Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Boils
Boils can occur anywhere on your skin, but appear mainly on your face, neck, armpits, buttocks or thighs — hair-bearing areas where you're most likely to sweat or experience friction. Signs and symptoms of a boil usually include:
- A painful, red bump that starts out about the size of a pea
- Red, swollen skin around the bump
- An increase in the size of the bump over a few days as it fills with pus (can sometimes reach the size of a golf ball)
- Development of a yellow-white tip that eventually ruptures and allows the pus to drain out.
Once the boil drains, the pain usually subsides. Small boils usually heal without scarring, but a large boil may leave a scar.
Carbuncles
A carbuncle is a cluster of boils that often occurs on the back of the neck, shoulders or thighs. Carbuncles:
- Cause a deeper and more severe infection than single boils do
- Develop and heal more slowly than single boils do
- Are likely to leave a scar
Signs and symptoms that may accompany carbuncles include:
- Feeling unwell in general
- Fever
- Chills
When to see a doctor
You usually can care for a single, small boil yourself. But see your doctor if you have:
- A boil on your face or spine
- A boil that worsens rapidly or is extremely painful
- Boils that are very large, haven't healed in two weeks or are accompanied by a fever
- Frequent boils
- A condition that suppresses your immune system, such as an organ transplant, corticosteroid use or an HIV infection
- Recently been hospitalized
Children and older adults who develop one or more boils also should receive medical care.
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