Does a Boil Require Surgery?

1. Whether surgery is needed for a boil mainly depends on whether an abscess has formed and whether it will rupture spontaneously.

2. A boil is an acute suppurative inflammation that primarily occurs in hair follicles and the surrounding deep tissues, mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus infections.

3. If a boil has not formed pus and is in its early stage, medical treatment can be adopted. Topical antibiotic ointments such as erythromycin ointment or mupirocin ointment can be applied as recommended by a doctor. When necessary, oral antibiotics such as amoxicillin capsules or cefalexin dispersible tablets can be taken concurrently for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. In such cases, surgery is generally not required. If an abscess has formed and ruptures spontaneously, surgery is not needed, but the pus needs to be cleaned, which can be done using hydrogen peroxide solution for rinsing. If the abscess does not rupture spontaneously, surgical incision and drainage are required to facilitate recovery.

4. When a boil occurs, besides following the doctor's treatment, it is also important to protect the local skin, keep it clean and dry, and avoid contact with water.