Boils are irritating, sore, often times itchy, and almost always unpleasant to look at. In certain cases, but not always they leave behind unpleasant reminders or scars. At times if the boils are left untreated they can even become serious and unsafe for the surrounding skin areas. But largely, boils can be treated safely at home, at the onset. Here are some ways to treat boils:

1. A tepid cloth pad or dressing is an effective form of treatment for a boil. It can help in draining and healing the swelling a lot faster. At the first instance of sight of a boil, apply a compress and warm padding on the boil. The compress must be warm, and must be placed on the swelling every 15 to 25 minutes for four or five times a day. Wash the compress at each interval and make it warm enough. This will help in draining out the boil by itself.

2. Some vegetables make for an excellent folk remedy for skin boils. Certain forms of compresses can be made from a slice of tomato that has been made sufficiently hot or heated, a slice of raw onion, a squashed clove of garlic, the external or outermost leaves of a cabbage, and a bag of black tea powder or leaves. Compresses made from these ingredients must be changed every few hours. Boils can also be drained and healed by making the use of a bundle of paper or paper towel drenched in home-made vinegar or apple cider vinegar. The compress must be placed over the boil, preferably overnight and covered. Fresh compresses repeated every few hours can work wonders in healing boils.

3. Although boils must be drained, they should not be forced open and drained by squeezing, picking or slicing them. Doing so is dangerous to the area and may cause secondary infection or uncontrolled bleeding. Adhere to the use of warm compresses, which will cause the boils to drain out on their own.

4. Boils are also believed to be curable with the use of a topical application made from onions and garlic. The raw extracts or juices of either an onion or garlic must be applied on the boil. This causes the boil to ripen speedily and heal the area. The juices of both onion and garlic can also be used together, in equal quantities, as a topical application over the boil.