Many people will experience the pain and discomfort of boils at some point in their lives. Boils are a tender, inflamed swelling, filled with pus, that begins deep within the skin.
Boils are usually caused by a hair follicle becoming infected, usually by Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria.
Starting as a tender area of skin with a reddish appearance, the boil will grow rapidly, become firmer, and develop a yellowish-white head. This is known as a pustule and is caused by a buildup of white blood cells sent by your immune system, along with bacteria and dead skin tissue. The resulting substance is commonly known as pus.
There are different types of boils, they develop on different parts of the body and have different formations.
- boils – caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus infecting a hair follicle. They can appear all over the body, but are most common on the neck, face, armpits, buttocks, and thighs.
- carbuncles – these are a group or group of boils. Carbuncles are most commonly found on the back of the neck, shoulders, hips, and thighs. They tend to last longer than boils, since they are the result of a deeper and more serious infection.
- supparative hiradentitis – caused by swollen sweat glands becoming infected, they most commonly occur under the arms and around the groin area, and can be extremely painful. In the most extreme cases, the affected sweat glands can be surgically removed.
- Pilondial cysts – These boils form between the buttocks and are also known as rectal boils. They tend to recur, are very painful (especially when walking or sitting), and can often drain spontaneously. They often form after sitting for long periods of time, such as a long drive.
- cystic acne – caused by excessive oil production in the skin, which in turn traps bacteria and dirt, blocking hair follicles. Cystic acne is more common on the face, differing from common acne in that the infection is much deeper into the skin.