How can an abscess in the skin be removed?

Doctor's Answers 1

An abscess is an infection of the skin, with an accumulation of pus within the skin. The skin is red, warm, swollen and painful.

If you have an abscess, it is important that it is drained early. A simple procedure called incision and drainage is carried out to release the pus. Oral antibiotics are also prescribed to treat the infection. If the pus is not drained, the abscess can continue to enlarge and worsen, even if on oral antibiotics. The principle of treatment of an abscess is early drainage of the pus.

Similar Questions

How long does an abscess take to heal after drainage? (photo)

Thank you for the question and the photo. May I ask, how did the abscess come on? When treated, did they take any swabs or treat with anti-biotic? If you have concerns about healing then it’s certainly worth speaking to your medical/surgical team as Dr Paul has suggested. Equally, if pain is an issue, Dr Sean’s suggestion of Dermatix would be worth a try. In terms of exercise, my suggestion would be to start with non-impact/non weight-bearing exercise, such as cycling. Swimming might not be a good idea with a healing wound.

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Dr Dinesh Sirisena

Sport Medicine

What tests can help to distinguish between a pile, abscess or fistula?

A painful lump in the anus can be due to piles, abscess or even anal fissure. The most important assessment is by examination of the anus and rectum. This is performed in the clinic with digital rectal exam (using a finger) as well as inserting a short anal probe (less than 7cm deep) to see the inside of the anus. This should be sufficient to confirm the diagnosis. In rare circumstances, if the clinical exam is not able to confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may request for an ultrasound or MRI.

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Human

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