What Causes A Red And Hard Carbuncle On The Temple Area?

Posted on Fri, 19 Feb 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 19 Feb 2016 Answered on

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : About 2 weeks ago a Carbuncle-like protrusion erupted on my temple; it's red/purple, and 1" x1/2" x 1/4"; it's basically hard but some fluid does drain slightly. Does not seem to affect my vision. Started like a pimple, but has become much larger

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Apply moist heat.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I am sorry to hear about this abcess/carbuncle on your temple.

You can try applying moist heat for several minutes, 3-5 times per day. This increases blood flow to the area, and heating it up makes the conditions unfavorable for the bacteria that may be causing it as they require a lower temperature to multiply.

So, you can do this by standing over the sink and reheating a wet wash cloth repeatedly for several minutes.

If the abcess is not getting bigger or the infection does not appear to be spreading, you can do this for the next 3 days. You can do this longer if it is helping.

However, if it appears to be getting worse, or not draining (don't press on it though) then do go in to the urgent care clinic or your doctor to have it incised and drained.

Oral antibiotics can help, but most are not that good at penetrating and reaching skin infections (as opposed to reaching pneumonia or other internal infections).

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar