worsen the infection. Pricking or squeezing the boil can be extremely painful and may result in a delay in healing. Allow the boil to ‘ripen’ on its own.

Boils on your body may occur when you are in close contact with another person who has a staph infection and is already suffering from boils or has a carbuncle. Among the various types of boils and carbuncles that are commonly seen, cystic acne on the face is the bane of teenagers. More severe than common acne, cystic acne is an abscess of deep skin tissue caused by the clogging and infection of oil ducts under the skin. Pilonidal cyst is a condition that occurs in people who travel long distances sitting. The boil, which occurs in the crease of the buttocks, gets inflamed with the constant pressure on it from sitting and the whole area becomes painful and tender. With a pilonidal cyst, even the simple act of sitting can become painful and medical help may be needed to drain the boil, and medication should be applied to heal the abscess. An inflammation of the sweat glands can cause a cluster of boils called hydradenitis suppurativa in the armpit or the groin and these can be very painful.  Surgery may be required to remove the boils and relieve the pain.

More than knowledge about what causes boils on your body, you  may be interested in knowing how to get rid of boils fast, be they boils on the chin, face, groin, buttocks or under your arms. Small boils that form around hair follicles usually drain and heal on their own and do not leave any scars. Hot packs to ease the pain and allow the pus to build up until the skin softens and drains on its own are the best home treatment possible. A mixture of vinegar, cream and turmeric is applied on the boil to allow it to ripen and break on its own, the antiseptic properties of turmeric allowing it to heal faster once the pus drains. Applying tea tree oil is another popular home remedy for boils. Variations of the hot compress include applying bread soaked in hot milk on the boil or boiling parsley and making a bundle of the leaves in a clean cloth to roll over the boil. Use these home remedies to get rid of the boils faster; however if these don’t work then it would help to get the boils treated medically.