I don't know a thing about you, but I'll bet that if you have experienced the pain, inflammation, tenderness and swelling of a furuncle, you've found yourself wonder "What is a boil, and how can I stop it from happening again?" This article goes through what they are, what causes them, and what treatments help to keep them from coming back.
What Is A Boil Exactly? A boil is an infected hair follicle, sweat or oil gland.
Our bodies naturally have bacteria living on them which we fight off in the normal course of the day.
But sometimes that bacteria finds an entry, in this case through a follicle or gland, and gets under our skin, literally! The site of that infection becomes red, tender, and warm.
Next, our body sends white blood cells to the site of the infection, and they battle the bacteria.
(With boils, the bacteria is normally a staph infection.
) The dying tissue that results from that battle forms the yellowish-white center of the boil, and causes the size to increase.
Normally, it will grow to the size of a marble, but in extreme cases it can grow as large as an apricot! What Puts Me At Risk? You may be wondering "If we all have that bacteria on us, why did I break out and not anyone else?" Well, there are a few factors that put you more at risk than the general population.
Along with what is a boil, you need to ask "What are my risk factors?"

• A compromised immune system, through disease, infection, or smoking.
  
• Having diabetes, which means your blood glucose levels are inconstant.
  
• Being in situations that create poor hygiene: having to share towels or workout gear, not being able to shower regularly.
  
• Having a tendency to ingrown hairs when you shave, which easily become infected.
  
• A job where you sit a lot: boils on buttocks are painful and very common!
• Carrying too much weight, which causes your legs or underarms or the skin on your neck to rub: these are other common areas to get a boil.
  

What Treatments Prevent Recurrence? Look over the list above.
If there are things you can do right away to make changes in your hygiene, your weight, or the frequency of your shave, then you should do so.
If your job requires you to sit a lot, invest in a beaded seat cushion to keep the skin moving.
What is a boil? An infection that attacks compromised immune systems.
So we can assume from that that anything you do to boost your immune system will help to stop a boil from forming again.
I have found evidence that a homeopathic remedy containing Echinacea is very effective in treating boils.
Native Americans have used the flower for hundreds of years to treat blood and skin disorders, and ongoing research in Germany since the 1930s is understanding how its immune-boosting properties can help deal with any number of skin conditions.
What is a boil? A painful skin eruption that can be dealt with.