Underarm Boils
A Basic Guide for Treating Underarm Boils
Boils can be very painful and can oftentimes be difficult to get rid of, but underarm boils may just have to be the worst! Before we go into the care and treatment of a boil, it's important to understand what causes a boil. This will help you avoid possible outbreaks in the future. A boil is actually an infection that attacks a hair follicle. The most common cause is a bacteria called staphylococcus. This bacteria is always present on our skin, but sometimes it can make its way into a hair follicle. When this happens, the bacteria infect the area surrounding the hair follicle and cause a buildup of a puss-like fluid. This leads to swelling, redness, and soreness in the area surrounding the follicle. When the body sends in white blood cells to eradicate the infection, this causes a white "head" to appear on the top portion of the bump. Thus, a boil!
When a white head has indeed formed on the topmost portion of the boil, this is an indication that the boil is ready to drain or to release the puss contained within. Underarm boils are particularly stubborn and due to the area, they are also more likely to return in the future. Because the underarm has very tiny folds, bacteria, deodorant, and skin cells can become trapped within the skin surrounding hair follicles. Shaving is also a contributing factor, as cuts and close-shaves can also allow bacteria into this region.
An age-old remedy for boil relief is to use a suction to vacuum away any remaining puss and draw blood back to the area. You only want to do this once a boil has popped naturally. A boil is not a pimple and should not be popped by yourself. A warm jar is one way to create a suction. Bring a pot of water to a boil and place the jar in for a minute or two until it heats up. Use tongs to remove the jar and allow it to cool a bit. You don't want it to be so hot that it burns your skin, but you also don't want to allow the jar to cool too much or it won't create a strong enough suction. Place the jar's opening over the boil and seal it against the skin by pressing on it. The natural vacuum should cause the boil to release the puss and bring circulation back to the area. Apply an antiseptic cream immediately afterward and keep the area clean until it heals.
Heat is an excellent way to speed up the life expectancy of a boil. You can either create a warm compress or opt for a hot water bottle. For the first, simply boil some water and place a clean facecloth in the water. Once the cloth has become saturated, remove it with tongs and allow it to dry out. Wring the cloth until most of the water is gone. Ensure that the rag is still quite warm, but not so warm that it hurts your skin. Apply the makeshift compress against the boil until it cools. You may simply want to tuck it under your arm for a more comfortable position. If you use a hot water bottle, simply bring a pot of water to a boil and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Pour the water into the hot water bottle, then wrap the bottle in a towel. Place this against the boil until it cools. The heat should encourage the puss to rise to the surface of the skin and eventually pop on its own.
Any time a boil has popped, underarm boils or otherwise, it's important to ensure that all of the pus has been drained from the area, otherwise the bacteria could spread to other areas of the skin and body. Applying an antiseptic cream and placing an absorbent gauze over the area will ensure that no more bacteria are able to enter the area, and also to keep bacteria from transferring to other areas.