Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Boils

A boil is an inflamed, pus-filled swelling usually caused by an infected hair follicle (a follicle is the root of a hair). Any hair follicle can become infected, so this includes eyelashes too (a boil in an eyelash follicle is called a stye).
 
The most common cause of infection are germs called staphylococci. These germs already exist on the skin and in the nose of some people without causing any problems.

Often, several or many boils may develop together.  This is known as folliculitis.

Boils often occur in places where clothing catches on the skin or where the body rubs against itself.  For example:

• On the neck
• Under the armpits
• In the groin
• Between the buttocks

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Prevention
• Complications
• Treatment

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