When you discover a painful, swollen bump on your skin, it can be both uncomfortable and concerning. You might wonder: is this a boil that needs medical attention? Where should you go for care? And what if the boil is a symptom of a condition called hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)?

Read on to learn about your care options for boils and abscesses, whether you should seek treatment at urgent care, and what to know if you think you might have HS.

What Is a Boil?

A boil, or furuncle, is a painful, pus-filled bump under the skin. It forms when bacteria causes hair follicles or oil glands to become inflamed and infected. Boils usually:

• Start as purple or red, tender lumps
• Grow larger and more painful over a few days
• Form a white or yellow head that may burst and drain
• Appear in areas where there’s friction and sweating, like the armpits, buttocks, groin, or thighs

When several boils cluster together, they create a carbuncle — a deeper infection that can cause fever and fatigue.

When Is Medical Attention Needed?

Not all boils require medical treatment. Small boils often drain and heal on their own with proper home care, including using warm compresses and keeping the affected area clean.

However, you should seek medical attention if your boil:

• Is very painful or large (larger than 2 inches across)
• Continues to grow or doesn’t improve after two weeks of home treatment
• Keeps coming back or spreads to other areas
• Causes fever or other symptoms
• Is located on your face or spine
• Happens with a medical condition like diabetes or a weakened immune system

Care Options for Boil Treatment

If your boil needs medical attention, you have several options. Each option differs in level of care, waiting times, accessibility, and cost.

1. Primary Care Physician

Seeing your primary care physician is best for nonemergencies, and if you don’t have other medical conditions that might be related to your boils.

Your regular healthcare provider knows your medical history and can help you get relief. Your primary care physician can:

• Check if the boil needs drainage
• Perform lab tests to identify the bacteria causing the infection
• Prescribe antibiotics if needed
• Look for causes of recurring boils
• Refer you to specialists (like dermatologists)

One myHSteam member shared, “I’m going to see my primary care doctor to get another dermatologist referral.”

There are drawbacks to seeing your primary care doctor. Appointments may not be available right away, and some offices may not be able to perform certain procedures.

2. Urgent Care

Urgent or immediate care centers are a good choice for painful boils that need same-day treatment when your regular doctor isn’t available.

Urgent care centers offer walk-in services and extended hours. Urgent care facilities can also treat certain skin abscesses with incision and drainage procedures, also called lancing. Lancing involves cutting into the abscess and allowing the pus to drain. It’s important to note that this procedure is not appropriate for every abscess.

At urgent care, providers can:

• Perform incision and drainage on simple boils
• Prescribe antibiotics if needed
• Provide wound care instructions
• Refer you to specialists when necessary

Keep in mind that not all urgent care centers can perform certain procedures, like incision and drainage, as staff capabilities vary by location.

3. Emergency Rooms (ER)

You should seek emergency care for severe or complicated boils, especially with signs of spreading infection.

Emergency departments are equipped to handle serious infections and life-threatening complications. You should go to the ER if you have:

• Worsening symptoms or ones that don’t improve with treatment
• Fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius)
• Red streaks spreading from the boil, as this may be a sign of infection in the bloodstream known as cellulitis
• Boils on your face or spine
• Signs of severe infection or sepsis (a body-wide infection)

ERs treat the most serious cases first, so wait times may be long for non-life-threatening conditions. Emergency care also tends to cost more than other treatment options.

4. Dermatologists

You may need to see a dermatologist (skin specialist) if you keep getting boils in the same areas, or you’re concerned that you may have an underlying skin condition, such as HS.

Dermatologists can:

• Provide specialized diagnoses, including distinguishing between regular boils and HS
• Offer more advanced treatment options and management plans
• Perform surgical procedures if needed

You’ll likely need a referral from your primary care provider to see a dermatologist. It may take weeks or months to get an appointment.

Recognizing Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)

If you keep getting boils in the same areas, especially the armpits, groin, buttocks, or under the breasts, you might have hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). HS is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes painful, recurring nodules and abscesses in areas where skin rubs together.

Signs that your boil might be related to HS include:

• Boils that keep returning to the same areas
• Scarring after boils heal
• Tunnels or sinus tracts forming under the skin

If you’ve had multiple boils return in the same areas, it’s important to see a dermatologist for proper diagnosis. A dermatologist can differentiate between simple boils, hidradenitis suppurativa, and other skin concerns, like acne.

Lancing May Not Be Best Option for HS

While incision and drainage (lancing) is an effective treatment option for regular boils, it may not be the best approach for HS lesions. Lancing can provide short-term relief from pain, but HS lesions tend to flare up again shortly after if the underlying condition is not treated.

Instead of lancing, treatment for HS might include:

• Special skin care products that are gentle on the skin
• Pain management strategies including warm compresses and ice packs
• Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and wearing loose-fitting clothes
• Medications that target inflammation, like antibiotics or biologics

Which Care Option Is Right For You?

The right place to seek treatment depends on a few factors:

• Severity of the boil — Larger, more painful boils or those with signs of spreading infection require more urgent care.
• Your overall health — People with diabetes, immune disorders, or other chronic conditions may need more specialized care.
• Pattern of occurrence — First-time boils may be handled differently than recurring ones that suggest HS.
• Location of the boil — Certain locations, like the spine and face, require more careful treatment due to risk of complications.

Talk to a healthcare professional if you’re concerned about your boil. They can provide you with medical advice and treatment options to improve your quality of life.

Remember, proper diagnosis leads to appropriate treatment. If you’re dealing with recurring boils, don't just seek repeated drainage procedures — ask about the possibility of HS and seek care from a provider experienced with this condition.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myHSteam, the social network for people with hidradenitis suppurativa and their loved ones, more than 46,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Have you been to urgent care for a boil? Do you have any advice for treating boils? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.