How to Overcome Boils You Need to Know

Boils or furuncles are one of the most common skin infections. There are various ways to deal with boils, ranging from treatment that you can do yourself at home to treatment or medical action from a doctor.

Boils are red, painful, pus-filled bumps on the skin that usually appear on the face, neck, shoulders, armpits, and buttocks. Boils are generally caused by a bacterial infection Staphylococcus aureus which then triggers inflammation of the hair follicles.

How to Overcome Boils with Natural Ingredients

Boils that are one in number, small in size, and not accompanied by other diseases can generally be treated in simple ways such as the following:

1. Compress with warm water

Warm compresses can improve blood circulation, so it can bring more white blood cells to the compressed area to fight infection.

In addition, compressing the boil with warm water can reduce pain and help the pus rise to the surface of the boil. That way, boils can heal faster.

To do this, you can compress the boil with warm water for 20 minutes 3-4 times a day. Do this every day until the boil is gone.

2. Smear with tea tree oil

The next simple way to deal with boils is to use tea tree oil. This oil has antibacterial and antiseptic properties that can fight bacterial infections that cause boils.

However, you are not recommended to apply tea tree oil directly to the skin because it can cause a hot and burning effect on the skin.

So, to use tea tree oil as an ulcer medicine, you can mix 5 drops tea tree oil with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or olive oil. Then, use a cotton swab to apply tea tree oil on boils. Do this 2-3 times a day until the boil is completely healed.

3. Using turmeric

You can also use ground turmeric to powder it to treat boils. This is because turmeric has strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Using turmeric powder to treat boils can be done in 2 ways, namely drinking or applying directly to boils.

To consume it, you can mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric into mineral water or milk, then drink this concoction 3 times a day.

Meanwhile, if you want to apply it to the skin, you can mix turmeric with water until it becomes a paste. Then, apply the mixture on the boil 2 times a day.

4. Compress with Epsom salt

Using Epsom salt can also speed up the healing of boils, because this salt can help drain the pus in the boil, so the boil can deflate faster.

To use Epsom salt as an ulcer remedy, you can dissolve Epsom salt in warm water. Then, compress the boil with the solution for 20 minutes, 3 times a day.

5. Apply castor oil

Applying castor oil can be used as a way to treat boils, because this oil contains an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial compound called ricinoleic acid.

You can directly apply castor oil on boils 3 times a day. Do this until the boil is completely healed.

How to Overcome Boils with Medical Treatment

If you have tried the above remedies for boils, but the boils do not heal after 5-7 days or are getting bigger, you need to consult a doctor.

Various methods of treatment that may be done by doctors to treat boils are:

Minor surgery

To treat a large boil, the doctor may perform surgery or minor surgery on the boil to remove the pus that is in it (drainage).

Antibiotic drug

As previously mentioned, boils are generally caused by a bacterial infection Staphylococcus aureus. To fight this infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, either to be taken by mouth or applied to boils.

Examples of antibiotic drugs that may be prescribed by a doctor include: amikacin, amoxicillin, cefotaxime, cefazolin, ceftriaxone, and cephalexin.

In addition, the doctor will ask you to clean the area where there is a boil 2-3 times a day, until the wound from the boil is completely healed.

You also need to keep an eye on the wound. If the scar from a boil turns red or looks like it's infected again, call your doctor again.

If you still have questions regarding how to deal with boils that are effective and according to your condition, don't hesitate to consult with your doctor.