Abscess

An abscess of the skin can occur in both children and adults. It is an infection caused by a germ (usually Staphylococcus aureus) which invades a skin pore. At first, you will notice a painful, reddened lump. Over a few days the lump becomes redder, more painful and pus forms. After several days the abscess comes to a head and either bursts itself, or can be lanced and drained by your doctor, under sterile conditions. After it has opened, it will no longer be so painful and should start to heal. You should always get a doctor to do this, as squeezing the boil yourself can be extremely painful and can lead to the spread of the infection to other parts of the body, or even into the bloodstream.