What Causes Boils And What Remedies You Can Use At Home

Cause Of Boils And How To Prevent Infection

Boils are painful red nodules on the skin, usually containing pus and causing itching and irritation. They occur due to bacterial infection of the hair follicles that underlie the skin. Boils usually occur on the scalp, buttocks, back, shoulders, groin, thighs and underarms. The most effective way to keep boils away is to maintain good personal hygiene. The accumulation of dirt, oil and moisture often leads to the eruption of boils. So it is advisable to always keep your skin clean and dry. Bathe as frequently as is necessary to prevent sweat and dirt from accumulating on the skin. Use a mild antibacterial soap to clean the regions that are especially susceptible to boils. Pat your body dry completely before changing into fresh clothes after showering. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes as they impede the circulation of fresh air along the surface of the skin and lead to dampness. Resist the temptation to itch or squeeze the boil, as the pus might infect the surrounding parts of the skin that it comes into contact with. Also include more natural fruit juices in your diet to keep your skin naturally healthy. Drinking a mixture of equal quantities of orange juice and water is also an excellent natural way of cleansing the system and keeping away boils.

In the case of men, the hair follicles of the beard can sometimes be injured during shaving and this may lead to inflammation. Be very careful and gentle while shaving, and always use a natural disinfectant like alum after shaving.

Remedies For Boils

There are a few simple home remedies that you can use to treat boils. Garlic and onion juice are known to be very effective on boils. Apply these juices separately on in combination on the boils. This gradually causes the boils to dry out. The juice of bitter gourd works as a natural disinfectant. Drink a cup of bitter gourd juice mixed with a few drops of lime juice every day to cure boils. You could also make a paste of equal portions of milk cream and vinegar and add a pinch of turmeric powder to it. Applying this paste on the boils cures them in a few days. For another remedy, warm a betel leaf gently and then apply a layer of castor oil on it. Now use this leaf to rub the boils very gently every few hours. The boils will soon burst and then disappear in a few days.