Facial Boils
Those Pesky Facial Boils
Facial boils seem to spring out of nowhere, usually in accordance with Murphy's Law, at the precise time they're the last thing you'd want. While we call them facial boils, or just plain boils, they have a medical name, which is furunculosis. Most of the time when we get a facial boil it's the result of folliculitis, where a hair follicle becomes inflamed and infected. Usually when we experience folliculitis it tends to be a rather temporary condition, although it may need to be treated if it persists.
Facial Boil, A Staph Infection – If left untreated however, an inflamed or infected hair follicle may become even more so, turning into a full fledged boil. The bacterium responsible for facial boils or furunculosis is staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is always present, but when it gets out of control we usually say we've come down with staph infection, which usually manifests itself as a boil or abscess, in this case on the face.
Facial boils usually respond to home treatment, but one needs to be aware that when they are draining they are extremely contagious, and the boils can spread to other parts of the face or body. Other people who come into contact with the boil or a washcloth or anything else that has touched the boil can easily pick up the infection. If more than one boil is present or if the condition upon treatment does not seem to improve, medical care should be sought. It's especially important to see a doctor if a child has a facial boil near the mouth or nose, since if the infection were to spread due to opening and draining of the boil, it could lead to possible blood poisoning, and the brain could also be affected.
Salicylic acid is the tried and true medication for facial boils. Salicylic acid is an organic acid widely used as a plant hormone, but has also be found to be very effective when used as a topical treatment for skin conditions, especially acne, keratosis, and warts. Salicylic acid can be used both to treat facial boils and as a preventive measure, as it helps keep pores open, and keeps dead skin cells from accumulating in the pores. Salicylic acid is commonly found in many skin preparation creams and lotions and in shampoos as well.
Facial boils can be effectively treated by applying a hot or warm compress (hot tap water works well) against the boil for a few minutes, and periodically repeating the process until the infection rises to the surface. As the boil finally starts to drain, and hopefully just before, lightly covering it with gauze and a bandage will lessen the chance of the infection spreading. Squeezing the boil at this point, though tempting, is the worst thing one can do.
Epsom Salt Can Help - While a hot water compress will usually suffice, adding Epsom salts to the water or to the compress can make the curative process happen even faster. Whether one uses tap water only or a salt water solution, it can't always be predicted when the boil will come to a head, and pus and fluids will begin to leak out. It may take a couple of days of treatment, or it may take up to a week. Washing the face with an antibacterial cleanser during the time the boil is present can be helpful too.
Another reason to avoid squeezing the boil is that doing so can increase the chances of a permanent scar developing. Although this is not too likely, it's your face, and why take chances with it? Facial boils are not all that common, and normally not all that serious. Still, if you should get one, get to work on treating it immediately, whether it be at home or by visiting your doctor or dermatologist.