boils

Boils run in my family my mother said my grandmother (her mother) had them on her inner thighs and my mother had a few but not as much as my grandmother did and she doesn't have the scars they leave either.i started getting the boils around september of 2008 when i was turning 12.these boils are sometimes big and sometimes small they also leave scars and discoloration.i havn't told my mother about them because it's embarrising.i see other girls my age with normal inner thighs and mine have these horrible boils.i wanted to know what kind of docter can help me with this probem?and also what's the best way to inform my mother of this problem?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Boils are caused by infection of the hair follicle by staph aureus. Bacterial skin infections can be spread by shared cosmetics or washcloths, close human contact, or by contact with pus from a boil or carbuncle. Recurrent boils are found in diabetes, HIV infection, or other immune system disorders. So please get your blood sugar evaluated.

Till that time, Apply warm compresses on the boil and keep the area clean. Drainage of the boil is done only when it becomes soft and forms a head. Take some over the counter pain reliever and consult a doctor for examination and antibiotics prescription.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.