Stop The Boils
Boils are caused due to infection by bacteria that attack
through the tiny break in the skin and infect the blocked oil
gland or hair follicle. An abscess is caused when the white
blood cells sent to attack the invaders cause the pus. Though
boils are painful and ugly, they are rarely fatal. If you follow
the tips mentioned below, you can prevent or treat the boils
very quickly:
* Keep the skin wet and warm: Applying a warm compress is the
best way to treat the boil. But this compress should be kept wet
and very warm. It is not enough to just keep the cloth on the
boil. It must be kept on for about 10 to 15 minutes. You should
keep on wetting it every few minutes to ensure that the boil
stays wet and warm. Use this 15 minute compress four or five
times a day to drain the boil of the pus and speed up the
healing.
* Clean with antiseptic: If you experience boils frequently, you
can lessen the frequency of their occurrence by cleaning the
skin with antiseptic soap.
* Do not play with the cysts: When cysts are infected, they can
easily turn into the boils. Hence it is highly advisable to
leave the cysts alone and not mess around with them. If need be,
get them excised by the doctor.
* Go for showers: When the pus from the boil is draining, it is
important to keep the skin around it clean by taking showers
instead of baths. This eliminates the chances of infection from
spreading to other parts of the body. Wash your hands well after
treating the boil but before preparing the food. This is because
the bacteria in the boil called staph bacteria can cause food
poisoning.
* Opt for kitchen remedies: The old folk remedy of applying
warm, milk-soaked bread directly on the boil can work well with
some people.
* Try vegetables or tea: Compresses of heated slices of tomato
or raw onion or mashed garlic or the outer leaves of the cabbage
are some of the other recommended home remedies. You can cut
these vegetables and apply them directly on the boil to get the
benefits. Another useful kitchen compress is placing the warm
tea bag of black tea directly on the boil for 15 minutes several
times a day.