Boils are caused by an infected hair follicle, and if you have experienced one, then you know how painful and uncomfortable boils can be. If you are experiencing a boil, there are a number of things that you can do to treat your boil at home. These treatment options may help the boil disappear sooner, and at the very least will help ease the pain that often accompanies a boil. If you are suffering from boils, try one of the following at-home treatment options.
Hot Compress
The moment you notice a boil start to form, it's time to start applying heat to the area. When you apply heat to the boil, you improve the circulation of the area that is infected. The increase in circulation helps your body better fight off the infection. You should use a hot washcloth or a hot compress and apply it your boil 3 or 4 times a day for 20 minutes at a time.
Onion Wrap
Onion is thought to have both antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which make it a great choice for treating your boil at home. In order to treat your boil with an onion, you need to cut off a thick slice of onion and apply it to the boil. You then need to wrap a cloth around the area to hold the onion in place. Keep the onion covering the boil for 3-4 hours. You should notice that your boil starts to weep, meaning expel small amounts of pus, after the onion has been applied. Do this daily until the boil has fully emptied itself.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is another natural product that has antibacterial properties and has been used in the treatment of skin ailments for years. The application of tea tree oil will help your boil heal more quickly, as well as lessen some of the pain associated with the boil. In order to treat your boil with tea tree oil, you simply need to dip a cotton swab in tea tree oil and then apply it directly to the boil. Do this 2-3 times daily for as long as your boil remains.
Garlic Compress
Using garlic, you can help your body speed up the time it takes to heal your boil, as well as reduce swelling and inflammation in the process. In order to make your garlic compress, you need two cloves of garlic. You should peel the garlic and then, using a garlic press, press it until it is crushed. Place the crushed garlic on a bandage, ensuring that you get plenty of garlic juice on the bandage, as well.
Place the bandage with the crushed garlic directly on top of your boil. Affix it in place and leave it to sit for 5 hours. After this time you should remove the garlic compress and replace it with a new one.
If you don't want to go through the trouble of making a garlic compress, you can also ingest 1-2 cloves of raw garlic directly. You can either swallow the garlic whole or add it to food. Ingesting raw garlic will boost your body's immune system. This immune system boost will help your body better fight of the infection that is causing the boil.
Boils are obnoxious, but if you treat them properly, they should disappear slowly on their own. However, if you have tried at-home treatment options and your boil isn't shrinking, or its getting worse, you need to contact a dermatologist. A dermatologist may need to lance and drain the boil for you, as well as give you antibiotics so that the infection doesn't spread.
Share11 November 2015
I was always very healthy throughout my childhood, but when I became a teenager, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Thankfully, I had the support of my loving family to help keep me upbeat during a time that could have led to me experiencing the depression that some do after they first learn they will have an illness for life. I am very grateful for the advice I have gotten throughout my life, so I decided to create a blog where I can share all of the advice that has helped me live a happy, healthy life, despite having a chronic illness. Since I am on a medication that suppresses my immune system, I have also studied up on many other illnesses and tips for avoiding them and treating them. I plan to post health tips for people of a variety of ages and suffering with various illnesses!