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.