My daughter is 20 mos old and she just got another boil/abscess. This will be her 3rd one. The first two were on her butt and this new one is on her belly, she been getting them since she was 9mos. they start out small, like a bug bite. or pimple. and within days it will get bigger and redder. To drain them I found that (this part hurts the most) taking a warm/hot cloth and some fresh ginger seems to help pull the puss out. Then we take a trip to the doctors as well.

Since I was a teenager, I have gotten boils at least once a month on my inner thighs. I have found the best way to deal with them is hot compresses, gauze, and a good anti-bacterial soap and topical cream. I recently had a rather large one (the size of a golf ball, maybe slightly larger) and had to go to the local ER to have it lanced. The doctor lanced it, wrapped it in non adhesive gauze and told me to take a lukewarm sitz bath three times a day, wash it with antibacterial soap. He gave me two prescriptions for antibiotics (Keflex and Bactrim) along with a mild painkiller. I've never had a boil this large or this painful before, so we shall see.

I have had four boils/cellulitis in the past seven years. I tried almost every homeopathic remedy and some do help – especially using drawing salve with tea and oregano oil. However, they last a lot longer, so if you don't have significant improvement within a week, go see a doctor. Three out of four times I end up needing Bactrim or Keflex, and within three days the infection is gone. I've had boils on my bikini line and one on my inner thigh – that one had to be lanced. The antibiotics definitely speed up the healing. When I went homeopathic, it took over two weeks and cost more than my doctor visit and meds. I hate meds, but the quick healing is worth it. I always ask for yeast infection pills – just in case. i

I had suffered from many boils from ages 25 to 30 years. I am now 37, and in the past seven years I have not had one. I have been taking a mega-B multivitamin daily and this has been a big breakthrough for me. Drinking 1 to 3 liters of water daily is of benefit too. Years of taking antidepressant medication had disrupted the balance of my system. Being tired, run down, and stressed also contributed to these boils. Antibiotics did nothing for me to treat these boils. Heat, warm salty water, and continual bandaging tend to increase healing. Draining the boil increases healing, but always keep hands and effected areas clean, as the chance for reinfection is high. Lancing was the quickest way for the boils to heal. Stuffing the open pit/wound with gauze and continually flushing with saline water is also very helpful. Not enjoyable, in fact excruciating, but very effective in healing. Everyone is different in how they will respond to treatment, but I hope this helps.

I am 24 and got my first boil two weeks ago on my top left buttocks area. I got it after flying to another country. It got big and painful, so I had to go to a doctor. It was drained and I was cured. I was so happy for two weeks, since it vanished so fast. But two days ago I found a small boil on my waist. Today I got another on my left thigh. I'm not sure what to do. I'm a student, but I can't study anymore with a peaceful mind because of this.

I recall our whole family having a bout with boils when I was in third grade. We used bag balm with a bandage that would help draw out the infection. No troubles since. Now I think my three year old has one. She has had a bout of folliculitis a few weeks ago which required antibiotics and bleach baths. My 8 year old had MRSA after getting a rug burn at a bouncy house. It got infected and it spread. Bleach baths and topical antibiotic cream did the trick. Now I believe this boil is a result of my 3 year olds trouble with folliculitis. Putting bag balm and a bandage resulted in it draining within a few hours. Changing the bandage and putting more bag balm keeps it draining...it hurts her and affects her walking. We have an appointment with the doctor if it doesn't get better in two days. Doing a bleach bath now and will do antibiotic topical cream and bag balm.