| Boils are tender inflamed areas of skin
that contain pus and
can occur anywhere on the body.
A "boil" is a type of abscess of the skin.
The term "boil" is the common name for these dermatological
lesions,
whose medical name is "furuncle".
The infection that causes a boil is usually caused
by the bacterium staphylococcus aureus, which may have entered the skin
via a hair follicle, a break in the skin, or a local injury such as a
cut, scratch, or puncture wound.
Boils usually heal quickly - either after the pus has
been released, or with antibiotic treatment. Low resistance to infection
may result in increasingly stubborn boils.
Links to other relevant areas on this website include:
* _ Labelled Diagram
of the Structure of Skin.
* _ Skin
Pigmentation Conditions.
* _ Glossary Section
for The
Structures of Skin.
* _ Glossary Section
for Common
Skin Conditions (Diseases & Disorders).
* _ Glossary Section
for General
Medical Terms.
* _ Glossary Section
for Lesions
found on the Skin.
This part of the IvyRose Holistic Resources Glossary
is included as a study-aid for students following first-level courses in
human biology, medicine, nursing, natural or holistic therapies (such as
massage, reflexology, aromatherapy etc.), and associated theoretical courses
- who are required recognise and understand
medical
terms.
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