Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Abscesses are painful, inflamed and pus-filled foci caused by infection. You can get an abscess (also called a boil) from any part of your body. Some small abscesses on the skin can heal without medical treatment, but large abscesses or do not heal on their own require medical attention. You can treat an abscess through home care or see your doctor for it by draining the abscess and taking medicine.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Treatment of an abscess at home

1. 

   Do not touch the abscess. Try not to touch, trust, or squeeze an abscess. This action can spread the bacteria, causing more inflammation, and worse infections.
   • Use a clean bandage or tissue to blot any pus or drainage from the abscess. Avoid letting your fingers touch the skin while absorbing the fluid. Throw away the absorbent pad immediately and do not reuse.
   • Always wash your hands before and after caring for an abscess to avoid the spread of infection. Dangerous infections such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infection (MRSA) can enter the body through an abscess.

2. 

   
   
   Place a warm compress on the abscess area. Wash your hands with soap and water. Heat one cup of water to the point that it is warm or hot without burning the skin, then soak a clean bandage or soft cloth in the water, and apply it to the abscess and surrounding skin. Warm or hot compress therapy can help drain the abscess while also reducing pain and discomfort.
   • Apply warm compresses several times a day.
   • Use a cloth to gently massage the abscess in a circular motion so that pus can drain. A little bit of blood leaking now is normal.

3. 

   
   
   Soak in warm water. Fill a bathtub or smaller container with warm water, then soak the entire body or affected area for about 10 to 15 minutes. Warm water therapy can help the abscess to drain spontaneously, reducing pain and discomfort.
   • Rinse the tub or water container before and after soaking.
   • Consider sprinkling baking soda, raw oatmeal, colloidal oatmeal, or Epsom salt in the water. These substances can soothe the skin and help drain boils naturally.

4. 

   
   
   Clean the abscess and surrounding skin. Wash your abscess with mild antibacterial soap and warm water. Be sure to wash the skin around the abscess. Use a clean, soft cloth to pat dry.
   • Wash the abscess with an antiseptic if you prefer something stronger than soap.
   • Daily showers or baths also help wash abscesses. Good personal hygiene can heal abscesses and reduce the risk of a more serious infection.

5. 

   Cover the abscess with a sterile bandage. Once the abscess is clean, gently cover the wound with a sterile gauze pad or bandage. To prevent infection, change the bandage if the fluid inside the abscess gets through the dressing, or if it becomes wet or dirty.
   • You can also use a cotton swab to apply honey to the abscess area before dressing to prevent infection. Be sure not to dab used cotton swabs on honey.

6. 

   Take a pain reliever. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Follow the dosage instructions on the medicine label to relieve pain and discomfort. Pain relievers like ibuprofen can also help reduce swelling.

7. 

   Wash all items that have been in contact with the abscess. Put the washing machine in the hottest water setting. Put all clothing, including the towel you used to apply the abscess, into the washing machine. Run the washer and dryer at a high temperature. This will help remove any leftover bacteria, which can cause inflammation or worse infection.

8. 

   Wear loose and soft clothing. Tight clothing can irritate the skin and make the boil worse. Wear lightweight, loose, and smooth clothing to let the skin breathe and heal faster.
   • Soft fabrics like cotton or Merino wool can help prevent skin from itching and prevent excessive sweating that irritates the abscesses.
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Method 2 of 2: Seek medical attention

1. 

   Watch for signs of worsening infection. Continue care if the abscess is healing and there are no signs of a more serious infection. Watch for the following signs that an abscess and infection is worsening, so seek immediate medical treatment:
   • Redder and more painful skin.
   • Red streaks radiating from the abscess and surrounding areas toward the heart.
   • The abscesses and the surrounding skin are very warm or hot to the touch.
   • A lot of pus or fluid from the abscess comes out.
   • Fever over 38.6 degrees Celsius.
   • Chills, nausea, vomiting, headache, or muscle aches.

2. 

   Make an appointment with your doctor. Some abscesses may require medical attention, for example abscesses in people over 65 years of age. Tell your doctor how you treated your abscess and any other information to help your doctor treat your abscess. See your doctor if:
   • Abscess in the spine or in the middle of the face, near the eyes or nose.
   • Abscess does not drain.
   • An abscess grows larger or very large or very painful.
   • You have diabetes or other chronic illnesses like kidney or liver disease.

3. 

   Drain abscesses. Have your doctor extract and drain the abscess with a scalpel or fine needle if necessary. Procedures that open and drain an abscess can remove pus or infected fluid and relieve pressure. Keep the gauze bandage clean and dry after the procedure.
   • Do not attempt to self-drain abscesses at home to prevent the infection from spreading.
   • Ask your doctor about local anesthetics if your pain is severe.
   • Your doctor may dress the abscess that has been drained with an antibacterial bandage to absorb any remaining pus and prevent further infection.
   • Your doctor may also take a drainage sample to test for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

4. 

   Get treatment with topical or oral antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic if the abscess is particularly severe. Follow the dosage recommended by your doctor and be sure to take a full course of antibiotics. Taking and completing an antibiotic course can help reverse the infection and reduce the risk of developing another abscess or re-infection.
   • If you have a healthy immune system and an abscess is small or near the surface of your skin, then antibiotics are most likely not needed.
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Advice

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

Warning

• Never make an incision or open an abscess. This procedure needs to be performed by a doctor or medical professional.