skin disorders
Folliculitis and Skin Abscesses
Skin Abscesses
Skin abscesses are warm, painful, pus-filled pockets of infection below the skin surface that may occur on any body surface. They are usually red and raised. Abscesses may be one to several inches in diameter. Furuncles and carbuncles are types of skin abscesses. Furuncles(boils) are tender, smaller, more superficial abscesses that involve a hair follicle and the surrounding tissue. Furuncles are common on the neck, breasts, face, and buttocks. They are uncomfortable and may be particularly painful in sensitive areas (for example, on the nose, ear, or fingers). The furuncle (boil) in this photo is a tender, swollen, pus-filled area. Photo provided by Thomas Habif, MD. This woman has a red, inflamed furuncle under her eyebrow. DermPics/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY This photo shows a carbuncle found on the back of the neck. It is formed by a cluster of interconnected furuncles, which are painful, pus-filled, inflamed hair follicles. SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Carbunclesare clusters of furuncles that are connected to one another below the skin surface. If not treated, abscesses often come to a head and rupture, discharging a creamy white or pink fluid. Bacteria may spread from the abscess to infect the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. The person may have a fever and feel generally sick. Doctors diagnose skin abscesses based on their appearance. Sometimes, doctors send pus samples to a laboratory to identify the bacteria (called a culture). A skin abscess may go away on its own, and warm compresses may speed up the process. Otherwise, a doctor treats an abscess by cutting it open and draining the pus. After draining the abscess, a doctor makes sure all of the pus has been removed and sometimes washes out the pocket with a saline solution. Large abscesses over 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) in diameter may require temporary packing with gauze. If the abscess is completely drained, antibiotics usually are not needed. However, antibiotics, taken by mouth, might be given because of the following: The abscess did not resolve with drainage. The person has a weakened immune system. The infection has spread into nearby skin ( Cellulitis ). The person has many abscesses. The person is at risk of developing a heart infection (endocarditis). The abscess is on the middle part of the face. The person has fever. People who have recurring furuncles can wash their skin with liquid soap that contains special antiseptics and take antibiotics for 1 to 2 months. 