How to Prevent Boils 6 Ways to Prevent Boils

Contents Method 1: Develop good hygiene habits 1. Take frequent baths or showers to keep your skin and hair clean. 2. Use a mild antibacterial soap every day to remove bacteria from your skin. 3. Exfoliate gently with a loofah or washcloth. 4. Dry your skin after bathing. 5. Take a shower with bleach. 6. Wear clean, loose-fitting clothes. Method 2: Shaving correctly 1. Do not use a razor exclusively. 2. Wet your skin and apply shaving gel. 3. Keep the razor clean and sharp. 4. Shave in the direction of hair growth. 5. Think twice before shaving your pubic hair. 6. Do not shave the inflamed area. Method 3: Avoid being infected 1. Take various measures to avoid contact with germs. 2. Do not use bedding, towels, facecloths and clothing with patients with boils or staph infections. 3. Wash bedding and towels frequently and thoroughly, and disinfect them to kill the bacteria that cause boils. 4. Keep the wound clean, cover it with gauze, cotton wool and other dressings, and change the dressing frequently. Method 4: Treat wounds properly 1. Clean all wounds thoroughly to prevent them from becoming infected. 2. Use soap and a soft, clean damp cloth to wash away dirt and bacteria around the wound. 3. Apply antibacterial lotion or ointment to the wound according to the manufacturer's instructions. 4. Wrap the wound with a clean bandage and change the dressing frequently. 5. Wash your hands before and after treating wounds, and handle all bandages and dressings carefully. Method 5: Maintain a healthy lifestyle 1. Eat a healthy diet. 2. Keep your body well hydrated, especially when the weather is hot. 3. Take turmeric every day. 4. Exercise for 20 to 30 minutes every day. 5. Minimize stress. 6. Avoid contact with harmful chemicals. Method 6: Consult a doctor 1. Go to the doctor. 2. Consider starting a course of oral antibiotics. 3. Ask your doctor about nasal antibiotics. 4. Ask your doctor about prescription-grade antibacterial soaps and topical medications. 5. Ask your doctor about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Boils are skin infections or abscesses that occur in hair follicles or sebaceous glands. Bacteria enter the skin through cuts or pores, and small red dots will appear on the skin at first, then fill with pus, and finally turn into hard lumps. People with diabetes, certain skin conditions, or immune system problems are more likely to develop boils. Boils can sometimes be caused by poor hygiene and poor nutrition. Cystic acne is a skin condition associated with boils that is most common in teenagers and can also cause boils on the face, back and neck. Boils are annoying, but they can usually be prevented. Many prevention methods can also help relieve cystic acne.

Method 1: Develop good hygiene habits

1. Take frequent baths or showers to keep your skin and hair clean. When the weather is hot, the incidence of boils will increase, so you need to do this more often. Take a bath or shower at least once a day, including after sweating, to prevent Staphylococcus aureus that may adhere to the skin from entering the pores or under the skin and forming boils. Be especially careful to wash areas most prone to boils, including the face, neck, armpits, shoulders and buttocks.

2. Use a mild antibacterial soap every day to remove bacteria from your skin. Look for soap, body wash, or facial cleanser that says "antibacterial" on the label. Your local grocery store or pharmacy has a wide variety of products to choose from. If antibacterial soap dries your skin too much, look for a gentler product like Cetaphil.

The active ingredient in most antibacterial soaps is triclosan. If you prefer natural ingredients, look for soaps that contain tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is naturally antibacterial.

Some people may need to use prescription-grade antibacterial soap. If a boil or other skin infection isn't healing, talk to your doctor about these products.

You can also use an acne-fighting body wash that contains benzoyl peroxide.

3. Use a loofah or facial tissue to gently exfoliate. This prevents pores from getting clogged, which can lead to boils. Don't use too much force to avoid damaging your skin.

4. Dry your skin after bathing. Warm, moist conditions promote bacterial growth, so be sure to dry yourself carefully. You can also use baby powder, or a medicated powder like Gold Bond, to keep wet areas dry throughout the day.

5. Take a bath with bleach. Doctors often recommend that people with skin problems such as eczema bathe in bleach. They may also help kill the bacteria that cause boils. Pour half a cup of household bleach into a bathtub filled with warm water. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not bathe with bleach more than three times a week.

Do not immerse your head in bath water or allow water to come into contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth.

This method is usually harmless to children, but it is recommended to consult a doctor or pediatrician before using it.

6. Wear clean, loose-fitting clothes. Do not rewear clothing soaked with sweat. Wear loose-fitting clothing that won't rub or irritate your skin. Tight clothes are not breathable and may cause skin irritation and boils easily.

Method 2: Shaving correctly

1. Do not use a razor. Staph bacteria that cause boils can be spread through the use of personal items, including razors. Everyone in the family must have their own razor.

2. Wet your skin and apply shaving gel. Shaving is one of the main causes of ingrown hairs and can lead to skin infection, which can lead to boils. Wetting your skin and applying shaving gel will allow the razor to glide smoothly over your skin without catching hairs and forcing them back into your skin.

3. Keep the razor clean and sharp. Rinse your razor after every shave. Replace disposable razors frequently, and keep other types of razors sharp as well. As long as the razor is sharp, it doesn't require too much force to cut through the hair, reducing the possibility of injury and ingrown hairs.

4. Shaving in the direction of hair growth. You may have heard of shaving in the opposite direction, but this can cause ingrown hairs, which can lead to boils. Shave in the direction of hair growth. Sometimes, the direction of hair growth can be difficult to determine, especially with curly hair. Generally speaking, the hair on the feet should be shaved downward. Run your hands over your skin to confirm the direction of hair growth.

5. Think twice before shaving your pubic hair. Research shows women shaving their pubic hair may develop serious methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Men who shave their pubic hair are also at risk of contracting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, it's best not to shave these sensitive areas. Shaving your pubic hair leaves many tiny cuts in the skin. Staph bacteria can enter the skin through these wounds and cause infections and boils. Since these areas also sweat more than other parts of the body, boils are more likely to develop.

6. Do not shave the inflamed area. Do not shave areas that show signs of inflammation or boils. You can spread bacteria and infections to other parts of your body.

Method 3: Avoid being infected

1. Take various measures to avoid contact with germs. Most boils are caused by the highly contagious Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. They are easily spread through direct contact with infected skin or pus. If you are susceptible to infection or have close contact with someone who is susceptible to infection, you should take extra care to avoid spreading germs.

2. Do not use bedding, towels, facecloths and clothing with patients with boils or staph infections. Make sure all family members have their own towels and washcloths, washed frequently and kept separate. Pus from a boil is filled with bacteria and is highly contagious, and bacteria can survive on most surfaces for some time.

Whether it is you or someone else who has the boil, you should not use bar soap with other people.

Razors or sports equipment are also not safe for use. Whether it is "ordinary" Staphylococcus aureus or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, it is possible to spread it through the use of personal items or sports equipment.

3. Wash bedding and towels frequently and thoroughly, and disinfect them to kill bacteria that cause boils. Wash them at the highest temperature recommended on the fabric care label, and with bleach for white fabrics. To be on the safe side, remember to wear gloves when cleaning the boil's belongings.

If your face is prone to boils, change your pillowcase every day to prevent the spread of germs.

4. Keep the wound clean, cover it with gauze, cotton wool and other dressings, and change the dressing frequently. Pus from a boil is filled with bacteria and is highly contagious, causing more boils to develop on the body or to others who come into contact with the pus. Do not cut into the boil. Even if a boil requires incision and drainage, it should be left to a professional medical professional. Cutting a boil yourself may injure yourself or cause further infection.

Method 4: Treat wounds properly

1. Clean all wounds thoroughly to prevent them from becoming infected. Use cold tap water or saline to flush away dirt and bacteria from the wound. Saline solution for wound cleaning is available at most pharmacies and online retailers.

2. Wash away the dirt and bacteria around the wound with soap and a soft, clean damp cloth.

After rinsing, if there is still dirt in the wound, use rubbing alcohol to disinfect the tweezers and pinch the dirt out.

If the cut is too large or deep for you to clean or remove all the debris yourself, be sure to see a doctor right away.

3. Apply antibacterial lotion or ointment to the wound according to the manufacturer's instructions. You can replace antibacterial potions with natural alternatives, such as honey, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil. Apply them directly to the wound once or twice daily to kill bacteria.

4. Wrap the wound with a clean bandage and change the dressing frequently. Wounds that are bandaged heal faster. Bandages also prevent dirt and bacteria from entering the wound and worsening the condition.

5. Wash your hands before and after treating wounds, and handle all bandages and dressings carefully. The correct way to wash your hands is to wet your hands with tap water and apply soap. Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds to create lather. Scrub every surface, including the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Rinse with water and dry your hands thoroughly with a towel or hand dryer.

Method 5: Maintain a healthy lifestyle

1. Eat a healthy diet. Malnutrition is one of the main causes of immunodeficiency. A problem with the immune system makes one susceptible to infection. Not only do you need to eat enough food, but you also need to choose healthy foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Avoid foods that contain too much sugar, salt, and preservatives.

Consider taking a vitamin supplement, especially vitamin C.

2. Keep your body well hydrated, especially when the weather is hot. Drinking plenty of water can help keep your pores clean and clear, which may help prevent boils. A good tip is to drink 30 to 60 milliliters of water per kilogram of body weight per day, so a person weighing 70 kilograms should drink approximately 2 to 4 liters of water per day. If it's hot, you're doing hard work, or you're exercising strenuously, it's best to drink up to the recommended limit.

3. Take turmeric every day. Turmeric has natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which may help relieve and prevent boils. Lotions or creams containing turmeric can help heal boils and other wounds. Although research doesn't show that turmeric has an effect on boils, it has antioxidant properties and can prevent heart attacks and strokes, so you can add as much or as little as you like when cooking.

4. Exercise for 20 to 30 minutes every day. Research shows that moderate exercise can greatly strengthen the immune system. Plan to exercise for at least 20 to 30 minutes every day to keep your skin healthy and prevent infections. If you're new, start small. Walking for 20 minutes a day, or walking for 10 minutes in two portions, is enough to achieve some improvement in immune function.

Exercise doesn’t have to be about housework, find ways to be active in fun ways, such as dancing or going to the park with your kids.

5. Minimize stress. People who are stressed are more likely to develop boils and other illnesses. If you can, take some time each day to relax and find ways to reduce stress in your life. Exercise is great for reducing stress, and many people find activities like yoga, meditation, and tai chi to be beneficial for the mind and body. Laughter is also great for reducing stress. Ask a friend to tell you a joke, sit down and watch a funny cross talk, sketch, or TV show to relax after a long day.

6. Avoid contact with harmful chemicals. Boils can sometimes be caused by exposure to harsh chemicals at home or at work. Chemicals that are particularly likely to cause skin problems include coal tar and cutting oils. Always wear protective gear when handling these chemicals. After contact with them, remove them as soon as possible and wash your skin.

Method 6: Consult a doctor

1. Go to the doctor. If you frequently get boils, or if they don't go away despite treatment, you should see your doctor to see if the boils are caused by any underlying condition, such as undiagnosed diabetes, anemia, or an infection. Your doctor may also prescribe or recommend other preventive measures, including oral antibiotics, topical ointments, and iron supplements. Also see your doctor if the boil comes back, lasts for more than 2 weeks, is on the face or spine, is painful, or is accompanied by a fever.

2. Consider starting a course of oral antibiotics. If you suffer from frequent boils or cystic acne, you may need to start a course of oral antibiotics to eradicate the underlying infection that may be causing these conditions. Doctors most often prescribe a six-month course of tetracycline, doxycycline, or erythromycin to combat boils and stubborn acne.

3. Ask your doctor about nasal antibiotics.

Some people are carriers of staphylococci, bacteria that normally live in the human nose. If your doctor suspects you have staph, you will be given an antibacterial cream or nasal spray to use daily for the next few days. They eliminate staphylococcal bacteria in the nose before they can spread to the skin or infect other people through sneezing, exhalation, etc.

4. Ask your doctor about prescription-grade antibacterial soaps and topical medications. If regular antibacterial soap doesn't work or irritates your skin, your doctor may be able to give you a more effective or gentler alternative. He or she can also prescribe topical antibiotics to apply to boil-prone areas or open wounds.

5. Ask your doctor about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This type of staph becomes resistant to antibiotics, making it more difficult to treat. Patients often contract these bacteria in hospitals and other health care settings, such as nursing homes. They can also be spread through skin-to-skin contact, such as physical activities involving physical contact. Infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus may cause boils. It can also cause abscesses (a collection of pus in the skin), carbuncles (lumps on the skin that often contain pus), and impetigo (itchy pustules on the skin that thicken, harden, and crust over). If you think you have MRSA, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.