A boil is an inflamed red lump that develops under the skin; it is also known as a skin abscess or furuncle. Boil is painful and can occur anywhere on the body, mostly in areas with sweat and hair such as the face, thighs, and back of the neck.
Boil is primarily caused by bacterial infection, however, certain nutritional deficiencies can also cause boil if not supplemented. This article explains how the deficiency of certain nutrients can cause the development of boil across the body.
What Is Your Body Lacking When You Get Boils?
Boil infection is a sign that your body is lacking in one or more vitamins such as Vitamins A, C, D, and, E, and minerals mainly Zinc. These nutrients are important for preventing boils and other skin diseases.
1. Vitamins
The deficiency of Vitamin A and D in the body can cause boils. Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system and keeps your skin healthy. You need vitamin A for healthy eyes and skin, so an absence of this vitamin may be causing a boil to develop.
Vitamin C is one of the vitamins that promote wound healing, which is why getting enough of it can prevent boils. Too little vitamin C in the body can make you more likely to get boils. While not a direct cause, vitamin C helps boost your immune system and keeps your skin healthy.
Vitamin E is an excellent antioxidant. Vitamin E boosts your skin’s natural ability to protect itself from bacteria that cause boils. While vitamin supplements won’t cure boils, they can help you heal them faster.
2. Minerals
Zinc is an essential mineral for skin health; a diet that contains zinc is beneficial for both the skin and the immune system. Zinc-rich foods can strengthen your immune system; they can help prevent and treat boils. Zinc boosts immunity, and it’s also important for treating boils.
Apart from eating healthy foods, it’s also important to practice proper hygiene, wear loose-fitting cotton clothing, and keep cool. Some people also suffer from recurring boils because they are carriers of the Staphylococcus bacteria.
Drink plenty of water to prevent your boils. Fruits and vegetables are helpful as they contain Vitamin C and Vitamin A which are good for boil prevention. A high-fiber diet helps the body to heal faster, and it may even prevent eruptions from happening in the first place.
Vitamins That Help Prevent Boils
Having been established that certain vitamin deficiency is a major cause of boil, here are vitamins that can be taken as dietary supplements for the prevention of boil:
1) Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can help reduce the risk of boils. As a water-soluble vitamin, Vitamin C can be easily absorbed into the body and helps to fight off infections and inflammation.
Vitamin C also helps reduce the risk of developing boils by lowering the immune system response. In addition to helping prevent boils, vitamin C also helps improve skin health when applied topically. Fruit and vegetables are cheap sources of Vitamin C.
2) Vitamin A
Vitamin A is another great supplement to add to your routine if you want to prevent boils. Vitamin A can be obtained from fish and vegetables.
Vitamin A helps to protect against infection by strengthening the immune system and promoting healthy cell growth. It also reduces swelling and inflammation caused by an abscess and helps prevent further damage from occurring once it has formed.
3) Vitamin E
Vitamin E has antioxidant properties that can help prevent new boils from forming while they’re still small. Plus, it works well with most other vitamins in protecting against cardiovascular disease as well as cancer prevention.
Foods To Avoid If You Have Boils
Eating in moderation is the best way to avoid boils. But if you have boils, it’s important to avoid certain foods completely.
- Dairy products: including milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
- Salty foods: including soup, gravy, and salad dressing.
- Nuts: cashew nuts, pecan nuts, and peanuts
- Spicy foods: including hot peppers and curry (not to mention spicy pasta sauce).
- Alcoholic beverages: especially red wine or white grape juice.
These foods can cause an increase in the size of your boil, as well as an infection. That’s why it’s a good idea to avoid them when you have boils on your skin.
Treatment and Medications for Boil
The first treatment approach for boils is to apply a warm compress for about 20 minutes. This will reduce the pain and swelling of your boil. Avoid touching the affected area and cover it up with a bandage or clean cloth. The bacteria infect the skin through small scratches or breaks.
The standard treatment for boils is cutting and draining the infection. This is performed by a doctor. A doctor will use a local anesthetic to numb the area around the boil and piece of gauze to remove the fluid and pus. The wound is usually cleaned out in several days with these dressings.
Several medicines and herbs are used for boil treatment and prevention; An antibiotic ointment or tablet may be administered to the affected area to reduce the risk of recurring boils. They may work by eliminating the bacterial infection associated with the boil and surrounding skin.
In addition, antibacterial soaps and rubbing alcohol should be applied to the infected area. These medications may help ease the discomfort caused by boils. You can buy the medication below for boil treatment and prevention:
Abscess Incision and Drainage (I&D) and Cyst Removal Trainer
Price : $34.99
Features :
- Highly effective for treating boils, burns, Cyst, bee stings, cuts, skin eruptions, irritations, and more that cause serious pain and discomfort.
- Made from 100% Natural ingredients, very safe to use, Non-Toxic,
- Comes with pleasant smell, natural Fresh Honey Lavender Scent, Smooth Consistency.
emuaid EMUAIDMAX Ointment 2oz
Price : $63.90 ($31.95 / Fl Oz)
Features :
- Fights infections faster while enhancing the skin’s vital barrier and healing functions.
- Maximum relief from pain, infection, and inflammation.
- Natural, soothing, and effective ointment for 100+ itchy and painful skin conditions.
- A unique delivery system that helps carry powerful healing ingredients deep into your nails and skin.
- Calms pain, infection, and inflammation for 100+ resistant and difficult skin conditions.
- Contains 2x Bacillus Ferment, 10x Tea Tree Oil, and 50x Vitamin E. NOTE: Product contains Tea Tree Oil.
Drawing Salve Ointment For ingrown Hair Treatment, Boil & Cyst, Splinter Remover, Bug and Spider Bites, bee Sting, Mosquito bite Itch Relief, Poison Ivy, by Owell Naturals
Price : $16.99
Features :
- Used to aid in wound healing that goes back as far as the 1400s, we still use the same Authentic Amish Formula that has withstood the test of time.
- It’s the most effective Ointment for Drawing out Ingrown hair, Boils, Cysts, Splinters, abscesses, Ingrown Toenails, Glass, and Lipoma.
- Professionally formulated to help in relieving Pain, Burns, skin eruptions, irritations, itchy skin, Mosquito & Spider bite, Bee Stings, Poison ivy /Oak, and Bug & insect bites.
Related: How To Use Aloe Vera For Ingrown Hairs and Scars Treatment
Conclusion,
Vitamins and mineral deficiency can make the body susceptible to boil infections. Ensure you increase the dietary intake of the stated vitamins and minerals. A severe case is where you need the attention of the doctor for prescription medications or surgery.