Health news, tips and features: Healia Health Blog

February 22nd, 2008

Staph Infection Boils Should Be Treated by a Healthcare Professional—Not Popped at Home

Health News posted 4 years ago by The Healia Team

If you are an active viewer of YouTube, you may have seen the YouTube videos of people popping their staph infection wounds. While YouTube members have made comments varying from “awesome” to “gross”, Healia would like to provide some information on the dangers of popping a staph infection boil.

A staph infection is caused by a bacterium called Staphylococcus. There are different types of health problems associated with this germ ranging from simple boils to flesh-eating infections. The most common type of infection, cellulitis, affects the skin’s deeper layers. See Healia Health Blog: So What is Staphylococcus?

When a staph infection boil develops, the skin turns red and begins to swell over the infected area. The skin above the infection becomes very tender and a whitish "head" may appear. The head may break, and the boil may begin to drain pus, blood, or an amber-colored liquid.

So, why shouldn’t you pop a staph infection blister? Medical treatment makes the wound heal faster and may prevent the staph infection from spreading to other skin areas. A staph infection is contagious if the wound is weeping or draining, and if people share towels or other items that are contaminated. If the infection goes so deep that it involves muscle fibers, a physician may need to surgically clean the wound.

You may want to read about Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections. For information on how to reduce your risk of MRSA infections, see Healia’s Health Blog: Prevention of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infection.