Overview

An abscess is an infection characterized by a build-up of pus on part of the skin. painful and warm to touch, abscesses can show up any place on your body. Skin abscesses are the result of a bacterial infection when Staphylococcus bacteria enter the body through hair follicles, wounds, injuries, punctures or skin fractures. The skin abscess   is a localized accumulation of pus that develops in response to infection or in the presence of other foreign substances on the skin. People can develop a skin abscess for a variety of reasons but the most common cause is a bacterial infection. 

Abscesses can form in many parts of the body, but they usually affect the skin surface. 

What causes a skin abscess?

Bacteria. The most common bacterial species that cause skin abscesses in the head, neck, armpit and trunk are Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes. It causes boiling abscess and cellulite. 

Boiling cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin that starts with a scratch or a bug bite and develops into a red lump filled with pustules. Boiling abscess is a small area between a nickel and a penny in size, with a thin layer of skin ; however, abscess is a large elevated area of skin that feels tender and is filled with hangover or deep tissue. 

Infected hair follicles. Skin abscesses occur when bacteria invade a hair follicle or wound their way through infected hair, even if it has not detached from the skin surface. They can develop on hair follicles and occur on the face, chest or buttocks.

How to treat a skin abscess?

Larger abscesses should be treated with antibiotics to kill the infection, and the pus should be drained. If your child is affected, he or she should not go to the pool, lake or other body of water until the skin heals. Most children with an abscess can be given antibiotics to kill the germs. 

To drain an abscess, a surgeon cuts an incision into the pus-filled pocket. If the abscess is large enough, surgery may be necessary to drain the pus completely. 

Do not attempt to drain the abscess by squeezing or pressing on it. This can push the infected material into the deeper tissues.

When to seek medical care?

If you see a red bump or purulent bump on your skin that gets worse or shows signs of infection, or if the spot becomes painful, red, or swollen, go to your doctor immediately. If mild skin abscesses do not improve on their own or if the symptoms of infection are severe, worsen or improve, you may need to see a doctor to have your abscess treated immediately.

Takeaway

Abscesses in the body can occur in people who are ill, have other problems or whose immune systems are not functioning properly. An abscess can form anywhere on the body, in any organ or in the space between the organs. Cellulite abscesses occur when cuts or fractures allow bacteria to penetrate the skin and cause infections. A small operation may be needed to drain the pus. You may also need to take antibiotic medicine.