epsom salts helps - i dont know what causes them

when i was a youngster they told us to eat raisins. bad blood was the culprit. getting rid of them can be a painful ordeal. they have to come to a head and then you grab the core with string and pull it out.

A boil is a skin infection that starts in a hair follicle or oil gland. At first, the skin turns red in the area of the infection, and a tender lump develops. After four to seven days, the lump starts turning white as pus collects under the skin. * The most common places for boils to appear are on the face, neck, armpits, shoulders, and buttocks. When one forms on the eyelid, it is called a sty. * If several boils appear in a group, this is a more serious type of infection called a carbuncle. Causes of Boils Most boils are caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus. This germ enters the body through tiny breaks in the skin or by traveling down a hair to the follicle. Certain health problems make people more susceptible to skin infections such as boils. Examples are * diabetes, * problems with the immune system, * poor nutrition, * poor hygiene, and * exposure to harsh chemicals that irritate the skin. Boils Treatment Self-Care at Home * Apply warm compresses, and soak the boil in warm water. This will decrease the pain and help draw the pus to the surface. Once the boil comes to a head, it will burst with repeated soakings. This usually occurs within five to seven days of its appearance. You can make a warm compress by soaking a wash cloth in warm water and squeezing out the excess moisture. * When the boil starts draining, wash it with an antibacterial soap until all the pus is gone. Apply a medicated ointment and a bandage. Continue to wash the infected area two to three times a day and to use warm compresses until the wound heals. * Do not pop the boil with a needle. This usually results in making the infection worse. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/boils/article_em.htm#Boils%20Overview

Boils (Skin Abscesses): http://www.medicinenet.com/boils/article.htm (causes and treatment)