Furuncle is an acute purulent-necrotic inflammation that develops in the hair follicle, sebaceous gland and surrounding connective tissue. This disease is provoked by pyogenic bacteria, in particular Staphylococcus aureus.
General information
Usually, a purulent boil is located on areas of the skin that are subject to frequent friction and mechanical damage (for example, on the neck, lower back, back of the hands, on the buttocks or knees).
After the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria enters a wound or a microcrack that has formed on the skin after epilation or shaving, the rapid development of furunculosis begins.
During the day, a small pimple becomes the size of a pigeon's egg.
Features of the disease
At the very beginning of the disease, a furuncle on the leg manifests itself in the form of a small knot, disturbing with its soreness, with a hair in the middle. After a few days, due to necrotic processes, fluid accumulates in it, or the so-called infiltrate. As a result, a pustule forms in the center of the abscess. When it is opened, the furuncle core comes out along with pus and dead surrounding tissues, and in its placeulcer. It usually loosens up over time. However, a scar often remains on the skin.
If the boil on the leg is of considerable size and is located in such a way that it brings aesthetic discomfort, then you can contact a plastic surgeon or cosmetologist for the subsequent removal of scar tissue.
Causes of occurrence
The boil on the leg is localized mainly in those places where there is increased friction and a large accumulation of hair follicles. One of these places is the area on the lower leg, thighs, buttocks or under the knee.
Why does a boil appear on the leg? The reason for the appearance of such an abscess is damage to the skin and getting micro-wounds. Subsequently, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria get into such cracks, which leads to infection.
Also, a boil can occur due to anemia, a lack of vitamins in the body, type 1 and type 2 diabetes (with this disease, furunculosis very often turns into a chronic process), alcoholism and prolonged hypothermia.
Other reasons
About what a boil looks like, we'll tell you a little lower. According to experts, such a formation on the lower extremities often develops after a bruise or blow. Especially often athletes suffer from furunculosis.
With regular scratching of wounds or abrasions, their systematic infection occurs. This is the reason for the development of furunculosis on the leg.
If ulcers appear very often for a long time, then the reasons for themformations can be associated with chronic diseases, as well as with impaired metabolism in the body and diabetes.
Main symptoms
What does a boil look like? With the development of such an abscess on the leg, the skin begins to redden, itch and itch. Then there is local pain. In this case, a boil is formed, similar to a large pimple. It is diagnosed quite easily. As the abscess develops, the affected area begins to twitch. Many patients experience a noticeable pulsation that stops after the boil matures.
If such a nuisance arose in the area between the legs, then it delivers a lot of pain. This is due to the constant friction of the abscess when walking.
Life cycle
Before telling you how to cure a boil, you should tell what its life cycle is. It consists of the following stages:
- Inflammation. A small pimple forms on the leg, which in the first days does not have clear boundaries. After that, it begins to grow and rises above the skin. At the same time, the abscess constantly itches, itches and worries.
- Necrosis and suppuration. After inflammation, the boil matures. His rod with pus, as well as dead tissue, come out of the pustule.
- Healing. As soon as all its contents come out of the abscess, a so-called crater is formed. Subsequently, the wound heals.
Usually, a boil goes away on its own, without outside intervention. If from the moment the patientI noticed the symptoms of an abscess in myself, more than a week has passed, and the pathogenic pimple has not matured and causes a lot of pain and discomfort, you should immediately contact a surgeon.
The doctor will carefully open it and clean everything with special means. If you do not consult a doctor in time, then such an abscess can develop into a more serious problem.
How to cure a boil?
If an abscess on the leg does not require surgical intervention, then the following treatment regimen must be followed: before each "contact" with a pimple, you should thoroughly wash your hands or disinfect them with an antiseptic. This will prevent infection from entering the boil.
Until the abscess has matured, it is required to apply an antiseptic ointment on it every day. To do this, the surface of the boil should first be disinfected with hydrogen peroxide.
After this procedure, it must be covered with a thick gauze bandage.
After the rod comes out, thoroughly disinfect the wound with hydrogen peroxide. When it dries up and begins to tighten, you can lubricate the rim of the scar with a solution of brilliant green or iodine.
If the boil does not mature and brings a lot of discomfort, then you should consult a doctor. The surgeon is obliged to anesthetize the affected area and make an incision in it. After that, pus is squeezed out of the abscess and the rod is removed. Next, the wound is disinfected.
After applying a sterile dressing to the cut pimple, the doctor sends the patient home.
In the presence of severe pain, including inthe process of aging of the boil, the patient is recommended to use painkillers, observing the interval between their intake - 5-6 hours. Such means can serve as: "No-Shpa", "Ketanov", "Nise", "Analgin", "Spazmalgon".
It is forbidden to take analgesics for more than two days in a row. During this time, the pain syndrome should noticeably subside.
If a boil on the leg occurs in a child, then it should be treated only by a doctor. This is due to the fact that such a disease can be not just an infection, but be the result of an autoimmune or cold disease.
