You might occasionally disclose a red, swollen bump under the skin, which is painful. The bump is commonly larger than the size of pimples, and is painful. You might be experiencing a skin disorder called a boil. In most cases, the main cause of boils is an infected hair follicles. Bacteria—commonly the Staph—has a significant role in causing the infection. Under the skin, these bacteria form a sack of pus we refer as an abscess. This sack may grow larger, causing the boil to be more noticeable. Any parts of the body wherein hair grows can be susceptible to boils. Hence, you may notice the pus-filled bump on the face, neck, armpits, buttock, scalp, and breasts.

How long a boil lasts

Boils are often painful. The skin covering and around the bump is tender, making it susceptible to skin breakage that may lead to further skin infection. Boils often occur in body regions that are humid and may last for some days to weeks to fully heal, depending on how severe the infection is. This period depends on couples of risk factors, such as:

• The main trigger causing boils.
• The treatments used or medications taken for promoting healing.
• The location of affected skin.
• The severity of boils.
• The presence of infection.

In most cases, boils need to drain before it starts healing. From its initial occurrence on your body skin, boils may take 3 to 4 days to burst, followed by drained contained pus. Only when it is completely drained that a boil and the skin around it starts to eventually heal. However, sometimes people are unable to completely drain boil’s pus and head, making it re-infected. Boils that undergo worsened infection usually have larger inflammation and may bleed. This will automatically prolong the healing process. You will need to wait for the boil to re-burst. Asking for a doctor’s help for draining an infected boil is advised, as improper technique may worsen the infection and may take the healing process to months.

Once a boil is completely drained, it becomes an open wound that is susceptible to debris and bacteria, and can possibly be infected. In order to promote faster healing with an opened boil wound, cover it with a sterilized, moist bandage. This will promote faster regeneration, so that the wound is going to be fully enclosed within weeks.

What makes a boil heal slower?

Some things can be an inhibiting factor in healing a boil. These factors can be either internally and externally. Knowing what makes a boil heal slower is essential in that you will be able to avoid them and thus, give the boil proper treatments for a better healing procedure. Among things and procedures you should not do when promoting healing to a boil include:

• Touching the affected skin region or worse, touching, rubbing, and picking directly at the boil. This will transfer bacteria from the hand that may aggravate the bumps, increasing the risk of infection.
• Squeeze the boil to drain the pus forcefully. This will put the boil into a risk of infection. Squeezing a boil may increase its inflammation and pain. To make the boil drain faster, never squeeze it with hands. Otherwise, put a clean towel soaked in lukewarm water onto the affected region. This will reduce swelling and at the same time, help tenderize the skin covering the boil that it may burst and drain faster. This treatment might need to be done for 5 to 7 days consecutively before the boil finally opens and drains.
• Fail to keep the affected region clean. Pus drainage from an opened boil may be contagious. Hence, it is important to keep the area around the boil clean. If it drains, let it drain completely. Afterwards, clean the boil and the surrounding area with a clean towel and put on a breathable gauze on it.
• Keep a drained boil opened to the air. Once drained, a boil turns into an open wound that needs to be covered, as it is prone to bacterial infection and debris. Never let a boil opened after drained. Put on a clean, breathable bandage and change the bandage every time it leaks. A an opened boil wound, which is taken care properly should be enclosed within days and is going to completely heal within weeks. Remember not to pick any form scabs as it may tear the wound and cause re-bleeding that is going to delay healing.