Boils are painful, pus-filled bumps that form under the skin when bacteria infect one or more of the hair follicles.
Although anyone - including otherwise healthy people - can develop boils, the following factors can increase your risk:
- Poor general health - Having chronic poor health makes it harder for the immune system to fight infections.
- Diabetes - This disease also makes it more difficult for the body to fight infection. In fact, recurrent boils sometimes may be a symptom of diabetes, especially in people older than 40.
- Clothing that are tight - The constant irritation from tight clothing can cause breaks in the skin, making it easier for bacteria to enter the body.
- Other skin conditions - Because they damage the skin's protective barrier, skin problems such as acne and dermatitis make one more susceptible to boils and carbuncles.
- Immune-suppressing medications - Long-term use of corticosteroids such as prednisone or other drugs that suppress the immune system can increase the risk.
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