Ulcer drugs that can be purchased at the pharmacy and their side effects

Treat boils that appear on the skin

Source: Medical News Today

Basically, boils are easy to heal and are not serious contagious skin diseases. Boils can be treated with home remedies without specific medications. However, of course this treatment can only be done to treat small boils.

One of the most common ways is to apply warm compresses to boils. You can simply compress the boil area using a clean cloth that has been soaked in warm water for 10 minutes.

This method can be done several times a day as needed. The goal, compresses will help the boil to break and flow faster.

Keep in mind, you shouldn't pop the boil on your own, as this can spread the infection to the surrounding skin. Don't forget to wash your hands before and after treating boils.

In addition, there are several natural remedies that can be used to treat ulcers, some of which are turmeric and tea tree oil.

Turmeric has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory components that will help get rid of ulcers. To use turmeric as medicine, mix the turmeric powder with water, then apply it to the boil at least twice a day.

Meanwhile, tea tree oil (tea tree oil) is believed to be able to eradicate the bacteria that cause ulcers because of its strong antibacterial and antiseptic properties.

Because tea tree oil can cause sunburn effects, its use should be mixed with olive oil or coconut oil. Apply this mixture on the boils 2-3 times a day.

So that these natural ingredients do not cause problems on the skin, you should first consult your doctor to ensure their safety.

Medical drugs to treat boils

If the boil is bigger, the use of medical drugs may be needed. Some of these medicines can be found at a pharmacy, but if the medicine is in the form of an antibiotic you will certainly need a prescription from your doctor.

Drugs to treat boils are divided into two types, namely topical drugs and oral drugs. Topical drugs in the form of ointments or creams for external use. Meanwhile, oral drugs are usually used to kill bacteria and prevent recurrence of infection.

Topical medication for boils

Some of the topical drug options commonly used for this condition include the following.

1. Mupirocin

Mupirocin (Bactroban®) is an antibiotic ointment that can be used as an ulcer medicine. This ointment is often used to fight bacterial infections Staphylococcus aureus , bacteria that cause various skin problems such as impetigo, eczema, psoriasis, herpes, and so on.

Mupirocin works effectively by blocking the activity of the enzyme isoleucil-tRNA synthetase. This enzyme is used by bacteria to make proteins which then infect the human body. Without this enzyme, bacteria will die slowly so that the healing process of boils is faster.

Apart from that, mupirocin also contains polyethylene glycol which is easily absorbed by infected skin. However, be careful and use the ointment according to the doctor's instructions or the one on the packaging label.

The reason is, the chemical content in this ulcer drug can affect the work of the kidneys if used excessively. Other side effects include itchy and hot skin around the boil area, swelling of the face or lips, headaches, and shortness of breath. So, make sure you follow the instructions for use.

2. Gentamicin

Gentamicin is a type of broad-spectrum antibiotic ointment that can help treat ulcers on the skin. This boil ointment is included in the aminoglycoside class which is effective at stopping the growth of ulcer-causing bacteria.

Make sure you use this ointment according to the usage rules. The reason is, wrong use of drugs and inappropriate dosage can reduce the effectiveness of the drug. This is also the reason why boils don't heal or even become more widespread.

Before applying the ointment, wash your hands first until they are clean. After that, apply a thin layer of the ointment to the lump 3-4 times a day. Use it at the same time every day so that the results are more effective and accelerate the healing of the boil.

3. Benzocaine

Benzocaine is an ointment form of boils that can help relieve pain caused by boils. The reason is, the way this ointment works is similar to a local anesthetic that can reduce pain signals in the skin.

That's why just applying a little ointment can reduce your pain. Therefore, simply apply a little ointment to the surface of the boil according to the doctor's instructions or what is written on the package.

When used excessively, benzocaine ointment can cause side effects such as skin irritation, redness, swelling on the face or tongue, and a rash. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are still confused about how much to use this ointment.

Oral medication for boils

Apart from topical medications, some patients may also have to use oral medications. Here are the options.

1. Clindamycin

Clindamycin (Cleocin®) is an oral medication that is usually used to treat serious infections, including pus-filled lumps caused by boils. This ulcer drug works by inhibiting the ability of bacteria to produce protein, which is used to infect the body.

Because it is an antibiotic class drug, you should obey the rules of drinking and continue until the one prescribed is finished. Stopping the use of drugs too quickly, especially antibiotics, can continue to grow bacteria and ultimately prevent ulcers from healing.

2. Cephalexin

Cephalexin is a type of oral antibiotic that belongs to the class of cephalosporins. If used according to the rules of use, this one boil ointment is very effective at inhibiting the growth of bacteria that cause ulcers.

Just like other types of antibiotics, cephalexin ointment also has side effects that you need to be aware of. Side effects can include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, rash, and fever.

So, make sure you really follow the rules of use from the doctor and those listed on the packaging.

3. Paracetamol or ibuprofen

If the boil infection has spread to deeper or expanded tissue, the pain will increase. To overcome this, you need anti-pain drugs such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

This oral medicine can relieve the pain caused by boils and reduce the inflammation caused by this condition.

Most boils do not need special treatment. However, you still have to pay attention to any symptoms that appear.

If the boil continues to expand to more than 1 cm, has swollen lymph nodes, unbearable pain, or the boil is not flat and dry after being given the drug, you should immediately consult a dermatologist.

The doctor may inject a local anesthetic to drain the pus in the boil and prevent further infection that may occur.