5 Potent Boils Ointments and How to Use them
Ointment for boils is one way to relieve the symptoms of boils and speed up their healing. This ointment is also used to prevent the spread of boils to other skin areas, as long as the method of use is done correctly.
Boils appear as a result of a bacterial infection Staphylococcus aureus on the skin which is characterized by red, painful, and pus-filled lumps. This skin disease generally occurs in the area of the face, neck, armpits, shoulders or buttocks
To treat mild boils and there are not many of them, you can apply boil ointment to the lump. The use of this ointment can also be accompanied by self-care at home so that the infection can be controlled and does not spread to other areas
A Choice of Effective Boils Ointment
Because boils are caused by a bacterial infection, the type of boil ointment used is an antibiotic ointment. The following are some choices of boil ointments that are generally effective and safe to use:
1. Mupirocin
One of the most commonly used boil ointments is mupirocin. This antibiotic ointment works by eradicating and preventing Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infections in the skin. Using mupirocin ointment is quite easy, you only need to apply a thin layer of ointment to the area of the boil that has been cleaned.
Don't forget to wash your hands before and after applying the ointment. You can also cover the boil area with sterile gauze available at the pharmacy so that the infection doesn't spread. This ointment is usually applied 2–3 times a day for 10 days.
The use of mupirocin ointment must be in accordance with a doctor's prescription and may only be applied to the skin affected by boils. If this boil ointment gets into your eyes, nose or mouth accidentally, rinse it immediately with water.
2. Clindamycin
Clindamycin is also an effective boil ointment. This ointment works by killing bacteria on the skin. Apart from boils, clindamycin ointment is also often used to treat acne. However, you cannot use it carelessly, because this antibiotic ointment requires a doctor's prescription
The way to use clindamycin ointment is more or less the same as mupirocin. This ointment is generally applied to the boil area 2 times a day and the results can be seen in about 2–6 weeks.
3. Bacitracin
The next effective boil ointment is bacitracin. Bacitracin ointment is able to stop the growth of bacteria on the skin. You can apply this ointment to the boil area 1–3 times a day. Although many are available in pharmacies, you should use bacitracin according to the doctor's instructions.
4. Neosporin
Neosporin boil ointment has almost the same benefits and method of use as bacitracin. The difference is, neosporin contains more antibiotics which include bacitracin, neomycin, and polymixin B. This boil ointment must also be used according to doctor's recommendations, usually it needs to be rubbed 1–3 times a day.
Although generally safe and effective for boils, neosporin has more potential to trigger allergic reactions in some people, such as skin redness, itching, and bumps. If this happens, stop using it immediately and go back to the doctor for treatment
5. Polysporin
Polysporin ointment can also be used to treat boils. This ointment contains the antibiotics bacitracin and polymixin B which work by slowing down the growth of bacteria on the skin.
Polysporin usually needs to be applied to the boil 1–3 times a day or as directed by the doctor. However, until now polysporin ointment is still rarely found in Indonesia.
Apart from using boil ointment, you can also do self-care at home, for example warm compresses on the boil area for 10–20 minutes. Self-care is also considered effective in accelerating healing and relieving discomfort from boils.
If the boil bursts, don't panic yet, OK? You can wash it with soap and water first, then dry the boil with sterile gauze.
Next, you can apply boil ointment and cover it with a new sterile gauze to prevent the spread of bacteria. Don't forget to wash your hands after treating a burst boil.
During treating boils, some things to note are:
- Avoid pricking or squeezing the boil as this can make the infection worse.
- Keep your skin clean, for example by taking a shower twice a day and changing clothes immediately after sweating a lot.
- Wash your hands with soap and running water, both before and after treating boils.
- Avoid sharing personal items with others, such as clothes, towels, socks, and gloves.
The use of boil ointment is generally effective for dealing with boils that are still small and not clustered.
However, if the boil is stubborn and cannot be treated with boil ointment, you should consult a doctor so that further treatment can be given. Moreover, if the boil gets bigger, spreads to many areas of the body, or doesn't heal for up to 7 days.
Label : Health
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