Repeated Boils
Discussion
I went for 36 years without ever having a boil. In the last year I have had loads, lost count but at least 15. Most clear up with warm compress 3 times a day and eventually rupture. A couple wouldn't clear so I went to the GP and they gave me antibiotics. I said to them I keep getting them and they did some blood tests for diabetes and general immunity, they all came back fine and sent me on my way.
I had one on my biffins bridge the other week. Made cycling a very painful affair!
Anyone else suffered similar or know why they keep happening? Don't want to go back and waste my GPs time again as they seem to have done all they can and its not a big deal, just annoying.
I had one on my biffins bridge the other week. Made cycling a very painful affair!
Anyone else suffered similar or know why they keep happening? Don't want to go back and waste my GPs time again as they seem to have done all they can and its not a big deal, just annoying.
I went through this in my late teens or early 20's, not sure exactly when. Large (50p size) boils randomly all over the place even in armpits. GP did tests for diabetes etc and all clear. Went away on their own in the end IIRC and never had anything like it since.
Be interested to hear what others think.
Good luck
Be interested to hear what others think.
Good luck
So blood tests are all good. That's bad in a way as it means the solution is not obvious.
Are you doing something different at work or home? Are you handling anything unusual? Do you cycle off-road, through fields that are sprayed? Oil seed rape gave me major problems until I took a different route. Is there any change in your home environment? A lad at work came out in a rash from his clothes being washed biologically. Took months to start, but when the pimples came, they came with a rush.
Are you using any chemicals? Sometimes the reaction come the fourth or fifth time you are exposed. Stress can cause all sorts of problems. Is that a possibility?
Go back to some time before the start of the boils as sometimes it takes a while for a reaction to show.
I don't want to worry you, but when I was 32 I became intolerant to alcohol. I think it was merely going from London Dry to Gordens that triggered it. Now if someone spills alcohol on me, I have to wash immediately or else my skin will crack and sometimes even bleed.
It's probably not that.
Are you doing something different at work or home? Are you handling anything unusual? Do you cycle off-road, through fields that are sprayed? Oil seed rape gave me major problems until I took a different route. Is there any change in your home environment? A lad at work came out in a rash from his clothes being washed biologically. Took months to start, but when the pimples came, they came with a rush.
Are you using any chemicals? Sometimes the reaction come the fourth or fifth time you are exposed. Stress can cause all sorts of problems. Is that a possibility?
Go back to some time before the start of the boils as sometimes it takes a while for a reaction to show.
I don't want to worry you, but when I was 32 I became intolerant to alcohol. I think it was merely going from London Dry to Gordens that triggered it. Now if someone spills alcohol on me, I have to wash immediately or else my skin will crack and sometimes even bleed.
It's probably not that.
Most people who keep getting boils are carriers of Staphylococcus aureus (staph bacteria). This means they have staph bacteria living on their skin or inside their nose.
Treatment will depend on where the bacteria are found on your body. An antiseptic soap can be used to kill the bacteria on the skin. Bacteria in the nose will need to be treated with a prescribed antiseptic cream for up to 10 days.
Extract from NHS site, also states that boils can be transmitted from person to person via various routes.
If you work in the food industry, the protocol is that you must report this to your employer [not suggesting you do]
Treatment will depend on where the bacteria are found on your body. An antiseptic soap can be used to kill the bacteria on the skin. Bacteria in the nose will need to be treated with a prescribed antiseptic cream for up to 10 days.
Extract from NHS site, also states that boils can be transmitted from person to person via various routes.
If you work in the food industry, the protocol is that you must report this to your employer [not suggesting you do]
carinatauk said:
Most people who keep getting boils are carriers of Staphylococcus aureus (staph bacteria). This means they have staph bacteria living on their skin or inside their nose.
Treatment will depend on where the bacteria are found on your body. An antiseptic soap can be used to kill the bacteria on the skin. Bacteria in the nose will need to be treated with a prescribed antiseptic cream for up to 10 days.
Extract from NHS site, also states that boils can be transmitted from person to person via various routes.
If you work in the food industry, the protocol is that you must report this to your employer [not suggesting you do]
^This. Boils, spots, acne - they are all caused by localised bacterial infections. You need either stronger or different antibiotics. Treatment will depend on where the bacteria are found on your body. An antiseptic soap can be used to kill the bacteria on the skin. Bacteria in the nose will need to be treated with a prescribed antiseptic cream for up to 10 days.
Extract from NHS site, also states that boils can be transmitted from person to person via various routes.
If you work in the food industry, the protocol is that you must report this to your employer [not suggesting you do]
Derek Smith said:
So blood tests are all good. That's bad in a way as it means the solution is not obvious.
Are you doing something different at work or home? Are you handling anything unusual? Do you cycle off-road, through fields that are sprayed? Oil seed rape gave me major problems until I took a different route. Is there any change in your home environment? A lad at work came out in a rash from his clothes being washed biologically. Took months to start, but when the pimples came, they came with a rush.
Are you using any chemicals? Sometimes the reaction come the fourth or fifth time you are exposed. Stress can cause all sorts of problems. Is that a possibility?
Go back to some time before the start of the boils as sometimes it takes a while for a reaction to show.
I don't want to worry you, but when I was 32 I became intolerant to alcohol. I think it was merely going from London Dry to Gordens that triggered it. Now if someone spills alcohol on me, I have to wash immediately or else my skin will crack and sometimes even bleed.
It's probably not that.
I am definitively not intolerant to alcohol :-)Are you doing something different at work or home? Are you handling anything unusual? Do you cycle off-road, through fields that are sprayed? Oil seed rape gave me major problems until I took a different route. Is there any change in your home environment? A lad at work came out in a rash from his clothes being washed biologically. Took months to start, but when the pimples came, they came with a rush.
Are you using any chemicals? Sometimes the reaction come the fourth or fifth time you are exposed. Stress can cause all sorts of problems. Is that a possibility?
Go back to some time before the start of the boils as sometimes it takes a while for a reaction to show.
I don't want to worry you, but when I was 32 I became intolerant to alcohol. I think it was merely going from London Dry to Gordens that triggered it. Now if someone spills alcohol on me, I have to wash immediately or else my skin will crack and sometimes even bleed.
It's probably not that.
I don't think its stress, if anything I think I am less stressed now that a couple of years ago. There is some stress of course, but nothing excessive.
No change in the home. I do a lot of cycling and have started using the turbo trainer a lot more. I wonder if it maybe down to the sweat etc from that. Most of the boils I get tend to be in the arse region. Although I did have some on my face a while back.
I suffered all the way from my teens and into my 30's with boils and carbuncles, so I know what you are going through. I accepted it as a youngster but when it persisted through to my 30's I thought enough is enough and went to see my GP. He referred me to the skin hospital and they put me on a course of Roaccutane tablets for a period of 3 months.
If you read up on it, it does mention a lot of side affects, the only side affect I had was with dryness of the skin and nasal passage which did lead to some bleeding, but only very slight.
I'm almost 60 now and have been pretty clear since apart from the odd spot or two, but I put that down to over indulgence of rich food and booze
If you read up on it, it does mention a lot of side affects, the only side affect I had was with dryness of the skin and nasal passage which did lead to some bleeding, but only very slight.
I'm almost 60 now and have been pretty clear since apart from the odd spot or two, but I put that down to over indulgence of rich food and booze
Hi, in my 60snow had boils since my early 20s, tried everything the doctors and hospital ever gave me, NOTHING ever healed, some were so large and painful it was awful especially round the neck and forehead, made me so sad and embarrassed for many many years, I even tried water from Lourdes that’s how desperate I was, anywayI feel for you, If you find a cure please let me know
JimmyConwayNW said:
I found similar when sweating through exercise. Particularly inside thigh and arse. Switched to wicking sportswear boxers and I always have a hot shower and quick blast to cold at the end of showering and have been largely spot / boil free.
I think its linked to this. I have phases where I will have a few and then nothing for ages. I did wonder if the amount of training I was doing was impacting my immunity but in terms of other illness, clods, flu etc I've never been healthier and hardly get any.Currently dealing with one on my arse which is bigger than the arse itself almost! Very painful, Been to the GP and got ABs. Dr said it was probably down to the cycling and exercise that keeps causing them.
I can't wait for this one to burst. Going to be a lot of puss! f
king hell it hurts.
I can't wait for this one to burst. Going to be a lot of puss! f
king hell it hurts.Keen cyclist here
I don't get boils, but got eczema and tiny insect bite style marks all over skin ruined my skin, my legs were red raw
Similar to Derek, it was booze, quit booze and my skin went perfect, seemed like @ 34 my immune system didnt want beer again
Not showering straight after cycling was also a catalyst for my poor skin, all the pores get blocked
Although as above I would look at getting all the bacteria off your skin and take it from there
I don't get boils, but got eczema and tiny insect bite style marks all over skin ruined my skin, my legs were red raw
Similar to Derek, it was booze, quit booze and my skin went perfect, seemed like @ 34 my immune system didnt want beer again
Not showering straight after cycling was also a catalyst for my poor skin, all the pores get blocked
Although as above I would look at getting all the bacteria off your skin and take it from there
dudleybloke said:
Ingrowing hairs?
Don't think they are ingrowing but the hair follicle seems to be the culprit. I think the combination of sweat and friction irritates the glands and hair follicles and then the bacteria find their way in.I have been a bit lazy in the past in not washing my bibs after every use. Its hard when you cycle to work 4 days a week and cycle recreationally 3 times a week. Going to get a couple of sets of cheap bibs and rotate and wash every day. Will scrub with hibbiscrub regularly to to keep the bacteria at bay.
Scabutz said:
dudleybloke said:
Ingrowing hairs?
Don't think they are ingrowing but the hair follicle seems to be the culprit. I think the combination of sweat and friction irritates the glands and hair follicles and then the bacteria find their way in.I have been a bit lazy in the past in not washing my bibs after every use. Its hard when you cycle to work 4 days a week and cycle recreationally 3 times a week. Going to get a couple of sets of cheap bibs and rotate and wash every day. Will scrub with hibbiscrub regularly to to keep the bacteria at bay.
Boils and pimples can be caused by ingrowing hairs getting dirty or infected; don't shave your balls too close (against the growth direction) and moisturise well. Stick anti-bacterial cycling cream into Amazon - there are several.
Edited by Julietbravo on Wednesday 28th March 12:06
FFS. I've got one on my finger now. My finger is twice the size it should be. My god does it fking hurt.
Been to the GP and got antibiotics. Again said this keeps happening. Again for told to have a diabetes blood test. I've had 4 of these in 2 years and my glucose levels are perfect. Said this and she just said, well it's worth checking again.
king hurt.Been to the GP and got antibiotics. Again said this keeps happening. Again for told to have a diabetes blood test. I've had 4 of these in 2 years and my glucose levels are perfect. Said this and she just said, well it's worth checking again.
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