Your skin is constantly exposed to the elements and other irritants and is vulnerable to disease as is any other part of your body.
However, skin diseases also affect appearance and cause self-consciousness as well as discomfort.
With the exception of cancer, severe burns, and severe blistering, most skin diseases are not serious.
Your skin contains thousands of hair follicles.
A hair follicle can become infected by bacteria.
The most common one is Staphylococcus.
When this happens the follicle becomes inflamed.
White blood cells accumulate at the site to fight against the infection.
These cells, the bacteria, and dead skin cells combine to form thick white or yellow pus.
The result is a boil.
In the beginning, one sees only a red lump.
The lump is tender and may become painful.
The lump begins to enlarge and becomes even more painful.
The pus continues to collect and acquires a white or yellow center.
Because the pus is contained within the skin, it is under pressure, and the pain and tenderness become worse.
Eventually, the boil will burst open and the pus will drain out.
Sometimes the pus disperses under the skin but this does not often happen.
Boils usually disappear in two weeks.
But you can hasten the process.
First wash the area thoroughly.
Then apply a hot compress to the boil every few hours to encourage early bursting.
Use a clean washcloth every time.
A doctor can also make a small incision in the center to permit the pus to drain away.
An antibiotic might be prescribed to eradicate the bacteria.
Never squeeze the boil or try to open it yourself.
This can cause the bacteria to spread and result in a more severe infection.
Boils are usually not serious and just about everyone has one at one time or another.
It is possible for the bacteria to migrate from the skin into warm food and cause food poisoning.
This happens when the infected person is not careful about washing hands before preparing food.
It is also recommended that a person with a boil take showers instead of baths and use antiseptic soap to curtail the possibility of spreading the infection to other parts of the body.
Once a person has a boil, boils can recur.
When this happens it may require several weeks of treatment by a physician to kill the bacteria.
The doctor may also order blood and urine tests to determine if the recurrent boils are the result of an underlying disease such as diabetes mellitus.
This isn't likely but can happen.
Any condition that weakens the immune system can increase the risk of recurrent boils.
These can also be the result of poor hygiene or lowered resistance to infection.
Men who develop boils in the area of their beard need to avoid shaving as the razor can spread the bacteria.
When it becomes unusually large or severe it is called a carbuncle.
When a group of boils merge together the resulting formation is also referred to as a carbuncle.