Abscess on the Skin

    Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi

A skin abscess, also called a boil, appears within or below the skin’s surface usually full of pus or translucent fluid. It’s typically due to a bacterial infection. A skin abscess may appear on any part of the body.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients who suffer from skin abscess and a dermatologist.

Qudratullah, A resident of Kandahar province says: “Abscesses appeared on my skin but I do not know anything about the causes.”

Sajida says: “Abscesses appear on my father’s skin when his blood cholesterol level is high.”

A dermatologist, Doctor Ghulam Nabi Wardak says about the causes of abscess: “some diseases like diabetes, cancers, AIDS, and tuberculosis reduce body resistance against diseases and in the result, it could cause to appear abscesses on the skin. Physical and hard work also could be the causes of the abscess. There are many bacteria exist in our environment and on our skin; when our skin scratches with a sharp object, the virus might infect it and could cause an abscess.”

How do people treat abscess at home?

Sajida says: “we mixed flixweed seeds with flour and made a paste and then we put it on my father’s abscesses but it did not cure them and he needed to visit a doctor.”

Another girl says that they had put ichthyol ointment on the abscess.

Doctor Wardak says: “ichthyol only helps to make the abscess to become soft and it might burst but other bacteria might influence inside the body through the wound. Other home treatments like putting onion slices on the abscess or the leaves of some herbs are dangerous to health. The patient should visit a dermatologist for essential treatment and he/she should avoid sweets and pay attention to his/her cleanliness and the other residents of the home should not use the towel, glass, dishes, and clothes of those who are suffering from the abscess.”