boils

[alan07]

every blue moon i keep getting boils on my face, which can be quite annoying and embarrasing. is there anything i can do to make them heal up/ go away quicker?

[Eve]

Have you seen a doctor about any possible underlying cause? For example diabetes can make people more prone to this kind of thing. If you have any other underlying condition such as cancer, diabetes or arthritis any boil should be seen by a doctor.

I've suffered with them/abcesses on and off for years and have always had the symptoms treated but not the cause which is being investigated now.

Mine aren't on the face and I'm awaiting test results at the moment, they think it might be Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in my case which looking at your username probably wouldn't help you.

I've usually found that the medication precribed, usually antibiotics tends to shift them quite quickly but make it clear they seem to be recurring and see if they can find any cause. Ingrowing hairs and blocked sweatglands can cause them. Antibacterial soaps can help with this.

In the meantime a hot flannel/heat pad over the area can help encourage it to come to a head, it could need lancing by a doctor.

Do they tend to occur when you're ill or about to fall ill? I find mine tend to crop up before I come down with something bad.

[saxy_jag]

Just as a follow up to Jenna's answer, my uncle suffered similar a couple of years after he left the army (in his mid-twenties). His boils mostly appeared around his neck and into his hairline. It turned out to be diabetes, so I would recommend that visit to the doctor, Alan, if only to put your mind at rest.

Meantime, yes, keep your skin as clean as possible, and use antibacterial/non-scented soaps/cleansers where possible to guard against infection.

I used to know a girl who got a boil on a rather tender part of her anatomy (I'll spare you the blushes). It became infected and she was in so much pain that her bloke had to take her to the hospital, and she collapsed in the taxi on the way. She ended up with a large wound that had to be packed every day for a fortnight, by a visiting nurse.

So get the problem sorted, eh? You know it makes sense.

[zimzam]

Well as you are a guy how do you shave? wet or dry? From the female point of view we can get crops of boils under our armpits if we use a razor and some famale shaving foam. If you wet shave then try the dry shave method maybe? As to healing them then a boil is better lanced at the local doctors surgery to get rid of them and heal them quicker which will come with a dose of antibiotics. I think you wet shave so I suggest you change your method.

[alan07]

people have always said i should get checked for diabetes, with some of the other habits i have. thatnks for that, think i'll book an appointment and get myself checked out.