It's not always possible to prevent getting a boil or carbuncle, particularly if you have a weak immune system (the body’s natural defence against infection and illness).
However, the advice listed below should help.
- Wash your skin regularly, using a mild anti-bacterial soap.
- Always carefully clean any cuts, wounds or grazes, even if they look very small.
- Keep cuts, wounds and grazes covered with a sterile bandage until they heal.
- Eat a healthy diet and take regular exercise to boost your immune system; this will make you less likely to develop skin infections, such as boils.
For further information and advice regarding diet and exercise, see our information about: health and fitness, the benefits of exercise, food and diet and a balanced diet.
Preventing your boil or carbuncle from spreading
If you develop a boil or carbuncle, it's important to take a number of steps to prevent spreading the infection to other parts of your body or to other people:
- Wash your hands with an anti-bacterial soap after touching a boil or carbuncle.
- Wash underwear, bed linen and towels at a high temperature.
- Use a separate facecloth and towel.
- Keep any wounds covered with sterile gauze until they heal.
- Regularly change the gauze covering a boil or carbuncle.
- Used gauze or dressings should be sealed in a plastic bag and immediately thrown away in the dustbin.
