Squeezing Boils
Squeezing Boils – Is it a Good Idea?
Boils can be a real problem and sometimes when one does not disappear for a while, you may start thinking about squeezing boils as a way of tackling it. If you have tried some of the over the counter lotions and are feeling frustrated, the idea starts to grow in your head. You will hear from friends and acquaintances that they have done it or that someone they know has done it and that it is not a big deal. Well, it is a big deal and not to be jumped into lightly. In attempting to squeeze the boil you can easily contribute to a worsening of the situation. The area can become infected and may take even longer to heal.
Squeezing boils is not the best way to deal with the problem. Boils can be caused by cuts, infected hair follicles and sometimes even by a staph infection. Trying to force such an infected area of the skin is a sure fire way of leaving yourself open to further problems.
Dangers of bacterial exposure such as staph, is one of the main reasons for making sure that all skin wounds or cuts are kept clean and properly covered. Otherwise these minor cuts become the potential foundations for big boils. If a boil is itchy or if there is accompanying fever, it is an imperative to get a medical opinion. People with other health issues such as diabetes will find that it takes them longer to get rid of a boil than other folks.
If squeezing is a bad idea, what are some other ways of managing a boil? It is best to let the boil progress enough to open on its own. You can help the process along by using a warm compact on the boil 3-4 times a day for about 15-20 minutes. Dip a clean towel in hot water and then squeeze all the water out of the towel. Now you have a warm compress that you can place on the boil. Such an application is found to help the boil drain sooner. Once the boil opens up, clean it with an antibacterial soap and keep the area cleaned to avoid any secondary infection.
In cases where a boil continues to grow, you may need to get medical help to deal with it. While technically lancing a boil is a sort of surgery, it is a minor procedure. By having the doctor make an incision and drain the boil you are assured of getting the procedure done in a sterile and safe manner. There are some people who try this process at home. While it is not recommended, if it is to be done at all it is important to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. Make sure you use a sterilized lance and clean the open boil with an antibacterial solution. A botched lancing can lead to more pain than the original situation.
Staph or some other bacterial infection can be the root-cause of many a boil. A culture test will help isolate the cause of the boil and can help with an effective long-term treatment. Antibiotics can be used for tackling staph or some other bacteria and this will help prevent frequent recurrences. In the case of staph, it is likely that the doctor will recommend that everyone at home should be tested because this tends to spread from one person to the other and can linger in a household for a long time if it is not tackled in all people at the same time.
Educating oneself about the causes and treatments of boils suggests that there are more safe and sanitary ways of dealing with a boil than squeezing it.