A boil is a contagious skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After 4-7 days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin.
Common Boil Locations
Boils can affect any area of your body where you have hair, or where rubbing can occur. They usually form in places where you sweat.
Most often, they’re caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. But they can form from other types of bacteria or fungi on your skin. You may get them just once, every once in a while, or often.
Here are some common places they can appear:
Boils in the groin area. Boils can affect the skin folds of the groin, the pubic area, and the lips and folds of the vagina. This area has lots of hair follicles and can be prone to chafing, especially if you wear tight-fitting clothes. You can also develop a boil after you get a cut or ingrown hair due to shaving this area.
