It is better to treat an abscess when it is small.

Abscess

An abscess is usually painful and warm to the touch and pink to deep red in color. Often an abscess is very visible and the middle is full of pus. It can form on any part of human body. Taking different factors into consideration, Dr.Paul’s Clinic recommends observation, incision and drainage, antibiotics etc for abscess treatment.

Causes

Abscesses essentially are the aftermath of inflammation of hair follicles caused by a blockage of in the oil or sweat glands. The blockage is due to foreign invaders that get under the skin and causes an inflammatory response. The pus in an abscess is full of bacteria and dead cells which liquefies. With continuously growth of the pus, it creates pressure under the skin and further inflammation of the tissues around the area.

People with the following are more susceptible to abscess and severe abscess:

Weakened immune system
Chronic steroid therapy
Chemotherapy
Diabetes
Cancer
AIDS
Sickle cell disease
Leukemia
Peripheral vascular disorders
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Severe burns
Severe trauma
Alcoholism or IV drug abuse
Exposure to dirty environments
Exposure to persons with certain types of skin infections
Poor hygiene

Signs and Symptoms

A mass that is painful
compressible
red
tender
warm to the touch

The infection can become worse without treatment; by spreading the infection into deeper tissues.

Treatment

Smaller abscesses can be treated at home by applying a warm compress to the area infected four times a time, thirty minutes at one setting.
Do not apply too much pressure because it can cause the infection to go deeper into the skin.
Do not use any sharp objects to cut the abscess, it can cause further infection.

You should seek medical help if you have any of the following symptoms.

You have a sore larger than 1 cm or a half-inch across.
The sore continues to enlarge or becomes more painful.
The sore is on or near your rectal or groin area.
You have a fever of 101.5°F or higher.
You have a red streak going away from the abscess.

In some cases, Dr.Paul Kattupalli an prescribe an antibiotic. He usually prescribes one of the following antibiotics.