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Skin abscesses occur when oil or sweat glands become infected, hair follicles become inflamed, or from breaks in the skin. Abscesses most often occur in the armpits, in the groin or around vaginal/anus areas, around a tooth, or on the base of the spine. They are described as tender, warm, pink-to-deep-red lumps on the skin that are filled with pus and debris. Abscesses from inflamed hair follicles are commonly known as boils, or pus-filled nodules. They are often swollen and painful, lying under the skin as a bump that later forms a head of pus and debris. Small abscesses/boils can be treated at home while large ones should be drained by a health expert.

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For small abscesses, apply a warm washcloth to the affected pubic area. Leave on for 30 minutes.

Apply the warm compress to the affected area four times a day until the abscess disappears. If the abscess has formed a boil, the warm compress method can also be used.

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Apply raw honey to the boil overnight to draw out the infection. Fresh, bruised cabbage leaves or raw potato also have drawing properties and can also be applied overnight to affected areas. Use gauze to keep cabbage or potato peelings in place; use a bandage or gauze to cover the honey.

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Also try mashing fresh figs and applying them to the pubic area as a poultice. Cover with gauze if needed; leave on for at least a half hour. Figs are excellent for quickly drawing out infections. Fresh aloe vera gel or pulp can be applied throughout the day for its antibiotic properties.

Tip

Drink at least eight glasses of water every day to flush out toxins and keep skin clear of these kind of staph infections. A diet high in whole foods such as vegetables, whole grains and fruit keep the body healthy, cleansed and full of energy. Additional cleansing can be done by taking echinacea and goldenseal, both of which cleanse the lymph glands. Red clover, burdock root, celery milk thistle and dandelion are also recommended as these herbs cleanse the blood.

Warning

Left untreated or squeezed abscesses/boils can spread to tissue under the skin and get into the bloodstream, which can cause a fever. If abscesses and boils are recurring this could be the sign of other health problems, such as a weakened immune system from a poor diet, diabetes or other serious illness such as cancer and AIDS. Boils/abscesses larger than one centimeter or ones that are recurring should be treated by a health-care professional.