How to get rid of a boil? Start with heat: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) How to treat boils and styes page calls a warm compress “the best way to treat boils and styes yourself”, held on the spot for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times a day, until it releases pus and heals. The MedlinePlus Boils page says you may need surgery to drain deep or large boils, and our Covington, LA clinic treats skin abscesses with on-site incision and drainage, with doors open at 7 AM every single day.
Getting rid of a boil, in five lines
- Heat: soak a clean washcloth in hot water that isn’t too hot, squeeze it out, and hold it on the boil, per the AAD boils and styes page.
- Hands off: the NHS Boils page says do not pick, squeeze or pierce a boil.
- Timeline: most boils and styes heal on their own within 1 to 3 weeks, according to the AAD.
- Get it checked: the MedlinePlus Boils page says to get treatment from your provider for a boil that lasts longer than 1 week, comes back, sits on your spine or the middle of your face, or comes with a fever.
- In Covington: walk-ins are welcome every day at Total Health, per our Covington urgent care page, and the self-pay office visit runs $130 on our pricing and insurance page.
What is a boil on the skin?
The AAD describes boils as “pus-filled skin infections that occur around a hair follicle or oil gland”, and says this causes a red, painful lump to form as pus collects under the skin. According to the MedlinePlus Boils page, boils are most often caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, and they’re most common on the face, neck, armpit, buttocks, and thighs.
Sizes vary a lot, according to the MedlinePlus Boils page, which lists a bump about the size of a pea that may be as large as a golf ball, plus a white or yellow center, among the main symptoms. The Cleveland Clinic Boils and Carbuncles page says a boil usually starts out as a tender, swollen red bump, and it calls clusters of several boils carbuncles. The MedlinePlus Boils page calls boils very common, and a 2015 American Family Physician review of skin and soft tissue infections says those infections account for more than 14 million physician office visits each year in the United States.
How to get rid of a boil at home, step by step
These five steps come from the AAD How to treat boils and styes page, last updated March 6, 2026:
- Make a warm compress. The AAD says to soak a clean washcloth in hot water, while being careful not to use water that is too hot, especially on children.
- Apply it. Squeeze out excess water, then hold the compress to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times daily, until the boil releases pus and heals, per the AAD.
- Consider a pain reliever. For a painful boil, the AAD suggests considering ibuprofen or acetaminophen and reading the directions on the packaging for the correct dose.
- Keep the area clean. The AAD also says to avoid touching or rubbing the boil.
- Keep it covered. If your boil bursts, the AAD says to cover it with a sterile bandage or gauze to prevent infection while it heals.
The NHS Boils page adds a few habits: clean the area around the boil with antibacterial soap if pus comes out, bathe or shower every day, wash your hands regularly, and wash your towels and bedding at least once a week at high temperature. The MedlinePlus Boils page says to keep putting warm, wet compresses on the area after the boil opens and to change the dressing often. And the Cleveland Clinic boils page says to use a clean washcloth (and towel) each time.
Can you get rid of a boil overnight or fast?
Overnight isn’t on the table in the AAD timeline, which says most boils and styes heal on their own within 1 to 3 weeks, and the Cleveland Clinic Boils and Carbuncles page says most boils heal and clear up in about two to three weeks. According to the MedlinePlus Boils page, boils usually need to open and drain in order to heal, which most often happens within 2 weeks. The good news? The NHS Boils page says most boils go away on their own.
The MedlinePlus Boils page says to put warm, moist compresses on the boil several times a day to speed draining and healing, and the Merck Manual folliculitis and skin abscesses page says a skin abscess may drain on its own and warm compresses may speed up the process. Skip the miracle creams, too, since the MedlinePlus Boils page says “Antibacterial soaps and creams cannot help much once a boil has formed.”
For a big, throbbing boil, draining it is the other route the Merck Manual describes: a doctor treats an abscess that doesn’t drain on its own by cutting it open (incising) and draining the pus. A patient leaflet from East Kent Hospitals on incision and drainage of a skin abscess says “once the abscess is drained, most people notice that their pain decreases significantly.”
Should you pop or squeeze a boil?
No, and the AAD puts it plainly: “Never squeeze or pierce a boil or stye yourself, as this can spread the infection.” The MedlinePlus Boils page says never squeeze a boil or try to cut it open at home. Leave the sewing needle in the drawer, too: the Cleveland Clinic Boils and Carbuncles page says a boil should never be squeezed or pricked with a pin or sharp object to release the pus and fluid, because this can spread the infection to other parts of your skin.
A boil on your face is on the NHS Boils page list of reasons to ask for an urgent GP appointment. Cleveland Clinic’s danger triangle article explains why the middle of the face gets extra caution: it says an infection in the area from the bridge of your nose to the corners of your mouth, like one from a picked pimple, has a small but not impossible chance of traveling from your face right to your brain.
What’s the difference between a boil, an abscess, and a cyst?
A boil is a type of abscess. The Cleveland Clinic Abscess page says a boil (furuncle) is an abscess that forms at the site of a sweat gland or hair follicle, and that boils are smaller and closer to the surface of the skin than typical skin abscesses. The NHS Skin cyst page describes skin cysts as round lumps, often filled with fluid or pus, that are usually harmless and grow slowly.
We built this comparison ourselves, naming in every cell the page each fact came from.
Table sources: Cleveland Clinic Boils and Carbuncles, MedlinePlus Carbuncle, MedlinePlus Skin abscess, NHS Skin cyst, Cleveland Clinic Cellulitis, and NHS Cellulitis.
The Merck Manual says furuncles and carbuncles are types of skin abscesses. A cyst may become one, too: the MedlinePlus Epidermoid cyst page says the main symptom is usually a small, non-painful lump beneath the skin, and that epidermoid cysts may become infected and form painful abscesses.
How to get rid of a boil on your buttocks, inner thigh, or armpit
Use the same warm-compress routine, since the AAD says to hold the compress to the affected area, wherever that is. The MedlinePlus Boils page names the armpit, buttocks, and thighs among the places boils are most common. Friction from clothing or shaving is one of the things the MedlinePlus Carbuncle page says makes a carbuncle more likely.
If boil-like lumps keep coming back in these spots, the AAD hidradenitis suppurativa overview says that if you get boil-like lumps often and repeatedly, you could have a skin condition called hidradenitis suppurativa, and that these lumps often look like boils that develop in the armpits, groin, buttocks, or under the breasts. That same AAD page says “hidradenitis suppurativa is not contagious.” Our services page says specialist referrals are sent based on patient need.
When does a boil need to be drained?
The MedlinePlus Boils page says you may need to have surgery to drain deep or large boils, and it tells you to contact your provider if boils appear on your face or spine; occur along with a fever, red streaks coming out from the sore, a large build-up of fluid in the area, or other symptoms of infection; cause pain or discomfort; do not heal with home treatment within 1 week; or come back after treatment.
The NHS Boils page says to see a GP if you’ve had a boil for 2 weeks and the things you’ve tried are not helping, if you keep getting boils, or if you have a group of boils (carbuncle). It says to ask for an urgent appointment if the boil is on your face, the skin around it feels hot, painful and swollen, you feel hot, cold or shivery, or you have a weakened immune system, for example from steroids or a condition like diabetes. The Cleveland Clinic boils page agrees on that last group, saying patients who have diabetes or who have a condition that affects the immune system should see a doctor for the treatment of the boil.
What happens when urgent care drains a boil?
Draining a boil is what the NHS Boils page calls a small procedure to drain the boil to get rid of the pus. Here’s how the Cleveland Clinic Abscess page describes incision and drainage:
- Your provider applies a local anesthetic to the area around the abscess, so you stay awake but the area is numb (Cleveland Clinic Abscess page).
- They make a tiny cut (incision), let the abscess drain, and remove any remaining pus, dead tissue and debris (Cleveland Clinic Abscess page).
- They leave the abscess open so any remaining pus can drain, and for larger abscesses they may pack it with gauze (Cleveland Clinic Abscess page).
- A clean, dry bandage goes on the area (Cleveland Clinic Abscess page).
The MedlinePlus Skin abscess page adds that drainage from the sore may be sent to the lab for a culture, which can help identify the cause of the infection. The Cleveland Clinic Abscess page says any excess drainage should stop within a couple of days and the abscess should heal completely within two weeks, and it notes you may have a scar at the incision site.
Antibiotics aren’t automatic, per the Merck Manual, which says doctors do not always prescribe antibiotics for abscesses, but antibiotics are prescribed for people who have a fever or other symptoms of a serious infection. The MedlinePlus Boils page says your provider may give you antibiotics to take by mouth or a shot if the boil is very bad or comes back. Writing for family physicians, a May 2026 American Family Physician review of skin and soft tissue infections says that for uncomplicated abscesses, the addition of antibiotics after incision and drainage reduces the risk of treatment failure and recurrence, with increased gastrointestinal adverse effects. At Total Health, our services page says the plan of care and prescribed medication are based on abscess type.
Where can I get a boil drained near me in Covington?
Got a boil that won’t quit and a phone full of “urgent care near me” results? Total Health Urgent Care in Covington lists incision and drainage among the services on our services page, which describes it as “Evaluation and treatment on site of skin abscesses using incision and drainage techniques”. Walk-ins are welcome, and our Covington urgent care page shows the clinic open seven days, with hours from 7 AM through 7 PM.
The May 2026 American Family Physician review also says abscesses and cellulitis account for approximately 60% of infections, and most are treated in the ambulatory setting.
Skipping insurance for this one? The self-pay office visit costs $130 at Total Health, and our pricing page explains that the $130 covers any prescribing of medication along with exams and referrals. Our services list is a long one, so that page asks patients to phone (985) 400-5370 ahead about out-of-pocket costs. Have coverage? Our pricing page says the clinic accepts most major health insurance plans; bring your primary card and any secondary card.
Comparing walk-in clinics around St. Tammany Parish for a boil? Look for three things: drainage done on site, hours that include weekends, and a self-pay price posted before you walk in. Total Health’s own pages show all three, from incision and drainage on the services page to the 7-day schedule and the $130 visit price on the pricing page. Our contact page names Folsom, Mandeville, St Benedict, Abita Springs, Franklinton, Madisonville and Covington among the communities we serve.
When is a boil a 911 situation?
Call 911 for any medical emergency. The Cleveland Clinic Boils and Carbuncles page says boils rarely cause serious health problems, but an infection can spread. Its Cellulitis page says to get immediate medical help if you have cellulitis and develop sepsis symptoms like a body temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit or below 96.8 F, rapid heartbeat, trouble breathing, or confusion or dizziness.
Northern Ireland’s official health site, nidirect, says on its cellulitis page to call for an ambulance or go to your nearest emergency department immediately if your face or the area around your eye is affected, or if your symptoms are getting rapidly worse. The MedlinePlus Skin abscess page lists spread of the infection into the blood and throughout the body among the possible complications of an abscess.
How do you stop boils from spreading or coming back?
Good hygiene helps, though the Cleveland Clinic Boils and Carbuncles page admits a boil or carbuncle can happen despite the best hygiene. From the MedlinePlus Boils page: do not reuse or share washcloths or towels, wash clothing, washcloths, towels, and sheets that have touched infected areas in hot water, and throw out used dressings in a sealed bag. The NHS Boils page says not to share your towel with other people or go to a swimming pool or gym until the boil has gone, since you could pass the infection on to others.
If boils keep returning, the MedlinePlus Boils page says to contact your provider. The Cleveland Clinic Boils and Carbuncles page says recurrent boils can be a sign of a life-threatening infection called methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and the MedlinePlus MRSA page says a staph skin infection may look like a boil. The Merck Manual adds that people whose nasal passages contain Staphylococcus bacteria or who live in a hot and humid climate are more likely to have repeat episodes, and that doctors try to reduce the likelihood of repeat infections by instructing people to wash their entire body with antibacterial soap, apply antibiotic ointment inside their nose, and take antibiotics by mouth.
Questions Northshore patients ask about boils
Usually a few weeks. The American Academy of Dermatology says most boils and styes heal on their own within 1 to 3 weeks, and the Cleveland Clinic Boils and Carbuncles page says most boils heal and clear up in about two to three weeks. MedlinePlus says to contact your provider if a boil does not heal with home treatment within 1 week.
Most do. The NHS Boils page says most boils go away on their own. The MedlinePlus Boils page says boils usually need to open and drain in order to heal, which most often happens within 2 weeks, and that you may need surgery to drain deep or large boils.
Warm, moist heat. The AAD page on treating boils and styes calls a warm compress the best way to treat boils and styes yourself, held on for 10 to 15 minutes three to four times daily. The MedlinePlus Boils page says warm, moist compresses several times a day speed draining and healing.
The infection can spread. The Cleveland Clinic Boils and Carbuncles page says you can pass the infection to other people through close contact or by sharing towels or other personal items, and the NHS Boils page says to skip the swimming pool and gym until the boil has gone.
Not always. The MedlinePlus Boils page says your provider may give you antibiotics to take by mouth or a shot if the boil is very bad or comes back, and the Merck Manual says antibiotics are prescribed for people who have a fever or other symptoms of a serious infection.
Yes. Our Covington clinic’s services page lists incision and drainage, described as evaluation and treatment on site of skin abscesses, and the Merck Manual says furuncles, also called boils, are a type of skin abscess.
Total Health’s self-pay office visit costs $130; our pricing page says it covers any prescribing of medication along with exams and referrals. With such a long services list, the pricing page asks you to phone (985) 400-5370 first about out-of-pocket costs.
Coming from Abita Springs, Mandeville, Folsom or Madisonville? Look for Suite A in our building at 73015 Hwy 25, Covington, LA, ZIP code 70435. That puts us just north of downtown Covington, near where Highway 190 and Highway 25 intersect. Questions before the drive? Use our contact page or call (985) 400-5370.
This boil guide was written up for Total Health Urgent Care News, the news and health page of our Covington, Louisiana clinic. Please use it for general education; it isn’t personal medical advice. Our About page names Jennifer Duncan, APRN, MSN, FNP-C, Total Health’s owner, and puts her emergency and urgent care medicine experience at over 25 years. Our home page credits her as the nurse practitioner behind the founding of Total Health Urgent Care. Call 911 for any medical emergency.