Skin Abscess Causes, Signs and Symptoms, and Treatments

Skin abscess or Boils is a collection of pus or infected material in or on the skin. Skin abscess usually starts up with reddened tender area that becomes firm and hard overtime. The center of the skin abscess becomes soft and gets filled up with the pus. They grow larger and painful, form a head and drain. Skin abscess affect men and women equally and can affect people of all ages.

Skin abscess can occur anywhere on the body and can be transmitted from skin to skin contact. They mainly appear on the surface of the skin, kidneys, lungs or tonsils. Skin abscess can prevent deeper tissues from functioning properly. The infection can spread locally, systemically or throughout the body and when it passes through the bloodstream, it can cause severe complications.

Skin Abscess Causes

Skin abscess may be caused due to many reasons and conditions. They include:

• Skin abscesses are mainly caused when a bacterial infection causes pus and infected material to collect in the skin.
• Skin abscesses may be caused due to minor wounds, injury or punctures in the skin.
• Skin abscesses may be caused by the inflammation of hair follicles.
• Skin abscesses may be caused due to a chickenpox infection.
• Skin abscesses may follow a bacterial infection, staphylococcus.
• Skin abscesses may be caused due to Immunodeficiency disorder. People with weaker immune system are more prone to skin abscess.
• Skin abscesses may be caused due to chronic use of steroids.
• Skin abscesses may also be caused due to an obstruction of oil glands and sweat glands.

Skin Abscess Signs and Skin Abscess Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of skin abscess include:

• The main signs and symptoms of skin abscess include redness, swelling, heat and pain.
• Tenderness and warmth over the affected area
• Swollen area of inflammation on one side of the neck or throat.
• Localized swelling.
• Swelling around the affected area.
• Weight loss
• Enlarged and tender lymph glands of the neck
• Some people may have fevers or chills.
• Loss of appetite
• Formation of reddened skin lesions, which may be open pore or closed, domed nodule. These skin lesions may drain fluid.

Skin Abscess Treatments

An early and proper medical treatment may cure skin abscess. The treatment of skin abscess involves:

Skin Abscess Treatment 1: Warm Compresses

Applying warm compresses over the affected area may be useful for the treatment of small skin abscesses. Application of warm compresses several times a day increases the circulation to the affected area and allows the body to fight off the infection by bringing white blood cells and antibodies to that area. Sometimes, warm compresses may promote spontaneous drainage of the skin abscess.

Skin Abscess Treatment 2: Draining Skin Abscess

The doctor may drain the skin abscess by cutting it or making a small incision in its tip. After draining the skin abscess, doctor washes it with a sterile salt solution to make sure whether all the pus has been removed. Sometimes the drained skin abscess may be covered with sterile gauze so that the remaining pus continues to drain.

Antibiotics are not required if the skin abscess has drained completely. But for severe and recurrent infections your doctor may prescribe antibiotics like dicloxacillin and cephalexin to control the infection. Draining skin abscess relieves the pain, lessens scarring and helps in quick recovery.

Skin Abscess Treatment 3: Medications

Your doctor may prescribe medications depending on your skin abscess symptoms. He may prescribe acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower your temperature in case you have fever. Medicine for pain may be given by mouth or as a shot.

These are common skin abscess treatments. Other than these homeopathic remedies like Hepar sulphuris and Silica are also used in skin abscess treatment. In case of septic skin abscess, applying bentonite clay on the affected area may help.