Boils
Boils are painful bumps that are filled with pus. Boils form under the skin
when bacteria infect a hair follicle. A follicle is where a hair forms. Boils may
occur anywhere on the body, but are most often found on the face, neck,
armpits, buttocks and thighs. A boil often lasts about 14 days.
Signs of Boils
A bump or open sore that:
• Grows quickly, often within 24 hours
• Is red, yellow or white at the tip
• Has drainage or pus as the boil breaks open
• Swells
• Is warm
• Is tender or painful
Your Care
• Keep your skin clean.
• Do not pick or squeeze the boil. Bacteria can spread to nearby skin and
cause new boils.
• Apply a clean, warm, wet washcloth to the area several times a day to aid
healing and reduce swelling.
Call your doctor if you have:
• Signs that worsen
• A very painful boil
• A boil that has not healed in 14 days
• A large boil
• A fever
• More boils
• Red lines coming out from a boil. This may be a sign that the infection has
entered your blood stream.
Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have any questions or concerns.
8/2007. Developed through a partnership of Mount Carmel Health, Ohio State University Medical Center,
and OhioHealth, Columbus, Ohio. Available for use as a public service without copyright restrictions at
www.healthinfotranslations.org.