Gallery of Skin Boil Pictures and Other Infections

Skin boils are an infection that starts around a hair follicle or oil gland. They are usually caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but may be due to other infectious agents.

MRSA can't be identified simply by looking at it. Many skin infections look similar. These pictures of skin boils illustrate the various ways MRSA and other infections on the skin can look.

Skin boils are often misidentified as a bug or spider bite. You may see pictures here that also appear in the spider bite picture gallery because the victim originally thought the boil came from a spider bite. Unless you catch a spider in the act of biting, chances are the boil is caused by some type of infection.

1

MRSA Blister on Toe

MRSA picture — Victim Thought She had Been Bitten by a Spider. (c) Bridget Wuerdeman

Bridget thought this blister was from a spider bite until the healthcare provider told her it was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Bridget submitted this picture so others could see what skin infections look like and learn how important it is to see a healthcare provider when blisters or lesions continue to get worse.

Bridget was given antibiotics to kill the infection. Hopefully, she took all the antibiotics she was prescribed. If you don't complete all the antibiotics as directed, you can encourage the growth of germs like MRSA that are resistant to certain antibiotics. Despite her healthcare provider telling her not to, Bridget popped the blister.

Cutting a MRSA infection open to drain it should only be done by a healthcare professional using a sterile technique to avoid spreading the MRSA or introducing another infection.

2

MRSA Blister Popped

What Bridget thought was a spider bite turned out to be methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A painful blister developed on her toes that wasn't healing on its own. Bridget was prescribed antibiotics to kill the infection.

Bridget says she popped the blister after three days because she couldn't take the pain and pressure. She was advised not to by her healthcare provider, but did anyway.

Going against a healthcare provider's advice is not recommended; that's the reason you go to the healthcare provider in the first place. Bridget could have introduced another infection into the lesion and made her foot worse. She could also have encouraged the MRSA to migrate to other parts of her body.

3

Impetigo

Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the skin that is pretty common in kids (in fact, some folks incorrectly pronounce it infantigo). It comes from either Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria.

Impetigo is easily treated, doesn't cause a fever, and your healthcare provider will most likely be able to identify it just by looking at it. If they aren't sure, your healthcare provider can test the lesions to see if it is impetigo or not.

Although this isn't MRSA, notice how it looks very similar to other skin infections. Also, note how similar these lesions look to the types of blisters and skin sores that people often associate with spider bites.

4

MRSA Lesion on Inmate's Arm

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can't be identified simply by looking at it. Blisters and boils are the most common forms of MRSA infections on the skin. Commonly mistaken as spider bites—even by healthcare providers—these staph infections are highly resistant to many antibiotics.

This MRSA infection is draining pus. Healthcare providers will often cut into an MRSA infection to drain it. This should only be done by a healthcare professional. It requires sterile technique and there is a risk of spreading the MRSA infection if it is not done correctly.

5

MRSA Boil on Inmate's Arm

MRSA infections spread easily through crowded conditions like those in prisons and military barracks. While there's no difference in the actual bacteria, MRSA infections that spread through hospitals and nursing homes are referred to as hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA).

MRSA infections that come from other areas—including prisons, homes and barracks—are known as community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA).

Even though MRSA most often shows up as blisters or boils, not all blisters or boils are from MRSA. Other forms of Staphylococcus aureus, as well as group A Streptococcus bacteria, cause skin infections that look very similar.

If a boil develops and doesn't go away in a few days, see a healthcare provider.

6

Skin Boil in Zambia

This reader was concerned his boil came from a spider:

"It started small—blister like (yellow white)—after a few hours the blisters was surrounded by reddish and swollen flesh, which was hard when you touched it. This area just increased in everything, a swollen reddish area and even the small blister became more yellow and bigger."

He saw a healthcare provider in Zambia, who lanced and drained his boil. He felt this common boil treatment made it worse:

"The local healthcare provider in Mansa, Zambia diagnosed this to be a boil and that it should be cut and pushed out! I believe this action just aggravated the sore, (I don't know what should have been done) but this sore then properly increased in everything!"

7

Swollen Face

Tami submitted these pictures of an infection in her face that had been bothering her since she visited a family member in the hospital. Her healthcare provider suggested that she may have acquired the infection in the hospital.

Tami's swelling progressed quickly over a three-day period. She went to the healthcare provider on the first day and received augmentin, an oral antibiotic. It wasn't working.

On the third day of swelling (the picture on the left) Tami went to the healthcare provider again. By now the swelling had progressed so much her general healthcare provider sent her to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. She was given an injection of Rocephin.

The picture on the right was taken the same day as the other picture, but four hours after the Rocephin injection.

Tami originally thought the pain and irritation she was feeling came from a pimple. It wasn't until the swelling made her look "like a Who from Whoville" that she sought help from her healthcare provider.

Swelling from infections like this can put pressure on important structures like nerves and airways, so when the swelling gets bad enough it's time to go to the healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a cyst and a boil?

Boils are infections caused by bacteria or fungi. Cysts are non-infectious and non-contagious (although they can become infected if the skin is broken and bacteria gets in). Cysts usually grow slowly and are not painful while boils usually grow rapidly and can be painful. There are many different types of both and treatments vary depending on their cause and location.

Learn More: What Is a Cyst?
How can I tell if I have a staph infection on my skin?
Most skin infections are caused by Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”). Look for these telltale signs:
- Red patches or blisters
- Tenderness and swelling
- Signs of pus
- Fever (not always present)
Learn More: What Is a Staph Infection?

Skin Boils and Other Infections Gallery

Pictures of Skin Boils from MRSA and Other Infections