Boils - My Home Remedies

Home Remedies for Boils

WARNING: This home remedies site is intended to be archival in nature. The natural remedies here are submitted by numerous people from around the world, and we have no way to test or verify every remedy. As such these home remedies should be used for academic purposes only. Never use any home remedy or other self treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.

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Boils Home Remedies:

Submitted by Denise at 2007-03-06 11:12:57
Hey everybody
what im about to tell you people is priceless.. your gonna feel like you've struck gold and its so inexpensive you wont believe it.
for the past year i have been breaking out with boils like you wouldnt belive i had alot of big ones that just wouldnt go away.. they were so painful and nomatter what i did it wouldnt go away otherwise they would just shrink and then come right back .. and we are not talkin a boil here and there im talkin about boils in my private area! ouch! so i went to the doctor he gave me anti biotics and told me about this stuff to buy and told me if it didnt go away with in the week i have to go to the hospital to get it lanced eww. needless to say i was very scared and upset and never thought it would work always fearing the worst. so i went to the pharmacy i didnt need a perscription and it cost me less then 5 Bucks! and it works great almost over night although you might have to apply it about a week or so dependending how big it is and how much puss it has, the stuff is called.. now make a note write it down youll thank me for this the stuff is called Ichthammol ointment. its a black drawing sab that you apply on the boil .. first clean it with anti bacterial soap apply it on the boil real thick and then put a bandaid to cover it so when it pops it wont spread if your lucky this stuff just may pop the whole thing over night!! i love it .. i keep a supply of it in my bathroom at all times cus you never know .. trust me this stuff really works. and im glad to be able to come here an tell you about this product!!
rating: 7 (152 votes)

Submitted by Lori at 2008-04-18 07:31:15
This is one of the best tips Ive ever got. Use Campho-Phenique Gel only on them. You will be surprised at how fast it rupture. Then go to the doctor and get Bactrim medication. Since Ive done this I havent had not a one. Yay
rating: 7 (29 votes)

Submitted by farmers wife at 2009-08-18 10:27:19
My husband gets boils on his back quite frequently and we have always used a home remedy I recieved from my grandmother. Crack open an egg and remove the contents. Then you remove the thin membrane that lines the inside of the egg shell. Place this on the boil and cover with a bandaid. Do this at night and by morning the core should be in the bandage. Sometimes it takes two or three nights of treatment. I am usually successful with the first nights treatment.
rating: 6 (11 votes)

Submitted at 2006-09-30 12:26:50
I have been getting boils since I was 13 years old. I mostly get them on my bikini line area which is extremely painful and very embarrassing! I went from having 1-3 boils every now and then to having 5-10 all the time. After many visits to doctors and many crazy medications tried with no avail my obgyn suggested using an antibacterial soap. I got the dial antibacterial with moisture body wash. Since I started using it about 6 months ago, I have only had one mild short lasting boil (which is great considering some last for 6 months+). Also have used the generic Target brand and it has worked as well. If you get frequent boils give this a try. It takes a while to clear up the old ones, but this has been a lifesaver for me. Suffering with these all my adult life has been awful, it just seems doctors know nothing about it, and I feel so alone. Good luck to you.
rating: 6 (30 votes)

Submitted by Gillian at 2006-02-25 01:21:41
Boils can also be used, via hot compress, with the help of Epsom Salt.. It may be best to stir in witch hazel, as well. You can also rub honey on top, to help with the infection. Honey has antibiotic properties.

I had one on my darned butt when I was a little girl.. It went away, somewhat, but I had to get that one removed with surgery and stitches. My mom didnt use the epsom salt, or witch hazel, though.. just the compresses. Otherwise, I had several in a few months on my hip, and used this method that worked for alot less money, and much faster and more comfortably.
rating: 6 (21 votes)

Submitted by BoileyGurl at 2007-12-02 04:30:28
I suffer with boils on my right thigh right below my right buttocks. A CVS Pharmacy clerk recommended I try
Ichthammol Ointment 20%. It's a black
ointment that smells like some kind of
burnt meat, but it worked to ease the pain of my boil and eventually cause
my boil to drain after one application!
It cost under $5(USD) and is made by
Goldline.
rating: 6 (46 votes)

Submitted by B. Harvey at 2006-08-31 10:11:54
Use Hunt's Tomato Paste. Use it like an ointment and spread it on the boil or abcess. Then, bandage as usual with gause and tape. Do this at night and the next morning, it is usually draining. It will pull the core out of a boil.
rating: 6 (34 votes)

Submitted at 2008-11-14 07:42:25
Boils can be brought to a head using a folded wad of paper or paper towel soaked in vinegar which is then placed on the boil and covered. It will stay damp even overnite, but repeat with fresh compress every few hours. It took me a little longer than a day to raise the head to bursting. Not only did the vinegar work, it was painless and soothing which is awesome because the boil itself hurt something awful. When the boil comes to a head and/or bursts, pull the skin away from the head to ooze out the pus. DO NOT squeeze since that often squeezes the infectious pus INTO the skin deeper. Keeping the area clean is vital! Boils are often caused by bacteria and washing gently with warm soapy water before and after is vital. Carefully dispose of any bandaids and compresses to reduce risk of spreading the infection. The smell is unpleasant, but the remedy WORKS!
rating: 5 (16 votes)

Submitted by Donna at 2008-07-17 15:58:46
I just had my first boil. It's the most painful thing I think I've ever experienced. Last night I dipped a washcloth in hot water with epsom salt to relieve some of the pain. I did this multiple times for 15 minutes or so. Then, based on recommendations of people on these types of sites, I applied a generous amount of an ointment called Campho Phenique directly to the boil before covering the boil with a large, waterproof bandaid. The boil felt instantly better after applying the Campho Phenique. I left the bandaid on overnight. I woke up this morning, and, sure enough, the boil had drained, just like many people said it would. Thank goodness! Now I am just continuously cleaning the skin around the boil with Dial antibacterial soap and reapplying bandages. But the pain is now minor compared to how it was. I don't know if the boil was just ready to come to a head...but I truly think the Campho Phenique helped tremendously. If you go to a drugstore to find Campho Phenique, look in the cold sore section. And thank you to everyone who recommended this treatment! You were right on!
rating: 5 (11 votes)

Submitted by James at 2006-05-22 04:48:26
For boils, cut a brown paper sack and fold into a patch large enough to cover the affected area.Soak the paper in vinegar, tape over boil, allow to dry. By the time it dries the boil will be to a head and ready to pop, or it will pop by itself.
rating: 5 (51 votes)

Submitted at 2009-06-04 15:39:18
I had a boil recently, the pain was unbelievable...i read some of these remedies so at first i tried campho phenique, its a cold sore gel, it worked a little but it wasnt really curing it, so then i called up a few CVS's to see if they carried the ichthannol ointment from goldline (black drawing out salve) finally on my third try i found a cvs that carried it. I put it on twice a day and cleaned it twice a day and used warm compresses, it took a few days but im so happy to say that it worked wonders!! definitely go out and get this ointment, it works, it smells horrible and will stain your clothes so cover with a big bandaid, but i swear this ointment works im so happy, thank you all for your help
rating: 5 (5 votes)

Submitted by Ruth Ingram at 2006-10-17 00:09:22
Teatree oil works on hard stubborn boils that just won't soften or bust. I used it for three weeks once a night. Just rub it on the boil and I guarantee this works.No need to lance it or go to the doctor.

rating: 5 (14 votes)

Submitted by Moses at 2008-12-06 14:05:15
Go to Wal-Mart and get some Turmeric capsules, 500mg, it's cheap and works amazingly well for boils and inflammations. It's a spice and can also be found in the spice ailse, but the capsules are much easier to control the dosage.
rating: 5 (8 votes)

Submitted by boil free at 2007-03-03 10:35:52
Go to Wal-Mart and purchase detox-7. This product contains herbs that will purify your blood of toxins that cause boils. Mainly Burdock and Dandelion. Also use and antibactirial soap daily in the areas that are prone to boils.
rating: 5 (11 votes)

Submitted at 2006-02-02 16:28:01
I sometimes get painful boils on the inner thigh. Just get a wash cloth and soak it in the hottest tap water you can stand, then place it on the boil for about 20 min at a time, always resoak the towel when it starts cooling down. I also add a lil Witch Hazel on the towel as Im doing this
rating: 5 (5 votes)

Submitted by kt at 2008-08-05 21:10:23
I've had a seriously painful boil at the top of my butt for about a week.I tried cream after to cream to try and soothe it but nothing had worked..until now. you take a bar of industrial soap (very hard, usually has a name that starts with sun..?) shave a small handful off with a grater. then take an equal part of sugar (i used raw) and add to the soap shavings in a cup. To that add some hot water, and mix vigorously. let stand for about 15 mins and you'll notice it becoming more of a paste. Take a compress and slather it in the mixture, then put compress on the boil and cover with some sort of bandage/gauze. keep switching it up every couple of hours. as far as i know this isn't a cure for the boil, but at least for me it made the pain of it very bearable- i'm actually able to sit down! hope this helps :)
rating: 5 (5 votes)

Submitted by Stacy at 2008-11-06 21:31:34
You can take an egg and crack it, and apply the yolk to your boil. The next day the boil should come to a head, if not try it again. Also, you can slice a fresh onion and apply it to the boil and tape it, let it stay there for about 1 day, you will smell like a hamburger, but it works.
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted at 2009-01-10 00:48:02
This cream was created by pediatricians from our state university to cure severe diaper rash, but it can pull the head from a boil in less than an hour. It also works for severe acne and cysts.

Mix the following:
1/2 tube of desitin
1/2 tube of A & D ointment
1/2 tube of bactracin
1/2 tube of lotrimin
Maalox (not too much to make it runny)

I have seen it heal open sores overnight. I have used it for boils and infected sores also. It pulls the infection out quickly and removes the head from boils in less than an hour.
rating: 5 (4 votes)

Submitted by xyz at 2009-01-22 03:40:32
My first boil in years. Was angry and painful. I was worried sick that it'd never heal. Scoured the internet and found this tumeric treatment. It worked on me fine and the boil drained all by itself on the fourth day of my predicament. I was so elated that now i want to share this 'formula'. Hope it works for everybody.

In a mug full of hot water add 1 tsp tumeric powder. Apply warm water heat to the boil using a cloth.Do it 2-3 times a day and watch the boil drain without warning!
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted at 2009-02-15 18:53:00
CAMPHO PHENQUE (i know its not spelled right but you know what im saying)
I had a golf ball size boil i cried over for 3 days--- one night i gulled up and bought this CHEAP dollar general campho + 'something'. it looks like an ambasol tube--- white--- little-- for a buck fifty! i used one hole tube on a knee size bandade-- slapped it on before bed- woke up and it already started to drain. Has been draining all day--

I tried the Tumeric (injusted and paste) nothing.. i did a heating pad on it for 3 days-- nothing.. that Campho worked in less than 12 hours bringing it to a head--- and in the process of draining..

I will NEVER EVER USE anything else again!
rating: 5 (2 votes)

Submitted by Shannon at 2009-04-28 01:11:29
All of the advice on here has been so great; I would like to thank all of you. I kind of read through and came up with a game plan. I have chronic boils in the private area. One got so bad it burst in my blood stream and caused Sepsis; I barely survived that one so these 'Boils' are no game. They are painful, they are embarrassing and I can not seem to ever just get rid of them. I am like a few of you that posted here; I always had at least one on me. Every doctor I have been too gives me expensive creams that insurance does not cover, so ... Here is what I decided to do with all of your advice and it has worked. I no longer suffer from boils and if I do get one I get rid of it quick!

Here is what you do...
FIRST AND FORMOST ... DO NOT SQUEEZE, let it rupture on its own, you do not want it going into your bloodstream.
1st - Daily - I bought them at CVS ($4) they were in the soap section, CVS brand antibacterial wipes. Not the ones in the cleaning section that are for counter tops, lol, they actually have some in the soap section used for hands and body. I use these twice a day; once in the morning and once at night. It was easier for me having it in a wipe; I keep them on the bathroom counter. Cleanse all around to about mid thigh, this alone has minimized my boils, so if anyone has the miracle of getting rid of them to where they never come back … PLEASE let me in on the secret.
2nd - Should you have a flare up, and its small and not painful you can get quick results by using the Ichthemol Ointment, you have to actually ask the pharmacist for it, but you do not have to have a prescription and it is about $3. It is truly the MIRACLE CREAM!! It stinks, but it works. Apply generously and cover. If its stubborn and did not pop on its own over night, apply your warm compresses of hot water and Epson salt for a good hour and then reapply the ointment, cover and go to bed.
This has been a true success for me, I swear I lived with these daily and now may deal with one about every 6 months. I still don't know why we get them though. Is it in our blood? Someone mentioned Detox-7 to help purify your blood of toxins that cause boils but I have had no success in finding this, so if anyone knows it would be greatly appreciated to us all I am sure to know what we can do to prevent the darn things from coming in the first place. Now I have only scars remaining. Thank you ALL!!
rating: 5 (6 votes)

Submitted by HisWifey16 at 2009-06-19 13:42:05
Campho Phenique: Works Wonders. I had a boil on my inner thigh right on the panty line. Put Campho Phenique Gel directly on top, put a generous amount on a guaze square and covered it, went to bed and a few hours later it completely drained. Thank you to everyone who recommended this. You are truly Angels.I get frequent boils and kknow the pain. This eliminated all of that. My boil was bigger than a egg and you could see a very visible bulde, thanks to campho phenique that is all gone now!
rating: 5 (1 votes)

Submitted at 2010-03-11 08:54:32
Okay, may I just say that I am a HUGE skeptic when it comes to most home remedies. However, that has recently changed quite a bit. I had an extremely large and painful boil on my groin, that would not come to a head. I found this site, and noticed alot of posts about using Campho-phenique on it. I thought that sounded rediculous, so I didn't try it. That was until later that night. The boil had become so painful that I couldn't walk, or roll over in bed. I got up, washed the boil and surrounding skin, then applied a generous amout of Campho-Phenique to a guaze and pressed it lightly over the boil. It burned like nothing else, but I held it there for about 5 minutes, and the burning started to go away. That is when I pulled the gauze away and noticed that it had already came to a head and started draining. No kidding, 5 minutes, and it was working. I again washed the area, applied a clean gauze, and went to bed. I got up this morning, and the boil is almost completely gone, and the best part, no more pain! So, next time you have a boil, try Campho-Phenique, it works :)
rating: 5 (3 votes)

Submitted by Renee at 2005-11-06 18:04:05
Use only when the pimple and/or boil is ready for expulsion before doing this!
See my remedy for styes except GENTLY prick the very center of the pimple and/or boil with an absolutely clean needle after a good soaking warm/hot water (can use epsom salts with it just do not allow it go get into the eyes (put vaseline under the boil and/or painful pimple (it will keep the solution to pass over the vaseline and help keep it out of your eyes). The pus will readily drain and allow for your removal and immediately relieve the pain/itch. Use a light coating of Neosporin or other similar anti-infecting ointment.
rating: 4 (29 votes)

Submitted by MaryAnn at 2008-10-28 13:14:29
I was just wondering on who of you drink Pepsi or even dark pop/soda because my brother use to get boils all the time and sense he changed to drinking clear pop/soda he hardly gets them now.
rating: 4 (8 votes)

Submitted at 2008-02-16 11:54:03
cover the boil with Hunt's Tomato paste as a compress.The acids from the tomatoes will soothe the pain and help bring the boil to a head.
rating: 3 (11 votes)

Submitted by punn3302 at 2009-06-25 01:08:28
I got a boil on my head and didn't have a clue what to do....I went ahead and tried using the Ichthammol that is widely talked about on the internet even though I was skeptical.

I bought it from Wal-Greens...they keep it behind the counter at the pharmacy, but you do not need a prescription. Just ask for it and they will grab you a tube....I belive it's made by 'Goldline'.

I applied the blank ichthammol and was surprised at how quickly it work.

I applied the ichthammol and placed a band-aid tightly over it. You don't want the ichthammol getting on your clothes or pillows,etc. It will leave a stain almost like motor oil.

Within a day, the boil was getting better. I didn't know what it ws or how to treat it, so it got pretty bad. But soon it just kind of 'popped'....not like a 'pop', but it broke open slowly.

The band-aid absorbed the substances left over....

When this happens make sure you wash the area....I used anti-bacterial soap....actually it was dish soap, but it was anti-bacterial.

You don't want the stuff in the boil spreading.

I also tried using this tumeric stuff. It's a spice or herb you can buy at the grocery and used a lot in Indian food.

It smells and tastes bad, but it's supposed to help, some people even suggest making a paste of it with water and putting it on the boil.

I would just stick to ichthammol.

Here's the weird thing....

I also had a subaceous cyst on my head that had previously been removed by a doctor twive but just kept growing back in the same exact spot.

This cyst was toward the back of my head, and the boil was toward the front on the same side.

As the boil went down, the cyst began to flare up and it felt like I had another boil growing 'on top' of the cyst. I can't be 100% sure of this, but the cyst always grew very slowly, and now it was growing rapidly and was very painful, just like the boil was.

I used the ichthammol on the cyst thinking it would get rid of the boil and I'd still have the cyst.....

Nope...the ichthammol worked so well it eliminated the boil and the subaceous cyst!

I was pumped as the cyst was getting big and I didn't have health insurance to get it removed this time, even though the first 2 times I did.

It's been about 8 months now and the cyst has not grown back. It's nice not having that bump on my head....it was never really painful, but it was annoying when I would cut my hair short and if I happened to bump it accidentally...it would hurt.

I've continued to use the ichthammol every time I get anything that even resembles a boil.

I seem to get them on my head, I guess it is from wearing hats all the time....I also got one on my waist area where my waistband is on my pants....a little ichthammol and a band-aid for a day or two and it was gone.

I'm pretty sure some of the time I've used the ichthammol on my head has just been on big zits....even though they are nowhere near as painful as the boils or annoying as the cysts, they are still a nuisance at times and the ichthammol clears them up quickly, so it may be able to help some with acne issues.

If you are dealing with boils or even subaceous cysts, would say give the ichthammol a try. Just apply it and put a tight bandaid on it. Wash the area after you take the band-aid off, and keep it clean. use anti-bacterial soap of some kind.

The stuff costs no more than $5 for a tube that will last you awhile. The stuff is thick and a little dab can go a long way.

The name brand I use is GoldLine, I get it at Wal-greens.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted at 2009-10-18 03:26:56
Try applying a piece of fatback (salt pork) held in place by a bandage. Kind of disgusting but it will draw the boil to a head and rupture.

If it is an area applicable, and you can stay home, a hot tub bath (as hot as you can stand it) will bring the boil to a head quickly, but it can make it throb more before it ruptures. Often on smaller boils and ingrown hairs the bath will cause the boil to rupture quickly.

If you have a big, throbbing boil and a fever, better find a doctor; you may have sepsis (blood infection) that is life threatening. Nobody wants to die from a boil.
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by jen from Mt..Pleasant at 2009-10-28 22:28:34
this is a guarantee.i myself and my huband have had multiple amounts of boils.but needless to say i have never had to POP one.all you do is take a potato it doesent matter what kind you use,cut the end piece off,tape it to your boil,when you wake up the infection will be in that end of the potato.you might wan to tape another piece the next night just to make sure you got it all.it doesnt have to be big.lust a small piece will work fine.very innexpencive and guaranteed to work,i promise or your $ back.oh i forgot it dosent cost anything haha
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Donna at 2009-11-17 17:22:09
Okay here lately I have been having trouble with boils. Well before I was trying to pop them myself.ummmm that don't work. All my life I have heard of putting Fat Back on it. Never tried though. Well my boyfriend suggested it to me. The boil is on my butt right at the place where you butt meets your leg soooo PAINFUL can't sit move use the rest room. So anyway we tried the Fat Back. I fell asleep for like 4 hours woke up and there was a head. I am doing it again after a nice hot hot bath
rating: 0 (0 votes)

Submitted by Joann at 2010-03-07 14:35:32
For 2 weeks ..drink everyday a small glass of Lemonade with a small pinch of Cream of Tarter stirred in it. the Cream of Tarter is tart so you don't notice the taste at all..
rating: 0 (0 votes)