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A boil is a hard and painful lump that fills with pus. Most boils go away on their own. See a GP if you keep getting them.
A boil often starts as an itchy or tender spot.
Boils can sometimes leak pus.
Boils can appear anywhere on your body.
There are things you can do to treat boils yourself and stop them coming back.
soak a clean cloth in warm water and hold it against the boil for 10 minutes 4 times a day
clean the area around the boil with antibacterial soap if pus comes out
cover the area with a dressing or gauze until it heals
bathe or shower every day and wash your hands regularly
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain
wash your towels and bedding at least once a week at high temperature
try to lose weight if you are very overweight and have boils between folds of your skin
do not pick, squeeze or pierce a boil
do not share your towel with other people until the boil has gone
do not go to a swimming pool or gym until the boil has gone – you could pass the infection on to others
You can call 111 or get help from NHS 111 online.
A GP can check if you need treatment.
You may need:
You may be more likely to get boils if you have a long-term condition that affects your immune system, such as diabetes or HIV.
You may also be more likely to get boils if:
Carbuncles are less common and mostly affect middle-aged men.
