Ingrown Hair And Boils Home Remedies
The main aim of our skin is to provide protection to the internal organs from any outside foreign material. The skin therefore, is usually covered by bacteria which are trying to find a route to enter the skin. The Staphylococci, a bacterium that usually resides on the surface of the skin is one such organism that is always on the lookout for an entry into the human body.
The formation of boils usually occurs when this bacterium enters the body through broken skin. The infection causes inflammation and could also be a source of great pain. If the boils are isolated, they are better known as furuncles and when they appear in clusters, they are called carbuncles. When immunity is diminished or proper hygiene is not maintained, a person becomes susceptible to re-occurrence of boils.
The boils often occur and then disappear on their own. However, there are also some that are ‘stubborn’ and require treatment. Also, since the boils are infectious, it is advised that contact with other people should be avoided till there is not fear of contamination.
Usually a boil can be treated at home using hot compression to improve the circulation of blood. Also a hot compression may help in bringing the boil to a head. It may erupt and all the pus and fluid will come out on its own. However if the boil is very painful, induces fever and chills and is gaining in size, it is best to get medical help. The doctors will usually prescribe an antibiotic that will help dry the boil quickly. Sometimes, a minor surgery is also required to treat a boil.
Avoid refined foods when you have a boil. Instead, increase intake of foods that contain vitamin A. Zinc supplements are also taken to heal the boils. Add sweet potatoes, papaya and carrots for vitamin A and oyster for zinc, in your diet. You may also resort to drinking carrot juice everyday to heal your boils faster. You can also apply tea tree oil on the boil. For long term prevention, eating garlic can help.
The ingrown hair problem is also irritating. Small bumps form and the hair gets trapped within. There is inflammation, sometimes slight, sometimes excessive. You can even see a curled up hair from the centre of the boil. There is pain, itching and redness around the ingrown hair. There could also be some pus in the area.
The best method to remove ingrown hair is regular exfoliation. Exfoliation helps cleanse dead skin and other debris which can trap the hair and prevent it from growing out of the skin.
