How to Ease the Pain of Boils

You can ease the pain of boils with a warm towel.

A boil is a skin infection caused by bacteria. It usually starts as a hard red bump similar to a pimple, then gradually becomes larger and develops a pocket of pus within a few days. The skin around it tends to become red, swollen and painful. Although boils are considered a minor skin problem, they should be treated as soon as possible. Typically, maintaining good hygiene and using over-the-counter antibacterial ointments are effective means to treat a boil. If the pain and infection become severe, however, prescribed antibiotics might be necessary. A boil can take up to two weeks to heal, but in the meantime you can take steps to ease the pain.

Things You'll Need

• Wash cloth or hand towel
• Warm water
• Cotton swab
• Tea tree oil
• Benzocaine topical ointment

Instructions

Using a Warm Towel

1. Soak a clean wash cloth or hand towel in warm water. Squeeze out the excess water.

2. Gently press the warm damp cloth on the boil for about 20 minutes, two to three times a day. This process not only relieves the pain but also helps drain the pus.

3. Wash your hands and the skin around the boil with antibacterial soap.

Using Tea Tree Oil

1. Put 1 or 2 drops of tea tree oil on a cotton swab.

2. Gently apply the oil to the boil.

3. Dispose the swab and clean your hands with antibacterial soap to prevent the bacteria from spreading to other parts of your skin.

4. Do this two to three times a day to quicken the healing process and ease the pain.

Using Benzocaine Topical Ointment

1. Apply a very thin layer of benzocaine topical ointment on the boil. This over-the-counter medication can help reduce pain by temporarily numbing the skin.

2. Do not use a large amount of it or cover the boil with bandage. Doing so might make your skin absorb too much of this medication and lead to undesirable side-effects.

3. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap.

4. Reapply the ointment up to four times a day.

Tips & Warnings

• Personally, I did not use a gauge bandage and this method worked just fine.

• I applied the cream at bedtime.

• Now, I have no more Doctor bills for these painful boils.

• If you decide to use benzocaine topical, follow the instructions on the label strictly. This medication may cause serious side-effects, such as irregular heartbeats, dizziness and severe burning sensations, if not properly used.

• Don't use benzocaine you have had methemoglobinemia in the past. Consult your doctor before using benzocaine topical if you have been taking medications for asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and heart disease.

• Don't try to pop the boil with a needle, as it tends to cause the infection to get worse or rapidly spread to other parts of the skin.

• If the pain becomes severe or you develop high fever, visit your doctor right away.

References

• Home Remedies Web: Boils and Carbuncles Home Remedies
• Drugs.com: Benzocaine Topical Medical facts
• WebMD: Boils