A 24-year-old member asked:
what's the best way to remove a boil?
3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Kenneth Cheng answered
Family Medicine 31 years experience
See your doctor: A boil is serious skin infection that should not be treated by home remedies. Especially with the increased incidence of MRSA infections, you should see your doctor for a definitive diagnosis and treatment. Squeezinig or attempting to "pop" these infections frequently leads to spreading of the infection under the skin.
6166 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Morris Westfried answered
Dermatology 46 years experience
Compresses, antibiot: Hot compresses can safely open a boil so it naturally drains. However this can depending on location can take several days. Oral antibiotics combined with oral bromelain, which increases tissue penetration will resolve it faster. If very painful and large than surgical drainage will give immediate relief but will leave a small permanant mark.
6162 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ronald Shelton answered
Dermatology 37 years experience
Boils, infected skin: Boils are "pus under pressure". The best way to treat this is by sterilly draining the boil. The doctor uses an antiseptic and drains the boil by lancing the skin with either a needle or sterile blade. Then squeezes out the pus. Sometimes a drain is needed. Other times it is just kept open every day by squeezing out more pus and keeping an antibiotic ointment on the surface of the skin.
6158 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Jun 10, 2014
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