A boil is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or gland. The medical name for one boil is a furuncle. Several boils or furuncles appearing in a group are called carbuncles. The most common place for boils to appear is the face, shoulders, buttocks, neck, and underarm. Boils are generally red in color and tender to the touch.
Cause of Boils
The staphylococcal bacteria cause boils. Generally, the bacteria enter the body through cuts or openings in the skin and settles into the hair follicle. This bacteria are generally picked up through person-to-person contact. Locker rooms and gyms are common culprits.
Persons suffering from Diabetes and immune system problems are especially susceptible to picking up the staphylococcal bacteria. Poor hygiene and nutrition are also factors that can affect your risk of contracting these bacteria.
Symptoms
Boils begin as red, tender bumps on the skin. They are generally around a half-inch in size. Gradually, they will become larger, less solid, and painful. A pocket of pus will form on the top of the furuncle, which signifies infection.
Other serious signs of infection are:
- Multiple furuncles (carbuncles) form in the same area.
- Fever
- Swollen Lymph nodes
- Skin surrounding the area becomes red, swollen, and warm
If these symptoms occur, you may need emergency attention.
Natural Healing and Dietary Intervention for Boils
Lifestyle and diet play a large part in the development of boils. The first step in treating boils is changing your diet. Following a healthy diet filled with natural, organic foods and avoiding meat, dairy, and refined grains is key. Be sure to drink plenty of water and avoid junk foods at all costs.
Consider adding more raw foods to your diet. Raw fruit and vegetable juices are extremely healthy and a great way to add health and nutrition to your diet.
Detoxifying your body is necessary to elevate all of its functions. Try performing our Full Body Detox a few times per year to assist with this. When your body functions more efficiently, you will be able to fight sickness and disease much better.
If you currently are suffering from boils some helpful home remedies include:
- Apply a warm compress to the affected area. This will help soothe the pain and help draw the infection to the surface.
- Gently wash the area with antibacterial soap to keep the skin clean.
- Avoid friction and excessive contact with the boil.
Do not under any circumstance attempt to pop or drain the boil yourself. The boil will drain itself naturally with repeated use of a warm compress. The key to healing and preventing future boils is changing your diet and changing your thoughts on healthy living. Additional articles on healthy eating and living can be found on DHerbs website.
No matter if you currently are suffering from boils or you just want to prevent the condition, you can heal. Follow the guidance and information above, live your life in a healthy way and you will heal. In healing naturally, patience most definitely is a virtue.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
