What should you know about fusidic acid for boils?

A boil is an infected hair follicle that can contain a deeper pocket of pus. Fusidic acid is a topical antibiotic, so a clinician may consider it when infection is limited to the surface and the medicine is appropriate for the suspected bacteria. A deep, large, recurrent, or spreading boil may not improve with a cream alone. A painful lump can also have a non-infectious cause, which is why diagnosis comes before choosing an antibiotic.

Use fusidic acid only if it has been prescribed or specifically recommended for your lesion, and follow the stated directions. Clean hands before and after applying it, keep the area covered if it is draining, and do not share the tube. Do not squeeze or pierce the boil. If there is a collection beneath the skin, [Abscess Drainage](/treatments/minor-procedures/abscess-drainage/) may be considered by a professional. Broader or deeper infection may need [Antibiotics For Skin Infection](/treatments/medical-dermatology/antibiotic-therapy-for-skin-infection/) instead.

Contact a clinician if the boil enlarges, pain worsens, redness spreads, pus continues to collect, or there is no clear improvement with the prescribed plan. Seek urgent advice for fever, rapidly spreading redness, facial swelling, severe illness, or a lesion near the eye. Repeated boils or a boil in someone with diabetes or reduced immunity also need medical review.

Does this [Boils](/conditions/boils/) lesion need a topical antibiotic, drainage, or another treatment? How should I use fusidic acid, and what should I do if the skin reacts? Could this [Skin Lump](/symptoms/skin-lumps/) have a cause other than infection?