Dermatology

Bacterial Skin Infections

Bacterial Skin Infections | Cellulitis | Folliculitis, Boils, and Carbuncles | Other Bacterial Skin Infections | Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome

Folliculitis, Boils, and Carbuncles

What is folliculitis, boils, and carbuncles?

Folliculitis is the inflammation of hair follicles due to an infection. Boils are tender, swollen areas that form around hair follicles, often on the neck, breasts, buttocks, and face. Carbuncles are clusters of boils.

What are the symptoms of folliculitis, boils, and carbuncles?

The following are the most common symptoms of folliculitis, boils, and carbuncles. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently:

Symptoms for folliculitis may include:

pus in the hair follicle
irritated and red follicles
damaged hair

Symptoms for boils may include:

pus in the center of the boil
whitish, bloody discharge from the boil

Symptoms for carbuncles (clusters of boils) may include:

pus in the center of the boils
whitish, bloody discharge from the boils
fever
fatigue

Treatment for folliculitis, boils, and carbuncles:
Keeping the skin clean helps to prevent these conditions from occurring. Treatment may include:

moist heat to help drain a boil
oral antibiotics

Carbuncles heal more slowly than a single boil.

This page was last updated on: February 1, 2008.

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