What is the expected duration of Boils and Carbuncles

Staph infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are known as boils and carbuncles. They appear like pockets in the skin that are filled with pus, a fluid that includes bacteria, dead skin cells and infection-fighting white blood cells.

The basic difference between a boil and a carbuncle depends on its location and size:

• A boil or a furuncle begins as a painful infection of a single hair follicle. Boils can grow to be larger than a golf ball, and they commonly occur on the buttocks, face, neck, armpits and groin.
• A carbuncle is a deeper skin infection that involves a group of infected hair follicles in one skin location. Carbuncles often are found on the back of the neck, shoulders, hips and thighs, and they are especially common in middle-aged or elderly men. People with diabetes are more likely to develop carbuncles.

Expected Duration of Boils and Carbuncle

A boil usually forms a white tip and drains within five to seven days. But very large boils and carbuncles can last longer and may not drain on their own. You might need to see the doctor who will initiate the draining through a cut in the boil. You may be prescribed to take antibiotics after this.

Home Remedies for Boils

Use Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is effective in relieving the discomfort of boils. Considering that tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and antibiotic, it heals the boil quickly. Pour six to seven drops of tea tree oil in a cup of distilled water, soak a clean cloth into it and smoothly press it directly on your boil. You can repeat it several times a day.

Use Onion
Use onion to heal the boil as it contains antiseptic chemicals. It acts as an antimicrobial element and draws blood to the boil. Cut a slice of onion and put it over the boil. Cover the area with a cloth and keep changing the slice of onion every four hours. Do it until the boil heads up from the skin and burst out on its own.

Use Garlic juice
Keep the area around the boil clean and directly apply one tablespoon of garlic juice on the boil. Garlic juice has antibacterial properties; keep it overnight and clean it with a cloth in the morning. The garlic juice will ripen the boil and let the pus come out of it. Make sure that the pus does not spread to other areas of your skin or it may cause more boils.

Use Milk Cream
Milk cream remedy is an effective treatment for boils. To cure boils, apply a mixture of a teaspoon of milk cream and half teaspoon of vinegar with a pinch of turmeric powder. This mixture is antibacterial because of the turmeric content. It helps in the healing of skin boils and does not cause any septic infection.

Use a Warm Compressor
It is important for the healing of the boil to increase the blood circulation in the affected area. You can do so by putting a hot water compressor on your boil. Your compressor should be a clean cloth soaked in hot water. Press it on the boil for 30 minutes; you can do it four to five times a day.

Also, keep in mind that cleanliness around the affected area further assists in the healing of the boils.