What is a carbuncle? How do you treat it at home?
If you are sure that it is a true carbuncle, please do not treat this at home. A carbuncle is a coalescence of faruncles (boils), and is a serious subcutaneous tissue infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. You need antibiotics, because the carbuncle is just short of bacteremic spread to other tissues and needs to be treated systemically. Staph aureus is very dangerous when it invades the bloodstream, and can lead to rapidly fatal conditions. Please see your doctor about antibiotics ASAP.
Why do I get carbuncles regularly?
This question is phrased in a very dangerous way. I almost don't want to answer it because I can't provide you with health advice, I'm not a dermatologist. So take this as a VERY strong disclaimer. I am not giving you health advice. That said, you could be suffering with a condition called hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). It is characterized by skin lesions (abscesses, boils, carbuncles, and so on) which recur very frequently, suppurate (leak), rarely heal and bring a world of pain to HS sufferers. Almost always, the bacterial swabs taken from the boils or wounds are sent off for histology and come back clean - i.e. no MRSA or nasty bugs, just the usual skin flora. What this means is that the abscesses in HS sufferers do NOT occur due to poor hygiene. You need a proper diagnosis of this by a qualified health professional, preferably a dermatologist. I suffer from hidradenitis suppurativa and I have done a lot of research into the condition. Some researchers state that at its core, HS is an autoimmune condition. Yet other researchers suggest that the disease can be controlled through diet changes. I don't want to get into this in too much detail, becaus it's generally seen as a contentious viewpoint, but I will say that it does work for me, and my dermatologist is equally amazed. Recurrent abscesses are rarely due to poor hygiene...
How does a boil differ from a carbuncle?
Really good question. I found these answers for you:Furuncles and carbuncles: Symptoms, causes, and treatment
Please Help With Carbuncle Issue?
I have had a carbuncle under my right armpit between the size of a grape and a golf ball for the past couple days. I am going to get it checked out tomorrow, but I was wondering what I could do until then. I have been applying a warm wash cloth under my arm for about two days now and it seems to be making the carbuncle come to the surface. I have a few questions about a carbuncle... 1) Will having it drain by a doctor leave a scar on my arm? (if so then forget that idea) 2) I heard that it will drain on its own. How long will that take and is it worth the wait to not have an incision made? Any tips to easy the carbuncle would be helpful. Thank you for any advice or tips you can give me. (I also have another "carbuncle or boil" under my left armpit, but it does not bother me at all. It is much smaller and less painful if you need that information as well.)
Can you put toothpaste on a carbuncle?
I just discovered a huge carbuncle on my groin area last night. My boyfriend tried to pop it but that hurt it even more. All day i kept applying a hot damp towel to the area hoping it would come to a head but it hasn't. I was thinking how some people say putting toothpaste on a pimple can dry it out and make it all come to a head, do you think that would work for a carbuncle also?? Any ideas to make it go down in size or for good. Its just located in the most uncomfortable place and its about the size of a dime. HELP
Can recurrent folliculitis and carbuncles cause cancer?
No, they are not associated with cancer.
What is the cause of wound abscesses?
Abscesses are essentially the build up of pus in the tissues and can occur for multiple reasons. The most common reasons include bacterial infection, parasites and foreign substances embedded within the tissue. Bacterial infections can occur through surgery incisions, open wounds and things like bites from animals especially cats. Parasites that can causes abscesses include things like the bot fly however there are plenty of different insects out there that can burrow down into the tissues and cause issues.There are also abscesses that involve the hair follicles called furuncles or carbuncles. Furuncles or boils occur due to a bacterial infection around the hair follicles causing a build up of pus and dead skin. Carbuncles are larger boils which usually have one or more openings draining into the skin.