Stye is a disease of the eyelid, which is characterized by inflammation in the hair follicle of the eyelash or in the sebaceous gland near its bulb. The medical name of the pathology is hordeolum. It causes discomfort, since a swollen eye with stye looks unattractive and is accompanied by pain when moving the upper or lower eyelid. Pathology can manifest itself regardless of age - in both adults and children. The disease usually affects one eye.
The appearance of stye on the eye occurs unexpectedly. When the inflammatory process develops rapidly, patients are interested in what to do in such a situation. Immediate treatment is required. This violation should not be treated as a temporary inconvenience. Its occurrence indicates that the body’s immune forces are reduced.
Factors of occurrence
The causative agent of the infection is usually a pyogenic bacterium - Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium is present on the skin of any healthy person, and causes infection only if it reaches the deep layer of the skin (for example, through microtrauma). The development of boils is also promoted by:
- dirty skin;
- increased sweating;
- overweight;
- poor nutrition;
- hot humid climate;
- hormonal imbalances in the body;
- poor metabolism.
People with diabetes mellitus, skin diseases, and those prone to stress and depression are often at risk of developing furunculosis because they have a weakened immune system.
Symptoms of furunculosis
Boils are quite painful, and depending on their location, they often interfere with normal everyday activities. An abscess on the butt makes it difficult to sit, on the head it makes it difficult to turn the head, on the face it causes pain when touching the eye or nose, in the armpits it makes it difficult to move the hands.
With furunculosis, a child sometimes shows signs of intoxication. His body temperature rises, his health worsens, he suffers from a headache, and his appetite decreases.
Stages of development
At the very beginning of development, a boil can easily be confused with an ordinary pimple. However, within 3-4 days the inflammation grows, covering the surrounding tissues. Upon palpation, you can feel the tension and density of these tissues.
After a few more days, a sac with a purulent formation forms in the center of the boil, a necrotic core appears and the tissue softens.
Over time, the boil, unable to withstand a large amount of pus, opens and the pus, rejecting the necrotic core, flows out. After which the swelling gradually subsides and redness passes, and a small scar forms in the center of the former boil.
The most dangerous boils are those that arise near the lips, ears and nose. You should not try to squeeze out boils yourself, even if they have arisen in other locations. This can lead to the spread of infection, which will entail serious complications leading to the development of regional lymphadenitis, lymphangitis, and thrombophlebitis.
Symptoms of the formation of a boil (boil)
There is a slight itching and tingling sensation. On the 1st-2nd day, discharge appears. They protrude in a cone shape over the skin, which becomes red and painful when touched. At the top there is a small accumulation of pus with a black dot in the center.
The abscess usually breaks through and dries out, and on days 3-7, it is excreted with pus in the form of a rod along with the remaining hair. The resulting wound is cleaned, filled with granulation tissue and heals. The swelling around it gradually decreases, the pain disappears. A small, whitish, somewhat retracted scar remains at the site of inflammation.
Multiple lesions with boils that appear simultaneously or sequentially one after another in different parts of the body are called furunculosis. When it lasts with small remissions for several years, it is chronic, recurrent.
In places devoid of hair (palms and palmar surface of fingers, soles) boils do not develop. Most often observed on areas of the skin exposed to contamination (forearms, back of the hand) and friction (back of the neck, lower back, gluteal region, thighs). Typically, a boil does not cause significant health problems. The pain is moderate, but when localized, for example, in the external auditory canal or in the nose, it is significant. In the facial area (lips, forehead), as well as on the scrotum, boils are accompanied by significant swelling of the surrounding tissues, which is explained by the looseness of the subcutaneous tissue.
Treatment at home
If the immune system is functioning well, the boil will heal itself in 7-8 days. But to make the process go faster, you can treat boils at home:
- at the initial stage of development, it is necessary to lubricate the abscess with a solution of fucorcin or brilliant green;
- at the stage of compaction and swelling of the connective tissue, it is good to sunbathe in the sun;
- To make the boil empty faster, you need to apply ichthyol ointment;
- It is better to treat an opened abscess with hydrogen peroxide, and also apply bandages with sodium chloride or honey;
- When the boil begins to heal, it is recommended to apply bandages using Vishnevsky ointment.
To prevent the development of purulent formations, you need to shower daily. Do not scratch the itchy area on the skin. Among other things, it is recommended to wear clothes made from natural fabric.
How to speed up the breakthrough of a boil
External boils are not dangerous, and healing occurs faster after the purulent mass comes out. Internal (subcutaneous) boils are more dangerous. It must break through on its own, otherwise there is a risk of developing sepsis - blood poisoning.
Without intervention, the boil matures in about 7-10 days, followed by self-cleaning. To speed up the formation and drawing out of pus, you can use a compress of Ichthyol ointment or Levomekol. The drugs have a strong antibacterial effect, capable of removing infection and removing suppuration. It is not recommended to speed up the process of releasing pus by squeezing; these actions will lead to additional injury at the site of the lesion.
When to contact a surgeon
Boils can be treated at home only for those who are not at risk (do not suffer from chronic diseases), and boils are small in size (up to 5 mm). You should not self-medicate in the following cases:
- if the appearance of a formation is accompanied by intense pain and fever;
- if the abscess has not opened within 2 weeks;
- if furunculosis has developed;
- if the abscess occurs in a small child;
- if the boil is near the nose, lips, in the ear canal;
- there was a relapse of the disease.
Diagnostics
Due to the fact that the foci of inflammation are superficial (except for ulcers in the ear), it is not difficult to diagnose furunculosis. However, with long-term, treatment-resistant furunculosis, there may be a need for extensive diagnostics to establish the exact causes of the disease. In this case, immunodiagnostics, a detailed blood test are performed, and the boil is examined for bacterial seeding of the purulent contents. If the study does not produce results, it is necessary to do a full examination of the body, since furunculosis may be the result of some general disease (blood disease, diabetes, etc.).
Antibiotic treatment
In cases where the boil is large or located in sensitive areas, and its development is accompanied by intoxication, chills and severe inflammation, the surgeon prescribes antibiotics.
For a large boil and a slight increase in temperature, a weekly course is prescribed: the doctor prescribes clindamycin or doxycycline.
At high temperatures and severe inflammation, a two-week course of treatment is most often prescribed, which includes stronger antibiotic drugs: rifadin, rimactan or other analogues.
Don’t forget, Staphylococcus aureus easily adapts to a variety of antibacterial agents, and as soon as the body’s defenses are slightly reduced, they multiply and form new abscesses. Therefore, people with reduced immunity should immediately consult a doctor and not self-prescribe medications. Keep in mind that if you relapse, they will no longer help you!
This article is for informational purposes only, please consult your doctor for details!
What to do with boils is prohibited
Improper home treatment for a boil can cause more harm than good. What not to do:
- Piercing and squeezing out an abscess can provoke widespread spread of infection throughout the body, causing severe complications and blood poisoning.
- Taking a hot bath and using warming procedures in the first phase. An increase in temperature at the site of inflammation contributes to the deepening and expansion of the infectious process.
- Use of Vishnevsky ointment for purulent inflammation of the lymph nodes, festering wen, on the face.
Quick treatment of boils with folk remedies
Alternative medicine recipes will help you quickly and effectively deal with ulcers in different parts of the body. Some of them are allowed even during pregnancy.
Medicinal dough
Regular dough for baking bread or making dumplings will help cope with pain and speed up the process of ripening of the abscess. You just need to take a small piece of fresh, viscous dough, apply it to the boil, secure with a plaster or bandage, and leave for 4 hours. Repeat the procedure daily until the boil opens. Do not use the product after a breakthrough.
The recipe is suitable for treating formations on any part of the body, has no contraindications, and is allowed even for pregnant women.
Brewer's yeast
Dry brewer's yeast is a universal remedy for boils on the face, in the eye area, and on the legs.
You need to prepare a mixture from them:
- Separate 1 tbsp. l. product.
- Place in a plate or enamel bowl.
- Add 20 g flour and 20 ml water.
- Mix the composition.
The mixture should be moderately thick. Apply the mixture to the problem area, leave for 20 minutes, remove with a napkin, and rinse the affected area with water. Repeat daily for a week. The recipe is suitable for pregnant women and children; it is used only at the initial stage until the abscess breaks through.
Garlic and onion compress
Onion or garlic juice is an effective cure for boils in the legs, buttocks, and under the arms. It is necessary to squeeze the juice from a head of garlic or an onion, soak a gauze cloth with it, and apply to the abscess for 30 minutes. Repeat the procedure once a day for a week. It is forbidden to use the method if the capsule breaks. The method is suitable for pregnant women and children.
Baked onion
Onions baked in the oven are suitable for eliminating boils in the buttocks, legs, under the arms, and in the groin area. Not for use in the eye area or face. Cut the onion into 2 parts and place in the oven for 5-7 minutes at +1200. After this, the bulb should cool slightly, the warm product is applied to the abscess for 1 hour.
Repeat the manipulation daily until the boil breaks out. The recipe is suitable for children and pregnant women.
Turmeric
The recipe is suitable for treating boils in the buttocks, legs, armpits, and groin, but is not used during pregnancy.
Sequencing:
- Take 1 tsp turmeric powder.
- Add 2-3 ml of water.
- To stir thoroughly.
- Apply the resulting mass to the area of the abscess.
- Leave for 30 minutes.
Carry out the procedure daily until the boil opens. After the breakthrough, the product is not used.
Beet juice
Freshly squeezed beet juice can be taken orally, half a glass per day to strengthen the immune system and increase the body's resistance. This will speed up the process of maturation of the abscess, and after a breakthrough it will stimulate tissue healing.
The recipe is suitable for any localization of formation, at the early and late stages of the disease. Pregnant women should consult a specialist before using the product. Patients with intestinal and kidney diseases should not take beet juice.
Pine baths
Baths with a decoction of pine needles are used for the formation of boils on the buttocks, under the arms, in the groin, and on the legs.
The recipe is as follows:
- Collect 100 g of spruce or pine needles.
- Boil in 3 liters of water for 20 minutes.
- Filter the composition.
- Add the resulting broth to a bath with warm water.
- The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes.
- Repeat 3 times a week.
After the abscess has broken through, the method is not used. It is contraindicated during pregnancy, with hypertension, varicose veins, and thrombophlebitis.
Aloe
A fresh aloe leaf can be applied to the abscess before and after opening it. The plant must be at least 3 years old. You should cut the leaf into 2 parts, apply the pulp to the boil, secure with a band-aid, and leave overnight. Repeat until complete recovery. The recipe is not used in the eye area and is approved for pregnant women.
Fumigation infusion
An infusion based on fumes must be taken orally daily until complete recovery. The recipe is used at any stage and at any location of formation, but is prohibited for children and pregnant women. For a glass of boiling water you need to take 3 g of herb purchased at the pharmacy and leave for 30 minutes. Divide the filtered medicine into 2 parts and drink throughout the day. Usually 10 days of admission is enough.
Honey cake
The combination of honey and flour brings a good effect in the initial stages of the disease without compromising the integrity of the skin. You should combine 30 g of honey and flour, mix thoroughly until a thick mass is formed, and form a flat cake. Apply it to the boil, secure it with a band-aid, and leave it overnight. Repeat until the abscess breaks through. The recipe has no contraindications.
Heat and moisture
A warm and moist compress is an effective remedy for accelerating the maturation of a boil. It is necessary to moisten a piece of cloth in hot water, apply it to the formation, and leave until the cloth cools. Repeat three times a day until the boil opens. The recipe is suitable for any location of the abscess and is allowed for pregnant women.
Types of boils in adults
Like any other disease, ulcers inside, on the tip or wing of the nose can have their own varieties. A purulent formation consisting of several ulcers fused together is called a carbuncle. Typically, up to ten pimples form a carbuncle.
Multiple abscesses that appear simultaneously in different parts of the new cavity - on the tip, wings or inside - are called furunculosis.
Furunculosis is the most dangerous manifestation of ulcers. This condition must be treated urgently.
The disease usually occurs in an acute form. But in the absence of proper treatment and neglect of hygienic measures, recurrent boils can occur. This means that the disease has become chronic.
At the location of the abscess, an internal boil or boil on the tip or wings of the nose is isolated.
Based on the stage of the disease, boils inside, on the wings or on the tip of the nose are infiltrative (inside which exudate accumulates), purulent (with the formation of purulent masses) and necrotic (when a necrotic rod with dead cells forms inside the abscess).
