Furuncle: A Most Common Bacterial Skin Infection
Furuncle is one of the bacterial infection effecting skin. It’s more severe than Folliculitis as it involves not only the hair follicle but also the sebaceous or sweat gland. Like Folliculitis, it usually occurs on the neck, face, armpits and buttocks and usually appears as small red nodule, which tender and painful. Invariably the pus from the nodule drains out on it own.
Causes of Furuncle are different to that of Folliculitis, it normally appears due to blood disorder, diabetes, obesity and taking oral steroids.
Mostly it runs its course within 4 to 10 days and normally people self-care by applying a warm compress or soaking the effected area with warm water. It’s suggested to wash the effected area with antibacterial soap and bandaged well once its drained. The healing process can be accelerated by applying Ichthammol-based salve. And in serious cases, prescription oral antibiotics such as dicloxacillin (Dynapen) or cephalexin (Keflex), or topical antibiotics, are commonly used. For patients allergic to penicillin-based drugs, erythromycin (E-base, Erycin) can also be used [Wikipedia].
Tags: Bacterial Infections, Furuncle, Skin Care, Skin Diseases, Skin Infections