Getting Rid of a Boil

I have a very painful boil in my armpit. It has been about 4 days since I have had it. I bought some draw out salve and boil ease. Which should I use?

Mya from Rochester, NY

Answers:

Getting Rid of a Boil

You need to see a dermatologist or at least a general practitioner. Boils should not be treated at home. (11/16/2007)

By SusannL

Getting Rid of a Boil

I've always had success using heat. If you can, take a nice, leisurely soak in a tub of hot water. If you can't, put some hot water in a hot water bottle, put the bottle in your armpit, lie down and rest for about 10 minutes. Do this several times a day. Heat will take away the pain and make the boil shrink in a few days. Fill the bottle only halfway so it won't leak when you put it in your armpit. (11/16/2007)

By joan pecsek

Getting Rid of a Boil

Boil Ease used to be good, however they have changed it in the past few years. I would go with the hot bath idea or hot wet wash cloth several times a day. At night you could use Prid. (a drawing salve) and tape some gauze over it in case it does open. Once open make sure you keep it clean with peroxide (several times a day also). This is what the doctor has recommended for my husband. The first time he had the doctor draw it out. It was very painful. Good luck. (11/18/2007)

By Linda

Getting Rid of a Boil

I agree with Susan. You should not try to treat this yourself. You have glands in your armpit and your painful boil may well be a swollen gland which may be indicative of a serious infection. Go see your physician and let him/her take a look at it. (11/19/2007)

By Sheila Hendricks

Getting Rid of a Boil

Please go see a doctor. My step-sister is in the hospital, her organs are failing, brain has swelled, it is inoperable, so we are just waiting for her to pass. It all started with a cyst under her arm. The doctor 'let it go' which led to blood poisoning and now her dying. (11/19/2007)

By Cindy

Getting Rid of a Boil

I agree with seeing a Dr. first. I have had these before and they suggested antibiotics. They didn't seem to take them away for me, I finally tried a remedy I saw here. Take a bandage and put some tomato sauce (it has to be tomato sauce) on the bandage and apply to the boil. You might have to do this twice, but it goes away and feels better. However, you should see a Dr. first. (11/19/2007)

By Michele

Getting Rid of a Boil

After having these boils myself and several family members also having them, my daughter took one of her daughters to the ER for treatment. The ER doc informed her that it is MRSA, the Medicine Resistant Staph. Aureus. This disease can be fatal and should not be played around with. Get professional treatment. When treating MRSA, you must wash bedding, towels, washcloths, etc. in HOT water and IF you touch the boil, make certain you wash your hands with very hot soapy water! It is highly contagious.

God Bless,
Sheila in Titusville, FL (11/19/2007)

By Sheila Saey

Getting Rid of a Boil

Our family has had much success with egg. Crack the egg and use the thin skin lining to lay on the boil. It works like a drawing salve. This of course is not a replacement for the Dr. (11/20/2007)

By Tracy in AR

Getting Rid of a Boil

Don't pick at it or squeeze it. By squeezing it will drive the infection deeper into your skin and then you will have a huge problem to deal with. Apply a hot washcloth over it. The heat will cause it to come to a head and it will open up on it's own. Use peroxide to clean it out several times a day. Good luck to you. (11/20/2007)

By annalee helmick

Getting Rid of a Boil

Ok, I'm not necessarily saying not to go to the doctor, but there's a lot of times when the doctor doesn't do much except charge a fortune and accomplish nothing. So check out the site "earthclinic.com" and look at the section on boils. There is lots of practical information on there about natural cures. A boil or blemish is (as near as I can tell from my research and my own humble opinion) a body's way of fast tracking a particularly nasty toxin out of the body--the skin being an emergency exit.

Funny how so many blemishes are "right in your face!", almost like they're trying to tell you that the bottom line is that you're sick. Herbs such as turmeric and dandelion root can cleanse the toxins out of the body, it's worth checking out at least. Sometimes the simplest cure is right in front of you and the doctor's and drug companies don't make a dime off of it. (11/22/2007)

By Gina Johnston

Getting Rid of a Boil

I had a painful boil starting Wednesday of Thanksgiving week. I went to urgent care on Friday same week. They lanced it and took a culture. I had MRSA too. OTC products didn't help at all. After the doc drained it I felt immediate relief. (12/12/2007)

By Gmama

Getting Rid of a Boil

I would go with the towel idea. I'm 14 and it's very scary to me. I have a boil on my face around my cheek. Good luck. (05/22/2008)

By bri

Getting Rid of a Boil

I have a response to an earlier post about "medicine resistent staph aureus". I am a medical transcriptionist and MRSA is Methicillin resistent Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA is a very serious infection but can be treated. Your physician can do a culture and sensitivity of drainage from your boil and can prescribe the correct medication according to what it is resistant and sensitive to. I have had boils my entire life and they can be so painful! My doctor advised me to use a hot wet compress on mine and they always spontaneously drain and immediately feel better. I wonder if your dermatologist ran a culture on your boil? You should call his office, as many times when a physician goes on vacation, his office staff will be available to guide his patients on where to receive care, etc. while he is out of town. Best of luck to you! (07/08/2008)

By belinda