Boils and carbuncles are skin infections caused by a bacteria called staphylococcus aureus (commonly referred to as staph). They present as painful pus-filled pockets, which form under the skin and ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I've been having trouble with boils for a couple of years. Last year, my doctor told me that it was a staph infection. After about a week on the antibiotics he prescribed, I started to ...

A boil begins as a red, tender bump and can become a painful, pus-filled bump. To help a boil heal, apply a warm, moist compress for 10 minutes, three times a day. If a boil lasts over a week, you ...

Folliculitis is a common skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become inflamed due to infection, irritation, or blockage. The most frequent cause is a bacterial infection, though fungi and ...

Boils are painful, pus-filled, and are caused by infections like Staphylococcus aureus. Cysts are painless, non-infectious growths filled with keratin or other substances. Antibiotics may treat boils ...

Mark Gurarie is a writer covering health topics, technology, music, books, and culture. He also teaches health science and research writing at George Washington University's School of Medical and ...