Boil

Boils are nodules on the skin that are filled with pus and infected with the bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus. Boils commonly appear on the scalp, buttocks, face and underarms. When boils are drained they can contaminate nearby skin and enter the bloodstream and spread through the body. Untreated, a boil will usually heal within a month, but with treatment, symptoms are usually less severe.

Contributing factors: suppressed immune function (including immunosuppressive drugs), poor nutrition, diabetes mellitus and poor hygiene.

Symptoms: pain, localised swelling and itching.

Who to consult: Dermatologist, GP, herbalist, naturopath, pharmacist.

Tags: boils, nodule, skin, pus, infection, blood, heal, immune, pain, swelling, itch