What should you know about furuncle medical term?

A furuncle often begins as a firm, red, tender bump around a hair follicle. It can enlarge and develop a soft centre as pus collects beneath the skin. Several connected boils are sometimes described separately from a single furuncle. The word describes the type of skin infection, not a diagnosis of every lump. Cysts, inflamed follicles, and other causes can resemble a boil, so appearance and examination still matter. Pain and swelling are common features of [Boils](/conditions/boils/).

Keep the area clean, cover any drainage with a clean dressing, wash your hands, and avoid sharing towels or razors. Never squeeze or pierce a furuncle because this can push infection deeper and injure nearby skin. A small lesion may settle with clinician-advised local care, while a larger or persistent infection may need [Antibiotics For Skin Infection](/treatments/medical-dermatology/antibiotic-therapy-for-skin-infection/). A pus-filled collection may require professional [Abscess Drainage](/treatments/minor-procedures/abscess-drainage/).

Get medical advice when a lump is rapidly growing, increasingly painful, surrounded by spreading redness, or associated with fever. Assessment is also sensible for a furuncle near the eye, nose, or spine, for repeated boils, or when healing is slow. Contact a clinician early if you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced sensation, or a weakened immune system.

Does this [Skin Lump](/symptoms/skin-lumps/) fit a furuncle, or could it be another condition? What can I safely apply? Do I need treatment for [Painful Skin](/symptoms/skin-pain/), and what changes should prompt urgent review?