How to Treat a Facial Boil

Yuck. That nasty red thing looks like it's a mile wide. It's a boil, an infection of a hair follicle caused by a scratch that becomes infected with staphylococcus aureus, or staph, a bacteria that's found everywhere, even on your face. Most facial boils can be treated easily but some require medical treatment and antibiotics. It's best to know which is which.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Clean wash cloths
• Hot (tap) water
• Antibacterial soap

1. If the facial boil you want to treat is on the area around the nose or mouth of a child, it's best to consult your child's pediatrician. These infections can lead to blood poisoning and affect the brain. Your doctor can check to make sure it's just a boil and treat it quickly. It's also wise for adults to check with a doctor about a troublesome boil near the nose or one that doesn't disappear after a couple of weeks.
2. If the boil doesn't fall into one of the categories above, try hot compresses. Soak a clean wash cloth on hot tap water and apply to the boil for about 30 seconds several times. Do this as many times a day as you can, up to 10. If the boil begins to ooze, keep applying warm cloths. Wash the area frequently with antibacterial soap.
3. Boils are often called carbuncles and sometimes are associated with acne. Keep skin clean and minimize the use of makeup or any oil-based preparation on the skin as oil seals in the infection. Washing face and hands with antibacterial soap helps. Several natural preparations using tea tree oil and other products are available for those with oily skin.
4. Never squeeze a boil as this may spread the infection. If you can't be patient and use the warm compress method, it's probably wiser to see your doctor or nurse practitioner to have the boil properly lanced and cleaned.

Tips & Warnings

• Carbuncles are groups of boils, usually developing on the back or arms. They are often the result of tight or dirty clothing.
• Diabetics who develop boils should let their doctor know immediately.