WHAT IS IT? Furuncle

Furuncle is another word for a boil. Boils are bacterial or fungal infections of hair follicles.

Any type of bacteria or fungi can cause a furuncle. The most common bacterium is staphylococcus aureus, hence furuncles are also called staph infections. The infected hair follicle can be on any part of your body. When the follicle gets infected, nearby skin becomes inflamed. The furuncle looks like a red, raised bump and will rupture and weep pussy fluid.

Furuncles are most commonly found on the face and neck. But you might also develop a boil on your thigh or buttocks. When the boil “comes to a head” it bursts and releases pus, which is dead bacteria and white blood cells.