The boil is a kind of skin infection on the complete hair follicle and in the nearby skin tissue. The boil is the localized area infected on the skin. It begins with the skin becoming red and tender. After sometime this region will transform into rigid, tender and hard part. The center part of the boil will become soft and this part will be occupied with the white blood cells that are involved in fighting with the infection. The white blood cells that are accumulated from the blood are involved in eradicating the infection. This white blood cell accumulation to battle against the infection is called as pus. This pus slowly forms a head region which can be removed surgically or drained away by cutting the skin surface. The pus that is enclosed inside the skin is called as abscess. Hence, the skin abscess is another name given for boil. The common locations where the boils can occur are neck, armpits, face, buttocks, shoulders and eyelids. The boil that occurs on the eyelid is called as sty. The other locations where the boils can be found are breasts, feet, legs, knees, anus, rectal area, chest, scalp, back, pubic area, groin area, anorectal area, abdominal area, palms and hands, mouth parts, vagina, labia, penis and scrotum.

There are many types of boils. They are

Furuncle: This is otherwise called as carbuncle and is a skin abscess. This skin abscess is formed by the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. The skin having one or more openings is termed as furuncle and this condition is associated with chills or fever. The boil that typically appears inside the hair follicle is called as furuncle. The word carbuncle is given for the boils that occur due to the involvement of group of hair follicles. The carbuncle is a hard lump that can be seen in the skin. The conditions which are defined by boils that are chronic and occurring repeatedly are called as furunculosis and carbunculosis.

Cystic acne: This type of skin abscess occurs when the oil ducts are blocked and are infected. These types of boils affect the tissue that is very deep in the skin than the skin that is inflamed on the surface. Cystic acne is commonly seen in the face and they occur during the teenage period.

Hidradenitis suppurativa: This condition is characterized by the presence of multiple abscesses that are formed beneath the armpits and at the groin region. This condition might result due to the swelling of the sweat glands in the local area. This condition is very difficult to be managed by the antibiotics and hence, it needs surgery to take away the sweat glands involved in causing inflammation in the skin.

Pilonidal cyst: This is another particular type of abscess, which occurs in the buttocks creases. The basal part of the skin which gives rise to the hair is affected by these cysts at very tiny regions. As time passes by, the direct pressure and the area that is swollen becomes bigger to form a tender nodule. This will not allow the person to sit with comfort and ease. These painful nodules are formed after the person sits for a long duration and travel.

Symptoms of boils

• The hair follicle infected
• Reddish lump on the skin that is painful, it can also be a swelling
• Skin boils
• Swelling of local lymph node
• The boil can have pus head
• The boil is hard, red and half an inch in size. It grows gradually and becomes soft, large and painful
• The boil will have the skin surrounding it to get infected. The skin gets transformed into warm, inflamed and painful.
• Every boil might have several others around it
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes

Causes of Boils

The major reason for boils in skin is because of an infection that exists in the hair follicle by Staphylococcus aureus. The infection might occur due to several other reasons. The boils can be caused by many reasons like

• Deficiency of vitamin A and E
• Chafing clothes
• The infected sweat glands become clogged
• Menstrual cycle
• Problems in immunity
• Stress
• Disorders of autoimmune system
• Insulin resistance and diabetes
• Overweight
• Tooth decay
• PCOS
• Hair that is grown in
• The foreign substance that has entered into the skin
• Poor hygiene
• Poor nutrition
• The exposure of skin to harsh chemicals and getting irritated
• The health problems mentioned above that make the people to be prone to infection in the skin

Home remedies of Boils

• Onion and Garlic: The boils can be ripened and the pus can be evacuated by applying the onion and garlic juice on the boils. The boils will break open and send the dirt out of them when the juices of these two vegetables are applied on the boils. These two juices can be used in same quantities.
• Bitter Gourd: The boils that are occupied with blood are effectively treated with bitter gourd. The cup filled with bitter gourd juice is added with one teaspoon consisting of lime juice and taken in empty stomach. If this is taken for few days, the boils can be treated properly.
• Milk Cream: The paste that is prepared using turmeric powder along with a tea spoon of vinegar and milk cream can be applied on the boils. The boils containing blood can be ripened and made to burst with this application. This activity will heal the boils and do not make them septic.
• Betel leaves: The remedy using betel leaves is considered as an excellent home remedy for boils. The betel leaf has to be warmed slowly until it becomes soft. This soft leaf has to be covered with castor oil. This leaf has to be used for covering the area which is swollen. This leaf has to be changed very often in few hours duration. The boil will break and release all the unnecessary dirt present in it.
• Cumin seeds: The boils can be treated by using cumin seeds. These seeds are grinded and a paste is prepared with water. The boils can be treated beneficially by applying this paste on them.
• Margosa leaves: These leaves can be used as paste or decoction or liniment. The decoction can be prepared using 15 grams of leaves of Margosa and 500milliliters of water. The leaves are boiled in water till the volume of water reduces to 1/3^rd.
• Parsley: The parsley is boiled in water until it gets transformed into tender and juicy form. When it is hot, the parsley paste is made and applied on the boil.
• Turmeric: The healing process is enhanced by using turmeric for external application on the boils. The boils can be ripened and made to burst by boiling the turmeric roots in water and the paste applied on the boils.
• Keeping Ice cubes on the boils is known to give healing effect for them that are painful.
• The application of warm oatmeal all through the night is considered as effective remedy for the boils.
• The starch that is cooked mixed with vinegar and flour can be applied on the boil for giving cooling effect on it.
• A clean beer bottle can be kept in hot water and made hot. This bottle opening can be placed on the boil and pressed so that it creates a suction pressure. The removal of the bottle forcefully can make the boil burst and expel the dirty contents and pus.
• Calendula ointment can be applied on the boils to reduce inflammation.
• The boil severity can be reduced by applying the paste consisting of goldenseal root powder and boiling water.
• Mixture consisting of slippery elm taken as 25grams, boiling water and three drops of eucalyptus oil can be applied on the boil and left like that for some time. Then it can be cleaned by taking bath. Again it can be applied until the pus is expelled out.
• The tea tree oil mixed with any other vegetable oil will act as antiseptic against the infection that is present in the boil. This has to be applied externally.
• The healing can be made fast by taking a tea made from two parts of wild indigo, Echinacea, poke root and pasque flower. This tea can be taken three times per day to heal the boils faster. The tea also can be applied on the boils topically.

The diet that is necessary for treating the skin boils

• To treat the boils the body cleansing can be carried out as a basic process. This can be carried out by taking fresh fruits, especially orange juice diluted with water in the ratio of 1:1 can be taken every day. This can be continued for about seven days. This activity will clean the system and allows the person to make the boil disappear gradually.
• The fresh fruit diet has to be followed by eating well-balanced diet. This diet must consist of nutritious content that comprises of green leafy vegetables, fruit proteins, whole grains, minimum fat content and reduced intake of refined form of carbohydrates.
• The intake of coffee, tea, starchy foods, pastries, white sugar, sweets, cakes, chocolates and white bread has to be avoided. It is also very much essential to avoid pickles, condiments and sauces.
• The dietary supplements that are essential for avoiding boils are vitamin A-25,000 IU daily, beta-carotene-25000 IU per day, B-complex vitamin, vitamin C with bioflavonoids-3000mg per day, zinc-50mg per day for two weeks, eight glasses of Astralagus tea taken daily will boost immunity.