Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Treating an abscess at home
• Method 2 of 2: Get medical attention
• Tips
• Warnings

Also called a boil, an abscess is a painful, inflamed, pus-filled bump caused by a bacterial infection. You can suffer from it all over your body. Most smaller abscesses heal on their own and do not require medical attention. However, larger specimens may require more care. You can get an abscess healed by treating the area yourself at home or having your doctor puncture it and take medication.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Treating an abscess at home

1. Do not touch the abscess with your fingers. Resist the temptation to touch, pick, or squeeze the abscess. As a result, you can spread bacteria and get more inflammation and a more serious infection.
   • Blot the pus or fluid that comes out of the abscess with a clean tissue or bandage. Be careful not to touch your skin with your fingers when you soak up the liquid. Discard the dressing immediately and do not reuse.
2. Apply warm compresses to the abscess. Wash your hands with soap and water. Heat a cup of water so that the water is warm to hot and doesn't burn your skin. Dip a clean bandage or soft cloth in the water and place the bandage or cloth over the abscess and surrounding skin. Applying warm or hot compresses to the abscess can cause it to pop open and pus to come out, reducing pain and discomfort.
   • Apply compresses to the abscess several times a day.
   • Rub the cloth over the abscess in gentle circular motions to release pus. It is normal if you see a little blood while doing this.
3. Take a lukewarm bath. Fill your bathtub or a small bucket or basin with lukewarm water. Sit in the bath for 10 to 15 minutes or keep your abscess in the water for that long. The warm water can help the abscess to open on its own and reduce pain and discomfort.
   • Thoroughly clean the tub or small bucket beforehand, as well as after soaking your abscess in it.
   • Consider sprinkling baking soda, uncooked oatmeal, colloidal oatmeal, or Epsom salt into the water. These can soothe your skin and cause the boil to pop and pus to flow out on its own.
4. Clean the abscess and the skin around it. Wash the abscess with a mild antibacterial soap and clean, warm water. Make sure to wash the skin around the abscess as well. Pat your skin dry with a soft, clean towel.
   • If you'd rather use something stronger than soap, clean the abscess with an antiseptic.
   • To keep your abscess clean, it is important that you take a shower or bath every day. Good personal hygiene can help the abscess heal and reduce the risk of more infections.
5. Cover the abscess with a sterile bandage. When the abscess is clean, loosely apply a sterile gauze bandage or bandage. To prevent infection, change the dressing when pus leaks through the dressing, or the dressing gets wet or dirty.
6. Take painkillers. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Follow the dose directions carefully to relieve your pain and discomfort. A pain reliever such as ibuprofen can also make the swelling go down.
7. Wash all items that come into contact with the abscess. Set the washing machine to a high water temperature. Put in your clothes and linens, as well as the washcloth you used as a compress. Wash the items in the washing machine and then dry them on a high setting in the dryer. Doing so can kill the bacteria still on the stuff that can further inflame or infect your abscess.
8. Wear baggy and smooth clothing. Tight clothing can irritate your skin and make your abscess worse. Wear baggy, smooth, and light clothing so that your skin can breathe and heal faster.
   • Smooth, textured fabrics, such as cotton and merino wool, can prevent skin irritation and excessive sweating so that the affected area is not irritated.

Method 2 of 2: Get medical attention

1. Watch for signs of further infection. Keep taking care of the abscess until it is completely healed and there are no signs that the infection is getting worse. Look for the following signs that the abscess and infection are getting worse and get medical help right away if necessary:
   • Your skin becomes redder and more painful.
   • You will see red streaks on your skin coming from the abscess and the area around it and pointing towards your heart.
   • The abscess feels very warm or hot, as does the skin around it.
   • A significant amount of pus or other fluid is coming out of the abscess.
   • You have a fever with a body temperature higher than 38.6 ° C.
   • You suffer from chills, nausea, vomiting, headaches and muscle pain.
2. Make an appointment with your doctor. In some cases you will need medical attention, for example if you are over 65. Let your doctor know how you treated the abscess at home and tell him or her about anything else that could help with treatment. See your doctor for medical treatment of the abscess if:
   • The abscess is on your spine, in the center of your face, near your eyes, or near your nose.
   • The abscess does not open on its own.
   • The abscess gets bigger or is very large and painful.
   • You have diabetes or another chronic condition, such as kidney or liver disease.
3. Have the abscess punctured. If necessary, have your doctor puncture the abscess with a scalpel or small needle so that the fluid flows out. Opening and deflating the abscess can remove infectious pus or fluid and reduce pressure on the abscess. Keep the dressing that your doctor applies to the punctured abscess clean and dry.
   • If you have severe pain, ask your doctor for a local anesthetic.
   • Your doctor can apply an antiseptic dressing to the punctured abscess to soak up extra pus and prevent re-infection.
4. Take antibiotics. Have your doctor prescribe a course of antibiotics if the abscess is particularly badly infected. Follow your doctor's dose instructions carefully and make sure to complete the entire course of antibiotics. Taking antibiotics and completing the entire course will help you fight the infection successfully and reduce the chances of a new abscess and infection.

Tips

• Always wash your hands before and after touching the abscess.

Warnings

• Never poke or squeeze an abscess yourself. This should always be done by a doctor or other medical professional.