How to Treat an Abscess With Home Remedies

An abscess is a pus-filled recess in the skin. They can occur anywhere on the body, but they most often present on the face. If you have an abscess, there are some very effective basic steps you can take to treat it with home remedies.

Instructions

1

Use heat, the number one home remedy to treat abscesses, to bring the abscess to a head. Place a clean, warm face cloth over the boil for 20 minutes at least three times a day. Rotate face cloths to maintain consistent heat. Warm compresses will bring the abscess to a head.

2

Lance the abscess once it has formed a head. While not the most appealing home remedy, lancing an abscess, or boil, is simple. Simply sterilize the head of a pin or needle with alcohol or a flame, poke a hole in the head of the abscess, and allow the pus to drain. You may need to apply pressure to get the pus to drain.

3

Apply antibiotic ointment once the pus has drained, and bandage the abscess. Bacitracin ointment is commonly used as a home remedy and works well to treat lanced abscesses.

4

Continue using warm compresses a couple of times a day for at least three days to ensure all the pus drains from the abscess. Apply a clean bandage each time you finish using a compress.