A boil, also known as a furuncle, is a swollen, pus-filled growth on the skin that occurs when bacteria—even those normally found on your body—infect a group of hair follicles. Boils commonly develop ...

Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH, is a health writer. She has over a decade of experience as a registered nurse, practicing in a variety of fields, such as pediatrics, oncology, chronic pain, and public health ...