We’ve all had them at least once. Do you remember what it was like when we were kids and we would pop boils and how much it hurt? Well, if you are reading this, odds are that your childhood years have returned, at least as far as boils go…
Don’t worry. Read on to learn about seven incredibly effective home remedies for boils. You have nothing to fear.
Causes of Boils
What is a boil? This is usually a skin infection. These hard, large pimples are filled with pus. Redness and tenderness on a certain area of the skin are an indication that a boil is starting to form. With time protein, white blood cells and bacteria get filled in the center and that is how the pus builds up. Boils are painful to touch and may appear on your face, head, breast, scalp, groin, back, underarms and buttocks.
If you have boils, try not to touch other people because they are very contagious, actually just like any infection. Also, try to avoid physical contact with someone who has boils.
A type of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus causes boils by entering the body through small cuts on the skin or hair follicles. Blocked sweat glands can also cause boils.
Other reasons boils form include, but are not limited to the following:
- Skin rash from tight clothes / low-quality material
- Poor hygiene
- Diabetes
- Weak immune system
- Alcohol addiction
- Bad eating habits
- Exposure to chemicals, including chemotherapy
Signs and Symptoms
We all know what a boil looks like, but its appearance can vary depending on the skin conditions and eating habits of a person. Here are some warning signs of a boil:
· Boil develops with a redhead somewhere on the body.
· Boil gets bigger with time.
· It starts getting white when it fills with pus.
· It’s very itchy
· The skin around the boil becomes hard and painful.
· Your lymph nodes swell.
· You start running a fever (especially children)
· Red streaks emerge on the skin
· The boil does not drain out even though over a week has passed.
· Strong pain
· Swelling
· You experience a change in appetite
When A Boil May Be More Than Just A Boil
If you have one or more of the following symptoms, you may need urgent medical care:
- Severe pain
- Heart murmur
- Red streaks on the skin around the boil
- A second boil appears
- High fever and chills
Medical Examinations and Testing
A physician can establish your condition by carrying out a physical exam. They may ask you about general health issues instead of focusing on the boil because many parts of the body may be affected by this skin infection.
Treatments
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Boils can and are treated naturally with great success. Because of how horrible they look, you are hectically trying to find a fast solution.
Do not take antibiotics, apply boil removing cream or just wait for it to “pop”. All these are damaging to the skin.
First of all, try with a warm compress. Just dip a clean cloth in warm water with salt and place it on the boil for around fifteen minutes. Do this up to five times a day for the fastest possible relief.
1. Turmeric – An Amazing Antioxidant
You may have heard of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, also a very strong antioxidant.
Remedy 1
Required Ingredients:
- One tablespoon of turmeric
- Two tablespoons of instant oatmeal
- One teaspoon of salt
- One teaspoon of baking soda.
Process:
Mix the ingredients and add warm water to make a paste. Dab some paste on the boil and the area around it and leave for 10-15 minutes, then wash off with warm water.
Remedy 2
Required Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of turmeric powder
- 1 cup of water
Process:
Heat up the water in a saucepan, stir in the powder, bring to a boil and reduce the heat, then simmer until the mixture thickens. Let it cool and store the paste in the refrigerator. Apply on the boil and leave on for 40 minutes, then wash off with water and dry with a tissue.
Remedy 3
This is our third and final remedy with turmeric…it’s just THE THING for boils believe you me…and aloe vera doubles its anti-inflammatory effect. Aloe vera is very effective in treating boils and MRSA infection. It keeps the infection from spreading and promotes quick relief.
Required Ingredients:
- A leaf of aloe vera
- Some turmeric powder
Process:
Cut a leaf of aloe vera and extract its gel, then mix with the turmeric powder and apply on the boil. Cover with a soft cloth or bandage and leave it on overnight. Wash off with cold water in the morning.
Do this every night for at least a week.
2. Tea Tree Oil – A Whiff of Exotic Healing
Tea tree oil is an amazing antiseptic, which is used for healing all kinds of skin problems. You can apply a drop of it directly on the boil for quick relief – it has a host of antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties. If you use it on a regular basis, it will speed up the healing process and provide relief from the discomfort caused by boils and skin abscesses.
All you have to do is dip a clean cotton swab in the tea tree oil and then apply it to the boil several times a day for several days.
Read on for a more effective remedy with tea tree oil:
Required Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder
- 2 teaspoons of baking soda
- 2 teaspoons of coconut oil
- 15 drops of tea tree oil.
Process:
Take a warm bath and dry your skin. Mix the ingredients until they form a homogenous paste and apply it directly on the boil and its area. Put gauze on it and leave it overnight. In the morning, throw away the gauze and wash it off with lukewarm water. Do this every night for at least two weeks.
Note: Do not ever drink tea tree oil and do perform a patch test before trying this remedy. While it does benefit the vast majority of people, it exacerbates skin irritation in some rare cases, so make sure to rule out this possibility.
3. Milk – That’s an Easy One!
Milk is an ancient home remedy for the treatment of boils. Milk and bread compress draw the pus out of the boil and reduce the pain.
Remedy 1
Required Ingredients:
- One cup of milk
- Three teaspoons of salt
- Bread crumbs or flour
Process:
Stir the mixture thoroughly and apply it directly on the boil. For fast results, repeat the process several times in a day.
Note: You can apply the mixture with an adhesive bandage. The boil will burst in two to three days.
Remedy 2
Milk cream can also be used to treat a boil.
Required Ingredients:
- One teaspoon of vinegar
- One teaspoon of turmeric powder
- One teaspoon of milk
Process:
Mix the ingredients well and apply the mixture directly on the boil daily until it bursts.
4. Cornmeal – A Beauty Product That Heals
Cornmeal is not only for making cornbread! It has a myriad of healthy properties. It is a natural absorbent and very efficient for healing boils. It’s also a wonderful substitute for all those of you who find baking soda drying. For this remedy, make sure you buy natural cornmeal without any preservatives.
Required Ingredients:
- Half a cup of water
- Cornmeal
Process:
Boil the water and stir in the cornmeal. You should have a thick paste. Apply it directly on the boil and cover it with gauze or tissue. Do this several times a day until the boil bursts and the pus drains out.
Note: Cornmeal contains iron, zinc, antioxidants and folic acid, which are absolutely terrific for the skin.
5. Black Seeds Treat Boils, MRSA, Even Cancer
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Black cumin seed oil, also known as black coriander oil, comes from a buttercup family plant that is native to Asia. This plant has small, black crescent-shaped seeds, hence the name. This natural remedy has an incredibly long history – Cleopatra is said to have used black seed oil for beautiful, healthy skin.
There are hundreds of studies showing the positive effects of black seed oil on the skin. It contains palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, proteins, iron, vitamins B1, B2 and B3, calcium, copper, phosphorous and zinc, to which it owes its remarkable healing effect. Black seed oil is a great remedy for a variety of conditions and health problems apart from boils.
The easiest remedy is grinding black seeds to make a paste and applying it directly on the boil. Here is something else you can do to supplement this treatment:
Required Ingredients:
- Half a teaspoon of black seed oil
- Any cold or hot drink
Process:
Add the oil to your beverage of choice and drink the mixture twice a day.
6. Indian Lilac – Immediate Pain Relief
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Indian lilac is famous for its anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties. It guarantees immediate relief from the pain boils cause.
You can make a paste from Indian lilac leaves and apply it on the boil, and supplement this treatment with one of the following remedies, or both:
Remedy 1
Required Ingredients:
- A handful of Indian lilac leaves
- Two cups of water
Process:
Boil the leaves in the water until the water evaporates to a third. Rinse the area of the boil with the boiled water twice – three times a day.
Remedy 2
Required Ingredients:
- A handful of Indian lilac leaves
- 1/2 tablespoon of turmeric powder
Process:
Grind the leaves, mix with the powder and apply on the area of the boil. Leave on for 40 minutes and wash off with cold water. Do this a few times a week until the boil disappears.
7. Garlic – Gets Rid of All Skin Diseases
Garlic is helpful in treating all kinds of skin diseases and infections, including boils. Prepare a paste of fresh garlic cloves or heat one clove and put it directly on the boil, leave it for 15 minutes, and do this daily until you see improvement. You could also eat 2-3 garlic cloves daily to do away with boils
Below is a remedy to supplement this:
Required Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 teaspoon of crushed garlic cloves
Process:
Mix the crushed garlic cloves and turmeric powder and make a paste. Apply it on the boil and surrounding area and leave for 10 – 20 minutes, then wash off and dry. Do this 2 – 3 times a day.
Both turmeric and garlic have an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory property that prevents boils from coming back.
Homeopathic Remedies for Boils
Mercurius solubilize, Calendula, Belladonna, Arsenicum album and Silica are known to have an effect counteracting boils, but these homeopathic medicines do not work the same way for everyone. If you have some doubts, talk to a doctor about the right dosage.
How to Prevent Boils
An obvious way to prevent boils is by maintaining good hygiene. Keep your towels, clothes and shoes clean and wash your hands to keep bacteria from infecting the skin. You are often told to use antibacterial soap for bathing and washing, but that’s not fully verifiable – click on the link for more information.
Limit caffeine, include foods with high Vitamin A, C and E content in your diet, exfoliate your skin regularly to keep sweat ducts from getting blocked and avoid high-fat and sugary foods like white bread and milk chocolate.
Conclusion
Did you enjoy our list of natural remedies? Boils are not just ugly – they can indicate a potentially life-threatening condition. I hope this article has been helpful and has left you better prepared for any and all possibilities, and you know how to cure yourself without buying expensive creams and antibiotics. Please tell us what you think in the comments section and share this article so you can help other people with boils.
Cory Fang
A beauty professional, Cory Fang earned her two-year diploma in Beauty and Skin Care before going on to study Reflexology, Somatology, and electrical face and body treatments.She is committed to her client's well-being, and after working at a local beauty business for three years, she went into business for herself four years ago. A proponent on peels, skin needling, facials, and basic home care, she knows what it takes to keep skin and the body healthy.
