what is this skin boil?

Question

i have this irritation on my arm that really hurts. ive tried to drain all the pus from it but its very painful. its red painful sensitive and i can barely move my arm. i also have a fever right now and i think that thats the reason im sick. i dont know what it is any but any information would be helpful

Answer 1

WEBMD has this information for "boil". I had one on my stomach and went to the doctor to drain it, he made a small cut and drained it, he had to squeeze really hard to get all the pus out and it hurt like heck. Then they stuff it with gauze and you have to clean it out daily until the cut closes up by itself. Please go see a doctor, it doesn't get better it only get worse and painful.
A boil is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After 4-7 days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin.

The most common places for boils to appear are on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks. When one forms on the eyelid, it is called a sty.
If several boils appear in a group, this is a more serious type of infection called a carbuncle.
Causes of Boils
Most boils are caused by a germ (staphylococcal bacteria). This germ enters the body through tiny nicks or cuts in the skin or can travel down the hair to the follicle.

These health problems make people more susceptible to skin infections:

Diabetes
Problems with the immune system
Poor nutrition
Poor hygiene
Exposure to harsh chemicals that irritate the skin
Symptoms of Boils
A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump usually less than an inch in size. Over the next few days, the lump becomes softer, larger, and more painful. Soon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. These are the signs of a severe infection:

The skin around the boil becomes infected. It turns red, painful, warm, and swollen.
More boils may appear around the original one.
A fever develops.
Lymph nodes become swollen.
When to Seek Medical Care
You start running a fever.
The skin around the boil turns red or red streaks appear.
The pain becomes severe.
The boil does not drain.
A second boil appears.
You have a heart murmur, diabetes, any problem with your immune system, or use immune suppressing drugs (for example, corticosteroids or chemotherapy) and you develop a boil.


Boils usually do not need immediate emergency attention. If you are in poor health and you develop high fever and chills along with the infection, a trip to a hospital's Emergency Department is needed.
Exams and Tests
Your doctor can make the diagnosis with a physical exam. Many parts of your body may be affected by this infection on your skin, so some of the questions or exam may be about other parts of your body.

Boils Treatment - Self-Care at Home
Apply warm compresses and soak the boil in warm water. This will decrease the pain and help draw the pus to the surface. Once the boil comes to a head, it will burst with repeated soakings. This usually occurs within 10 days of its appearance. You can make a warm compress by soaking a wash cloth in warm water and squeezing out the excess moisture.
When the boil starts draining, wash it with an antibacterial soap until all the pus is gone. Apply a medicated ointment and a bandage. Continue to wash the infected area 2-3 times a day and to use warm compresses until the wound heals.
Do not pop the boil with a needle. This usually results in making the infection worse.
Medical Treatment
If there are concerns about the seriousness of the infection, additional blood tests will be performed. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics to take if the infection is severe. If the boil is drained, a culture may be done to determine the type of bacteria causing the infection and to assess if an appropriate antibiotic was given.

Next Steps - Follow-up
Whether the boil is drained at home or is lanced by a doctor, you will need to clean the infected area 2-3 times a day until the wound is healed. Apply an antibiotic ointment after washing and cover with a bandage. If the area turns red or looks as if it is getting infected again, contact your doctor.

Prevention
Help prevent boils by following these guidelines:

Carefully wash clothes, bed linen, and towels of a family member who is infected with boils.
Clean and treat minor skin wounds.
Practice good personal hygiene.
Stay as healthy as possible.
Outlook
Most boils will disappear with simple home treatment.

Answer 2

My sister was getting boils often, her doctor told her to put a small amount of antibiotic ointment ( like neosporin ) in her nostrils. She started doing that and hasn't had a boil since!!

Answer 3

put ice on skin