From the Guidelines
You should not attempt to pop a boil yourself, as this can lead to further infection and complications. Instead, the recommended treatment for a boil is to apply warm compresses to the affected area for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times daily, which helps bring the boil to a head and promotes natural drainage 1. Keep the area clean by washing gently with antibacterial soap and water, then cover with a sterile bandage to prevent spreading infection. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6-8 hours) or acetaminophen (500-1000mg every 6 hours) can help manage pain and inflammation. If the boil is large, extremely painful, doesn't improve within 2 weeks, recurs frequently, or is accompanied by fever or red streaks extending from the area, seek medical attention. A healthcare provider may need to incise and drain the boil and might prescribe antibiotics such as cephalexin (500mg four times daily for 7-10 days) or clindamycin (300mg four times daily for 7-10 days) if the infection is severe or spreading, as recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1. Some key points to consider when treating a boil include:
- Incision and drainage is the recommended treatment for inflamed epidermoid cysts, carbuncles, abscesses, and large furuncles 1
- The decision to administer antibiotics directed against S. aureus as an adjunct to incision and drainage should be made based on the presence or absence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) 1
- An antibiotic active against MRSA is recommended for patients with carbuncles or abscesses who have markedly impaired host defenses and in patients with SIRS 1
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Treatment for Boils
The recommended treatment for a boil, also known as a furuncle, typically involves incision and drainage 2, 3, 4, 5. This procedure can be performed in an ambulatory office or emergency department setting.
- Incision and drainage is usually sufficient for managing simple abscesses, including boils 2.
- The use of wound culture and antibiotics does not typically improve healing, but packing wounds larger than 5 cm may reduce recurrence and complications 2.
- For uncomplicated abscesses less than 5 cm in diameter, treatment can often be performed under local or regional anesthesia with or without additional procedural sedation within the emergency department 5.
Alternative Treatments
Alternative treatments, such as topical antibiotics or antiseptics, have not been shown to be effective in treating boils 6.
- A systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials found no significant difference in clinical cure rates between different oral antibiotics for treating bacterial folliculitis or boils 6.
- The review also found that there may be little to no difference in clinical cure rates between cefdinir and cefalexin, or between cefditoren pivoxil and cefaclor 6.
Considerations
It is essential to note that certain abscess localizations or conditions may require referral to a surgeon and/or operation of the abscess in the operating room 5.