Furuncles (boils) are deep-seated infections with Staphylococcus aureus in and around hair follicles, often in a nasal carrier.

Visit: Staphylococcal Infection ;  Toxic Shock Syndrome .

Styes are boils that involve the sebaceous glands around the eyelid.

A carbuncle is a coalescence of multiple furuncles which may lead to multiple points of drainage on the skin surface.

They occur only on hairy surfaces, such as neck, thighs, and buttocks of men, and the axilla, pubic area, and eyelids of both sexes, the latter surfaces predisposed to boil formation by friction or maceration.

The boil begins as a nodule at the base of the hair follicle, followed by a pimple that remains painful and red toe a few days. 

A yellow apex forms, and a central core becomes necrotic and fluctuant.   Image1  ;  Image2

Microscopic features: A furuncle consists of a deep dermal abscess centered on a hair follicle.  Image1  ; Image2

This is usually destroyed, although a residual hair shaft is sometimes present in the center of the abscess. There is often extension of the inflammatory process into the subcutis. The overlying epidermis is eventually destroyed and the surface is covered by an inflammatory crust.

Rupture or incision of the boil relieves the pain. Several boils may occur in close proximity, and they often recur.