Boils
Overview
A boil is a hard and painful lump that fills with pus. Most boils go away on their own. See a GP if you keep getting them.
Causes
You may be more likely to get boils if you have a long-term condition that affects your immune system, such as diabetes or HIV. You may also be more likely to get boils if: you're a manyou've been in close contact with someone with boilsyou have certain skin conditions, such as eczemayou take certain medicines, such as steroidsyou’re living with obesity or malnutrition Carbuncles are less common and mostly affect middle-aged men.
Treatment
A GP can check if you need treatment. You may need: a small procedure to drain the boil to get rid of the pusantibiotics