What can be done to prevent boils (abscesses)?
The regular use of antibacterial soaps can help to prevent bacteria from building up on the skin. This can reduce the chance for hair follicles to become infected and prevent the formation of boils. Your health-care practitioner may recommend special cleansers such as pHisoderm to further reduce the bacteria on the skin. When hair follicles on the back of the arms or around the thighs are continually inflamed, regular use of an abrasive brush (loofah brush) in the shower can be used to break up oil plugs and other buildup around hair follicles. Pilonidal cysts can be prevented by avoiding continuous direct pressure or irritation of the buttock area when a local hair follicle becomes inflamed. Regular soap and hot water cleaning and drying can be helpful. For acne and hidradenitis suppurativa, antibiotics may be required on a long-term basis to prevent recurrent abscess formation. Finally, surgery may occasionally be needed, especially for hidradenitis suppurativa or pilonidal cysts that recur.. For pilonidal cysts, surgically removing the outer shell of the cyst is important to clear the boil. For hidradenitis suppurativa, extensive involvement can require plastic surgery.
The regular use of antibacterial soaps can help to prevent bacteria from building up on the skin. This can reduce the chance for hair follicles to become infected and prevent the formation of boils. Your health-care practitioner may recommend special cleansers such as pHisoderm to further reduce the bacteria on the skin. When hair follicles on the back of the arms or around the thighs are continually inflamed, regular use of an abrasive brush (loofah brush) in the shower can be used to break up oil plugs and other buildup around hair follicles. Pilonidal cysts can be prevented by avoiding continuous direct pressure or irritation of the buttock area when a local hair follicle becomes inflamed. Regular soap and hot water cleaning and drying can be helpful. For acne and hidradenitis suppurativa, antibiotics may be required on a long-term basis to prevent recurrent abscess formation. Finally, surgery may occasionally be needed, especially for hidradenitis suppurativa or pilonidal cysts that recur.. For pilonidal cysts, surgically removing the outer shell of the cyst is important to clear the boil. For hidradenitis suppurativa, extensive involvement can require plastic surgery.
