Condition
Boils and skin infections
Boils on the body, under the arms and in the groin — what they are and when to see a doctor.
What are boils and skin infections?
A boil is a painful, red and warm swelling in the skin in which pus has collected. It forms when a hair follicle or a gland in the skin becomes inflamed and the body walls off the infection.
The most common forms differ in where they appear and how often they come back:
A furuncle is an infection of a single hair follicle and the tissue around it. It appears where there is hair and friction — on the neck, face, buttocks and thighs.
A carbuncle forms when several neighbouring furuncles join together. It is larger, deeper and more painful than a single boil.
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammation that keeps coming back in the same places — most often under the arms, in the groin and under the breasts. You can recognise it by lumps that return and by channels that form under the skin between them.
A pilonidal sinus is a channel in the skin at the top of the cleft between the buttocks, above the tailbone, into which hairs grow. It can be quiet for years and then become inflamed.
An ingrown hair granuloma forms when a hair grows back into the skin and the body surrounds it with inflamed tissue.
Why do they happen?
Boils form when bacteria from the skin get into a hair follicle or a gland. In these places the skin barrier gives way because of friction, sweating, shaving or ingrown hairs.
Hidradenitis suppurativa and pilonidal sinus work differently from an ordinary boil: they leave a permanent channel or cavity under the skin. That is why they come back, and why compresses and antibiotics do not solve them for good — the inflammation settles, but the channel stays.
When should I see a doctor?
See a doctor about a boil if:
- the same spot has become inflamed more than once
- several swellings have appeared at once, or they are spreading
- it has lasted longer than a week or is not getting smaller
- the swelling is on the face, in the groin or near the tailbone
- you also have a fever or feel unwell
- the spot keeps draining, or a channel has opened on the skin
Coming back in the same place is the most important sign: a boil that happens once and a boil that keeps returning are not the same condition, and they are not treated the same way.
Until the examination — what helps and what does not
Warm compresses several times a day help a boil come to a head and open by itself. Keep the spot clean and covered, and change clothes and towels every day, because bacteria spread to the neighbouring skin.
Do not squeeze or lance a boil at home. Pressure pushes the pus deeper into the tissue and the infection spreads, and on the face and near the nose it can lead to serious complications. If a boil opens by itself, gently wipe away the discharge and cover the spot with clean gauze.
Antibiotics without an examination do not help once the pus is walled off: the medicine does not reach into the cavity.
What can be done?
| Problem | Procedure | Also, in the same visit |
|---|---|---|
| A painful, red swelling with pus; several boils joined together; a hair grown into the skin | Surgery for furuncles, carbuncles and granulomas | When inflammation keeps returning in the same area, several affected spots can often be dealt with in a single visit. |
| A channel above the tailbone that becomes inflamed or drains | Pilonidal sinus surgery | — |
| Lumps that keep returning under the arms, in the groin or under the breasts, with channels under the skin | Surgery for hidradenitis suppurativa | Several affected spots in the same area in a single visit. |
| A lump under the skin that was painless for years and suddenly became inflamed | Sebaceous cyst removal | — |
Specialist and team
Specialty: general surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
→ Doctors and team at Poliklinika Barbel
Frequently asked questions
Does a boil go away on its own? A single furuncle often clears up by itself. An infection that keeps coming back in the same place usually does not go away on its own, because a channel or cavity stays under the skin, and the inflammation only leaves it for a while.
Is a boil contagious? The boil itself is not passed on, but the bacteria in its discharge can cause an infection on other skin — yours or someone else's. That is why you wash your hands after every touch, and do not share towels and bedding until the wound has closed.
Why do I get boils? Most often because of friction, sweating and shaving in places where there is hair. They are more common in smokers, in people who are overweight and in people with poorly controlled blood sugar. If boils keep appearing in different places, it is worth checking your blood sugar and iron.
What if I have a boil on my face? A boil on the face, especially around the nose and upper lip, needs a doctor straight away, and you should not touch it with your hands. The veins in this area drain blood towards the inside of the head, so the risk of the infection spreading is higher than anywhere else on the body.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.