An abscess needs surgery (incision and drainage) if it's large, deep, internal, not responding to home care (warm compresses), causes severe pain/fever/swelling, is in a risky spot (face, neck), or if you have a weakened immune system, indicating the infection is serious and needs professional opening to drain pus and prevent spread to the bloodstream (sepsis) or bone (osteomyelitis). A doctor's evaluation is crucial for deciding, as self-popping can worsen it.
A pimple will probably develop a head and then eventually go away on its own. Cysts and abscesses may also run their course and disappear before they become an issue. But what happens when an abscess won't go away? As an abscess grows, it becomes more painful and surgery may be necessary.
The abscess may need be drained to get rid of the pus. This usually involves a small operation to make a cut in the skin which will allow the pus to drain. You may be given a local anaesthetic so you do not feel anything when the abscess is drained. You may also be given antibiotics if the abscess is infected.
If you have a fever and swelling in your face and you can't reach your dentist, go to an emergency room. Also go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing or swallowing. These symptoms may indicate that the infection has spread deeper into your jaw, throat or neck or even to other areas of your body.
Pediatric abscess treatment typically involves antibiotics and drainage, with the method depending on the abscess's size, location, and severity; simple skin abscesses might only need warm compresses and drainage (sometimes by a doctor). Deeper or severe abscesses, like peritonsillar or psoas, often require hospital admission for IV antibiotics and drainage (needle aspiration or incision), sometimes under sedation or anesthesia. Follow-up care with a doctor is crucial to ensure complete healing.
Small abscesses can sometimes burst and heal on their own. However, large or internal abscesses need to be drained by a doctor. Some abscesses can be drained by your doctor in the clinic, but other cases may need surgery.
It can form after germs, usually bacteria, get into a cut in the skin and cause an infection. When bacteria get into a cut, the body's immune system sends white blood cells to fight the infection.
If the abscess is growing quickly, feels warm, or starts draining pus, it's time to seek professional help. Other signs to visit urgent care include fever, chills, or if the redness spreads beyond the bump, as these could indicate the infection is getting worse.
Resolution Stage: Finally, the abscess heals completely, with no signs of infection remaining. Scarring may occur, especially if the abscess was large or deep. Proper wound care and following medical guidance can help ensure a smooth recovery and reduce the likelihood of complications.
An abscess under your skin is easy to see. It may appear red, raised and swollen. The skin over the center of the abscess may be thin. It may look yellow or white because there's pus underneath the surface of your skin.
Abscesses can cause pain, swelling and inflamed or red skin. Although most abscesses do not result in complications, if they are left untreated they could result in an emergency situation. Visit the closest emergency room if you have pain that you cannot control at home.
The standard treatment for an abscess is an abscess incision and drainage (I&D). During this procedure, the general surgeon will numb the surface of your skin, and an incision will be made to drain any debris, which helps relieve pain and speed healing.
Keep the abscess covered 24 hours a day, removing bandages once daily to wash with warm soap and water. If the abscess was packed (with a cotton wick), leave it in until instructed by your clinician to remove the packing or return for re-evaluation.
Treating an abscess
You can usually have the procedure with a local anaesthetic medicine. This means that you do not feel any pain during the surgery.
Unlike other infections, antibiotics alone will not usually cure an abscess. In general an abscess must open and drain in order for it to improve. Sometimes draining occurs on its own, but generally it must be opened with the help of a warm compress or by a doctor in a procedure called incision and drainage (I&D).
Surgery for a perianal abscess is usually done under general anaesthetic and you can go home on the same day (day case). You can read more about having day surgery at our hospitals. You need a responsible adult (over 18 years old) to take you home from hospital.
Warning Signs of a Persistent Infection
Watch for these warning signs, which indicate the abscess may not be healing or could be getting worse—seek dental care immediately if you notice them: Pain Worsens or Returns: Intense pain that comes back after a period of relief suggests persistent infection.
Left untreated, a tooth abscess will eventually spread to the surrounding tissues and beyond, wreaking havoc on your oral and overall health. It can take weeks or months for the infection to spread — and it's impossible to know exactly how long that will take.
There are three types of abscesses — skin, mouth and internal abscesses. At Modern Urgent Care, we treat the most common type of abscess which forms on the skin. Also called a cutaneous abscess or boil, skin abscesses are highly treatable.
An abscess forms when your immune system walls off an infection, usually bacterial (like Staph), creating a pocket filled with pus (bacteria, white blood cells, dead tissue) that can't drain, often entering through cuts, follicles, or blocked glands. While bacteria are the main culprit, fungi, parasites, or blocked ducts can also cause them, leading to painful, swollen, red lumps, and sometimes deeper internal abscesses from surgery or existing conditions.
Once bad bacteria from an abscess get into your bloodstream, they can start a dangerous chain reaction. This can lead to several life-threatening conditions that need immediate hospitalization. This is why taking care of your oral health is a key part of your overall wellness.
A deficiency in local or systemicimmunologic defense, particularly of neutrophils, also can lead to abscesses. Conditions that cause such a deficiency include congenital or acquired neutropenia,leukocyte adhesion deficiency, and chronic granulomatous disease.
You should get help as soon as possible, because abscesses don't go away on their own. They can sometimes spread to other parts of the face and neck and make you ill.
These white blood cells, along with dead skin cells and sebum (oil), form the pus you see in a pimple. Over time, the inflammation subsides, and the pimple either comes to a head and drains on its own or is reabsorbed by the body.