HOW TO TREAT SKIN BOILS AND CARBUNCLES

Pimples, boils and carbuncles are all staphylococcus infections, but they differ one from the other in depth. Pimples are in the superficial layers of the skin. Boils are in the deep layers of the skin and carbuncles are under the skin. The organisms reach the deeper layers of the skin by following down a hair follicle. As the infection develops the skin reacts by building a protective wall around the point of inflammation. This is called pyogenic membrane, and prevents the spread of the infection to adjacent areas of skin.
Early in the process the infection may be aborted by antibiotics. Later the infection may develop to the place where the tissue within the membrane is so badly injured that it breaks down to form pus. To open a boil before this takes place does more harm than good. The best treatment is to apply hot fomentations untill the boil comes to a "head". If there is a white pustule at the top, clean the area around it with soap and water and puncture it with flamed needle. Do not worry about how much it drains. Avoid squeezing it. If there is only scant drainage, continue the hot compress or put on a sulpha dressing.
Carbuncles, being so deep, they are in loose, fatty tissue that is not able to wall of the infection well and thus the condition may become very serious. Early in the infection heavy does antibiotics are indicated and sometimes x-ray therapy is used. When the carbuncle is ready to be opened the doctor will make an incision in the form of a cross and lay back the flags of the skin so that thorough drainage is affected

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