Skip to content

How should I treat a boil at home?

Warm compresses several times daily encourage a small boil to point and drain on its own; most do within a week. Wash hands after touching it and never squeeze, squeezing pushes infection deeper.

Once draining, keep it covered and clean.

See a doctor for boils on the face, spine or groin, any larger than a couple of centimeters, fever, spreading redness, diabetes, or boils that keep recurring, recurrent ones sometimes carry a treatable bacterial carriage state. Some need a simple incision, which beats weeks of waiting.

Source: NHS, boils

Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review

The one skin product doctors push

Broad-spectrum SPF 50, worn daily, does more against skin aging and skin cancer risk than any cream sold above it. The best sunscreen is the one you will actually wear every morning.

Buying through this link supports the free library with a small commission. It never changes a pick.

A spot, rash or mole of your own?

Upload up to three photos. A dermatologist replies in writing within 24 hours.

People also ask

Health education, not medical advice.