Stages of a boil and when to see a doctor

Boils can be painful - it may be tempting to pop them but it can make them worse. Find out how they develop and whether to self treat or see a doctor. 

What are the stages of a boil?

Do you need to see a doctor for a boil?

What is a carbuncle?

Treating a boil 

How long do boils last? Studies show that the average boil bursts after 2 to 3 days (although it can take up to a week or more), so it’s best to let it heal naturally. Knowing the stages of a boil is key to knowing when to care for a boil yourself and when to get it checked by a doctor. 

## What are the stages of a boil?

A boil often starts as a tender or itchy spot on your skin, surrounding a hair follicle. As the affected area starts to fill with pus, the boil grows and forms a firm, red lump under your skin. 

Boils often look like large pimples, and most grow to be the size of a pea.

After several days or weeks, the boil will usually form a whitish head and then burst, allowing the pus to drain away. At this stage some boils may settle slowly without bursting.

Most small to medium-sized boils don’t cause permanent scarring, but larger boils may leave a scar.


Video: [American Academy of Dermatology](https://www.aad.org/public?utm_source=healthily&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=article)

Get help with this

## Do you need to see a doctor for a boil?

A boil should burst and heal on its own, without the need to see a doctor. However, you should seek medical help if:

- your boil lasts for more than 2 weeks without bursting 
- you have a boil and flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, tiredness or feeling generally unwell
- the redness around the boil starts to spread

A boil is usually caused by an infection, and the above symptoms can be a sign that the infection has spread to the surrounding skin [(cellulitis)](/skin-infections/cellulitis).

If you have a boil on your face, nose or spine, it’s best to see a doctor. A boil that forms in these places can lead to complications and a doctor may want to drain it before the infection has a chance to spread.



You should see a doctor if a boil keeps coming back. They may want to run some tests to work out why you keep getting a boil. 

A doctor may also want to rule out some health problems that can increase your chance of getting a boil, such as [type-2 diabetes](/diabetes/diabetes-type2) or a weakened immune system.

## What is a carbuncle?

A carbuncle is a group of boils that develop next to each other and join beneath the skin. Carbuncles are generally 3 to 10cm in size and often leak pus from multiple points. 

They can be very painful and may cause serious complications if left untreated. If you think you have one, visit a doctor for carbuncle treatment, which may include drainage. 


## Treating a boil 

You may want to pop a boil to get rid of it faster but don't be tempted as you may spread the infection. This can, in rare cases, lead to complications such as [cellulitis](https://www.livehealthily.com/skin-infections/cellulitis "cellulitis") or [sepsis](https://www.livehealthily.com/blood-poisoning "sepsis"). You can usually treat a boil yourself with simple remedies like a warm compress to ease symptoms and encourage healing. Get started by reading this article on [treating boils at home](/boils/home-remedies-for-boils). 

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References

Alec Bussey

Mike Martin

Healthily's medical team

Article information

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

Boils can be painful - it may be tempting to pop them but it can make them worse. Find out how they develop and whether to self treat or see a doctor.