Boils, scientifically known as "furuncles," the condition as "furunculosis," occur in individuals of all ages and are infections of the hair follicles and their attached fat glands. The organisms responsible for boils are normally present on the skin of all persons, but for some reason they find the skin of one individual a better place to grow in than that of another. Among the predisposing factors are diabetes, changing of the skin and other forms of external irritation, as well as the factors enumerated under acne.
Boils occur as large, hard, painful, tender pimples, and upon palpation it can be ascertained that the involved area is much larger than it appears to be, the tissue around the boil in an area an inch or more in diameter usually being hard. In an individual with furunculosis there are usually only two or three lesions present at a time. Since the individual spreads the infection on himself, there is not uncommonly a history of the presence of fifteen or twenty boils before a physician is consulted. About a week after a boil makes its appearance, it becomes soft and exudes pus, and in the course of the next week a "core" comes from it. From this time on healing is rapid.
Boils differ from carbuncles only in that in the case of the former a single hair follicle is involved and the lesion therefore has but a single opening, whereas in the case of the latter a number of hair follicles are involved and the lesion therefore has several openings. It is evident, therefore, that the carbuncle is the more formidable lesion and therefore is responsible for much more pain and tenderness and requires a longer period of time to heal. The most dangerous boils and carbuncles are those situated about the nose and upper lip.
Until further necessary instructions and treatment are received from a physician, it is well for an individual with boils to apply to the lesions a hot wet dressing of boric acid or epsom salts, a teaspoonful of either to a pint of hot water, the dressings to be applied for ten or fifteen minutes two or three times a day. The general measures outlined under the discussion of acne are of importance in the treatment of boils and carbuncles. Vaccines, internal medication, ointments, and other measures may also be indicated. Needless to say, if the patient has diabetes, this disease should receive proper attention.
by Clark W. Finnerud
Common Skin Diseases of Children
The Anatomical Structure of the Skin
