Skin Health Fungal, Bacterial & Viral Infections Print The Treatment, Diagnosis, and Prevention of Abscesses Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD on May 07, 2017 Casey Gallagher, MD is board-certified in dermatology and works as a practicing dermatologist and clinical professor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Casey Gallagher, MD Written by Written by Heather L. Brannon, MD Heather L. Brannon, MD, is a family practice physician in Mauldin, South Carolina. She has been in practice for over 20 years. Learn about our editorial policy Heather L. Brannon, MD Updated on November 10, 2019 Mike Kemp/Getty Images More in Skin Health Fungal, Bacterial & Viral Infections Acne Psoriasis Eczema & Dermatitis More Skin Conditions Skin Care & Cleansing Products A skin abscess is a walled-off, bump-like collection of pus that appears either within or just below the surface of the skin. Abscesses are typically caused by a bacterial infection and tend to appear on the back, chest, buttocks, and certain areas of the face. Sometimes they develop in areas where the hair is present, such as the armpits and pubic area. A furuncle, sometimes called a boil, is caused when a hair follicle becomes infected and creates a small abscess. A carbuncle is defined as multiple pus-draining follicles that combine to create a single infected mass. Furuncles and carbuncles tend to appear in areas of hairy skin that been exposed to minor trauma, sweat, or friction (such as beneath the belt or where the skin has been irritated from shaving). Causes Abscesses are most often caused by a bacteria, called Staphylococcus aureus, which normally exists on the skin and inside the nose. It can enter the body through a cut, abrasion, puncture, or even an insect bite. Other factors can increase the risk of S. aureus infection, including: A chronic skin condition such as acne or eczemaDiabetesA weakened immune systemComing into close contact with an infected personPoor hygiene Another condition called folliculitis can cause an abscess to form within a hair follicle. Infection begins when a hair is trapped beneath the surface and can't break through (a condition commonly referred to as an ingrown hair). Folliculitis can be caused by shaving (particularly in black men) and is also associated with swimming in an improperly chlorinated pool or hot tub. Symptoms An abscess looks like a little bump or a pimple that can grow into an inflamed, fluid-filled cyst. The skin surrounding an abscess is often painful and warm to the touch. In some cases, an abscess can be extremely hard and firm (indurated). Depending on the cause, the appearance of an abscess may be accompanied by fever, nausea, or swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy). Diagnosis is usually made on appearance alone. While smaller abscesses can usually be treated at home, medical attention should be considered if any of the following occurs: Development of an abscess on the faceDevelopment of multiple abscessesWorsening or extremely painful abscessesAbscesses of more than two inches in diameterAbscesses that persist for more than two weeksAbscesses that recur Treatment Small abscesses can be treated at home with a warm compress to relieve pain and promote drainage. A larger abscess may need to be drained at the doctor's office to both relieve the pain and treat the infection. Depending on the cause of an abscess, a doctor may consider whether or not an antibiotic is needed. On the other hand, antibiotics are customarily prescribed to persons who have a weakened immune system or are experiencing whole-body symptoms like fever. In such cases, a doctor may take a pus sample to better evaluate the cause and ensure that the bacteria is not drug-resistant. It is important that you not drain an abscess at home as this can worsen the infection. Always wash your hands after touching an abscess and clean anything comes in contact with it, including clothing and compresses. Prevention While abscesses are not entirely avoidable, there are a few simple measures you can take to better prevent them: Always wash your hands, ideally with an antibacterial cleanser.Treat any cuts with care, keeping them clean, covered, and dry until they are fully healed.Do not share personal items like razors, towels, lipstick, or lip balm.Avoid cutting yourself when shaving your underarms or pubic area. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kolar SL, Liu GY. Targeting bacterial abscess formation. EBioMedicine. 2016;12:16-17. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.10.017 InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Boils and carbuncles: Overview. 2018 Jun 14. Creech CB, Al-zubeidi DN, Fritz SA. Prevention of recurrent staphylococcal skin infections. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015;29(3):429-64. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.05.007 Patterson, JW. Practical Skin Pathology: A Diagnostic Approach. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2013. Toomey A, Le JK. Abscess, breast. [Updated 2019 Jan 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. National Health Service. Treatment abscess. Update November 4, 2019. Baiu I, Melendez E. Skin abscess. JAMA. 2018;319(13):1405. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.1355 Murren Boezem, J. KidsHealth from Nemours. Abscess. Update September 2017. Additional Reading Wolf, K; Johnson, R.; and Suurman, R.. "Section 22. Bacterial infections involving the skin." Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology (5th ed.). 2005; McGraw-Hill Professional; ISBN-13 978-0071440196. Continue Reading