How should I treat a boil at home?

Warm compresses several times daily encourage a small boil to point and drain on its own; most do within a week. Wash hands after touching it and never squeeze, squeezing pushes infection deeper.

Once draining, keep it covered and clean.

See a doctor for boils on the face, spine or groin, any larger than a couple of centimeters, fever, spreading redness, diabetes, or boils that keep recurring, recurrent ones sometimes carry a treatable bacterial carriage state. Some need a simple incision, which beats weeks of waiting.