Diseases & Conditions Blog

A boil is an infection of a hair follicle (a tiny pit in the skin from which a hair grows) by certain bacteria, usually Staphylococcus. The follicle becomes inflamed and painful. White blood cells, which form part of the body’s defense system against bacteria, collect at the site to combat the infection. White blood cells, bacteria, and dead skin cells form thick white or yellow pus within the inflamed area.A carbuncle is either an unusually large, severe boil or a group of boils joined together by small tunnels in the skin.

Boils and carbuncles are localized infections and usually heal quickly. In a few cases, they are the result of poor resistance to infection or poor hygiene. Boils should not be confused with acne or with any other skin problems.

What are the Symptoms?

A boil starts as a red, tender lump, which may throb. Over the next day or two, it becomes larger and more painful. As pus collects, it develops a white or yellow head, or center. The pus is under pressure, which increases the pain and tenderness. Eventually, it either bursts through the skin or, less commonly, disperses inside. In either case, the pain is relieved and the boil heals.

Boils are extremely common. They affect virtually everybody at some time. Carbuncles are much rarer. Both may recur, because the bacteria that cause the boil or carbuncle may remain on the skin and produce more boils later. There is a risk that if the bacteria find their way from the boil or skin into warm food, they can multiply and produce toxins that cause food poisoning . So if you have a boil you should wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food. If you have recurring boils, you should discuss the problem with your physician.

What should be done?

Most boils burst or disperse of their own accord within two weeks. If you have a boil

for longer than this, or if you have recurrent boils, see your physician. The doctor may take a sample of your blood and/or urine to rule out the unlikely possibility that an underlying disease such as diabetes mellitus is responsible for the boils. Successful treatment for any underlying disease should stop the boils from recurring.
What is the treatment?

Self-help: If you want to get rid of the boil as quickly as possible, apply a hot compress made of cotton cloth soaked in hot water to the boil every few hours. This will help relieve discomfort and hasten bursting.

Professional help: If the boil is about to burst, your physician may make a small cut in the center to allow the pus to drain away. In addition, or perhaps as an alternative, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to kill the bacteria. The treatment for recurrent boils is usually antibiotics and/or an antiseptic soap.This treatment may need to be carried out for several weeks to eradicate the bacteria that are causing the boils. If you have boils,it is best to take showers instead of baths and thus reduce the chances of spreading the infection to other parts of your body.

In this irritating but harmless condition, a fungus grows on the skin between and under the toes, especially the fourth and fifth toes. The skin becomes red, flaky and itchy and smells unpleasant. Sweat or water makes the top layer of skin white and soggy. Other parts of the foot may also be affected.Athlete’s foot is slightly contagious. It can be caught from others through contact with shed fragments of their affected skin. It is very common, but it is seldom troublesome enough to require professional treatment.

What should be done?

Soggy skin between the toes, without underlying inflammation and itching, does not always harbor athlete’s foot, but may be due to sweaty feet. Either condition will benefit from the following self-help.

Self-help: After taking a bath or shower, or swimming, dry between your toes carefully. Apply an antifungal cream, spray or powder. These are available without a prescription. If the skin is soggy, use an antifungal powder. Wear absorbent socks made of natural fibers, such as cotton, rather than artificial fibers. Wear open sandals or shoes with porous soles and uppers. Change your socks daily, and air your shoes well when you are not wearing them. Once the skin is dry, an antifungal cream will usually stop athlete’s foot from recurring. If these measures fail to clear up the problem, see your physician.

Professional help: The physician may prescribe a different antifungal preparation from the one you have been using. If this produces no improvement, the doctor may prescribe antifungal tablets for four to six weeks.

What is this Condition?

Hirsutism is the excessive growth of body hair in women and children. Usually, hair grows in an adult male distribution pattern. This condition commonly occurs spontaneously but may be associated with various underlying diseases. The prognosis varies with the cause of the disorder and the effectiveness of treatment.

What Causes it?

Primary hirsutism probably stems from a hereditary trait. In most cases, the person has a family history of the disorder.

Causes of secondary hirsutism include endocrine abnormalities, such as dysfunction of the pituitary gland (acromegaly, precocious puberty) or dysfunction of the adrenal gland (Cushing’s disease, Cushing’s syndrome, or congenital adrenal hyperplasia). It may also be related to ovarian lesions (such as polycystic ovary disease) and to use of certain drugs, such as Loniten, androgen steroids, or testoster­one.

What are its Symptoms?

Hirsutism typically causes enlarged hair follicles as well as enlargement and excessive pigmentation of the hairs themselves. People usually seek medical help because of excessive facial hair growth.

The pattern of hirsutism varies widely, depending on the person’s race and age. An elderly woman, for example, commonly shows increased hair growth on the chin and upper lip. In secondary hirsutism, other signs of masculinization may appear – deepening of the voice, increased muscle mass, increased size of genitalia, menstrual irregularities, and decreased breast size.

How is it Diagnosed?

To diagnose primary hirsutism, the doctor may look for a family history of hirsutism, menstrual abnormalities, and signs of masculinization. Results of a pelvic exam are normal.

Tests for secondary hirsutism depend on symptoms that suggest an underlying disorder.

How is it Treated?

At the person’s request, treatment of primary hirsutism consists of eliminating excess hair by scissors, shaving, depilatory creams, or removal of the entire hair shaft with tweezers or wax. Bleaching with hydrogen peroxide also may be satisfactory. Electrolysis, a slow and expensive process, can destroy hair bulbs permanently, but it works best when only a few hairs need to be removed .

Hirsutism from elevated androgen levels may require low-dose Decadron, oral contraceptives, or antiandrogens. These drugs vary in effectiveness.

Treatment of secondary hirsutism varies depending on the nature of the underlying disorders