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Effectively Caring For an Abscess

By Dee Braun
Sep 9, 2009
Most of us have experienced an abscess at one time or another. An Abscess is a frightful looking lump that is filled with pus and surrounded by a colored area of skin.

The skin surrounding a abscess is usually pink or red. Typically, an abscess is painful when you press on it. If they are fairly serious they can also be warm to the touch. Abscesses can show up just about anywhere on your body. The most common areas for them to pop up are in your pubic areas, in the mouth, around the armpits and along the base of the spine.

Hair follicle's are really prone to becoming abscessed. This happens after they become inflamed. If you don't do something about an abscess eventually it will spread down into the tissue and infect your blood. You might even develop a fever if the abscess is left unchecked for too long.

An abscess often occurs when the oil or sweat glands become clogged, hair follicles become inflamed or when there are tiny cracks in the skin. Once germs get under the skin the area becomes inflamed and sensitive. Weak immune systems are at a higher risk of being attacked by abscesses because the body is not so good at fighting it off.

when you go see your doctor about an abscess he will want to know if you have any diseases such as AIDS, cancer, leukemia and others. These diseases, among others, can increase the likelihood of you getting an abscess. Depending on the area that your abscess is located your doctor will perform a series of tests to determine exactly what to do next.

Make sure you don't press on the infected area or stick any sharp objects into it. This will only make the infection worse. A small abscess can be treated at home by applying a warm compress four times a day for 30 minutes.

A larger abscess will have to be cut out or lanced by your physician. First, he will apply a local anesthetic to numb the area and cover the surrounding area with an antiseptic solution. Your doctor will the cut the abscess open and drain the infection.

After this is completed, clear packing is inserted into the wound. Normally painkillers aren't prescribed for abscesses because they feel better immediately after they are lanced. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to clean the area and prevent further infection.

Two holistic herbs have been used for centuries to help treat these types of problems. Agrimonia eupatoria and Hamamelis virginiana are both excellent to use for their astrigent properties. Marigold, lavender and tea tree are great for after your abscess is lanced. They will help with the healing and scar tissue formation.
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