Boils are unsightly lumps on the skin that look very much like a large pimple. But they are different than this other common skin problem because although they are also caused by a hair follicle becoming infected and inflamed, it is due to the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. This type of bacteria lies dormant on the skin, and it normally doesn’t cause a problem. However, if the skin develops any lesions, it can quickly invade the area. This is problematic because if the infection isn’t treated properly, it can easily worsen or spread. That is why most people never have just one boil. Instead, they get a cluster of them called a “carbuncle.” Diabetics and people with poorly-functioning immune systems are more susceptible to carbuncles.
Unfortunately, once someone starts to get boils, it seems to become a problem that they have to deal with on a long-term basis. This is partly due to the overuse of antibiotics, which the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus has become resistant to. So many people prefer to use home remedies for treating them. To help make choosing the right home remedies easier, the following is a list of seven of the safest ones that have been known to work the best. However, it is important to mention that these are not meant to replace the care and diagnosis of boils by a licensed physician.
1. Apply Heat
When a boil becomes inflamed and swollen, it is usually because it is beginning to fill up with pus on the inside. Draining the pus will help relieve the pressure and reduce the size of the boil. But this isn’t possible until it starts to come to a head, which means that the pus rises up to the center of the infected follicle where it can start to drain out. This process takes a lot of time though. So to help speed things up a bit, it helps to apply heat directly to the boil.
One easy and gentle way to do this is to microwave a cup of water just until it is warm enough to dissolve a spoonful of table salt that is stirred into it. When it is ready, dip a warm washcloth into the water, and hold it directly onto the boil until the washcloth becomes cold. Then, wring it out, and put new warm salt water on it. Repeat this process until all the water in the cup is used up. For the best results, it helps to use this home remedy at least two or more times a day.
2. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil comes from the bark of an important tree in Australia. It has natural antibiotic, antiseptic, and anti-fungal properties that make it perfect for treating this type of skin infection. Luckily, it is also easy to find, and it doesn’t cost much to purchase. Most stores sell bottles of it for less than a few dollars in their medical supply sections. It isn’t edible though, so never try to drink it as an internal cure for any type of disease. Simply, apply it to a cotton ball or cotton swab. Then, clean the surface of the boil with it.
3. Turmeric Powder
Turmeric powder has quickly become a spice that everyone wants in their kitchen cabinets because it is full of natural health properties. But one of the most remarkable things about it is how well it reduces inflammation. As a powder, it won’t stay on the skin to treat a boil very easily though. So it has to be dissolved in a little bit of water or milk first. This will turn it into a yellow paste. Rub the paste all over the boil. Then, apply a bandage over the top to keep the paste in place. Be sure to never reuse the paste though. And remember, turmeric stains clothing and other soft surfaces.
4. Epsom Salt
One of the most uncomfortable things about boils is that they tend to develop in hard-to-reach places, like the buttocks, shoulders, or lower back. This makes draining them or applying any type of medication to them next to impossible. So one easy way to help treat them is by soaking in a warm bath with two to three cups of Epsom salt added to it. The salt has natural antiseptic properties that will help kill off the staph infection. But it isn’t as drying to the skin as regular table salt is. In fact, many people say that it makes their skin softer.
5. Antibiotic Ointment
Over-the-counter antibiotic creams are very helpful for boils that have started to ooze pus or break down. That is because since they are opened up, the antibiotics can start to reach the inside of them. For best results, it helps to purchase triple antibiotic cream though, which contains three different antibiotics that work in conjunction to speed up the wound’s healing time. It is very important to apply the ointment with clean cotton swabs that are not reused. Simply, swab a little ointment across a boil. Then, throw the swab away, and get a new one for any other boils on the skin.
6. Castor Oil
An old-fashioned boil treatment is castor oil. It has an unpleasant smell and taste though. So, many years ago, a dab of it was used on the tongue of children who tried to use “swear” words in front of their parents. It is far from a punishment today though because it works very well at reducing the size of large boils when nothing else seems to work. In fact, some soaps are now infused with castor oil. So those who don’t want to use the regular version of the oil may want to try switching to the soap to clean their skin infections daily.
7. Neem Oil
Like tea tree oil, neem oil also comes from a tree. But it is shorter, and it has thin branches. So to get neem’s properties, most people just chew on small sticks that they break off of it. Neem doesn’t grow in the United States though, so people here have no choice but to buy the essential oil version of it. Its potency for healing topical infections is remarkable though because it is also a natural anti-fungal, antibiotic, and antiseptic. To use it, just apply it directly to any boil with a cotton ball. It can cause some irritation if it is applied to delicate regions of the body though, so avoid using it on boils located near the genitals, eyes, nose, or mouth.
