Ever had a boil? Those red, pus-filled lumps that are tender and can be painful. Fortunately for me, I haven’t had the nasty experience. These nasty things are skin infections caused by bacteria. The bacteria gets into a hair follicle and this makes the area fill with pus. Eew? Just in case you get one, here are some steps you can follow to get rid of it.

• Tempting as it may seem, avoid squeezing (or pinching) the boil. Remember that a boil is caused by bacteria. Squeezing it can just spread the infection.
• Boils usually go away in a week’s time. Allow a yellow/whitish center (referred to as the head) would emerge and open on its own. You may apply a heat pad 2-3 times a day to speed up this process.
• While this process is happening, keep the area very clean to prevent the infection from getting worse.
• Once it has opened care should be paramount. Apply saline solution to the boil. Clean it up with antibacterial cream or solution. Dry it up and keep it that way. There might be some blood but this is natural.
• If the boil persists or if it spreads or if you contract a fever, consult with your doctor.