Carbuncles are clusters of boils, which form due to inflammation at the root of the hair, and which can produce abscesses, wounds and ulcers on the skin. Its treatment is done with drainage of accumulated pus, when it bursts by itself, or by a procedure performed by a dermatologist or general surgeon, in addition to the use of ointments with antibiotics and cleaning of the skin with antiseptic soap.
This disease is also known as Anthrax, but it is different from Anthrax used as a biological weapon, as it is usually caused by the excess of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which lives naturally on the skin. Learn more about Anthrax disease, caused by the bacterium Bacilos anthracis, which is used as a biological weapon.
How the treatment is done
To treat anthrax, you must initially keep your skin clean, using antibacterial liquid soap, chlorhexidine or potassium permanganate solution, to prevent skin bacteria from forming new lesions.
However, it is also necessary to remove the pus that is accumulated inside the carbuncle. For that, you should place warm water compresses over the region for 5 to 10 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day, to allow the pus to come out through the skin. Another option is to go to the dermatologist or general practitioner, to remove the pus with a small surgical procedure.
In addition, it may be necessary to use anti-inflammatory or analgesic pills, such as ibuprofen or dipyrone, for example, to relieve pain and fever. In some cases, the general practitioner may also prescribe tablet antibiotics, such as cephalexin, especially when the infection is very deep or the fever does not improve.
How carbuncle is formed
Inflammation of the hair follicle, together with infection by skin bacteria, can give rise to the boil, which is a yellow and reddish lump, which is filled with pus and is very painful. The carbuncle is formed when there are several boils, which join through the inflamed tissue, and reach deeper layers of the skin, which can cause symptoms such as fever, malaise and pain in the body.
Because it is a more serious infection than the boil, the carbuncle evolves and heals more slowly than the boil alone, lasting about 2 weeks.
The most common location is on the neck, shoulders, back and thighs, and it can happen more often in elderly people or with weakened immune systems, due to malnutrition, for example.
