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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Boil On The Face?

My mother has a big boil on her face near her chin. It used to be tiny but has grown bigger recently. I've heard I could put toothpaste on her boil over night. It doesn't have a head on it. But it's hard as a rock. What's the best way to bring it to a head?
Fri, 16 May 2014
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I would keep a possibility of bacterial infection of the hair follicle i.e furuncle with surrounding cellulitis

The best way to approach is to start her on empirical oral antibiotic for a week OR 10 days (My choice of oral antibiotic would have been Amoxycillin 500mg in combination with clavulanic acid 125 mg, thrice daily, for a week OR Cephalexin 500ng thrice daily OR Cefadroxil 500mg twice daily, for a week).

That would take care of the infection.

An OTC antibacterial cream/ointment e.g 2% mupirocin can be applied twice daily.

An OTC pain killer e.g ibuprofen once or twice daily would help you deal with the pain.

regards
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What Causes Boil On The Face?

Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic I would keep a possibility of bacterial infection of the hair follicle i.e furuncle with surrounding cellulitis The best way to approach is to start her on empirical oral antibiotic for a week OR 10 days (My choice of oral antibiotic would have been Amoxycillin 500mg in combination with clavulanic acid 125 mg, thrice daily, for a week OR Cephalexin 500ng thrice daily OR Cefadroxil 500mg twice daily, for a week). That would take care of the infection. An OTC antibacterial cream/ointment e.g 2% mupirocin can be applied twice daily. An OTC pain killer e.g ibuprofen once or twice daily would help you deal with the pain. regards