SmartClinic Urgent Care Blog Can an Abscess Heal on Its Own?
Infection often comes with unwelcome symptoms. In some cases, you might even have to deal with swelling and the presence of pus.
If you have a swollen area of tissue that contains pus, you have an abscess. Fortunately, we offer easy access to abscess treatment at our SmartClinic Urgent Care offices in West Covina and Santa Clarita, California. Our expert providers can assess your abscess and recommend the right treatment to heal the area as quickly as possible.
But if you’re wondering whether you always need to seek out treatment for an abscess, the answer is that it depends.
Does an abscess need medical intervention?
If you have a particularly small abscess, your body may be able to drain the pus and heal the infection on its own. Applying a warm compress can help.
Don’t try to drain the abscess on your own, however. Doing so releases the bacteria inside, which can spread the infection.
If you think you have an abscess, apply warm compresses periodically and monitor it closely. If it seems like it’s getting better, you can decide to wait it out.
But if it seems like it’s getting worse, seek medical care. If you don’t, the abscess can grow, causing you an increasing amount of discomfort. Worse yet, it can eventually burst, allowing the pus to spread the infection to other parts of your body.
Additionally, waiting to see if the abscess will heal on its own means just that: waiting. And there’s no joy in walking around with a potentially painful, pus-filled problem. Fortunately, seeking treatment can help you get rid of the issue much more quickly.
How we treat an abscess
Here at SmartClinic Urgent Care, our team can promptly evaluate your abscess. Its size, the seriousness of the infection, and the location of the abscess all inform the treatment plan we recommend for you.
In some cases, we may recommend medication to fight the infection, helping your body heal the abscess. If it’s large or painful, though, we generally opt to drain it. We offer this service at both of our offices, so you don’t need to schedule a second appointment to deal with the issue.
If you get abscesses frequently, our team can also advise you on prevention tactics. As a general rule, you should:
- Wash your hands and body frequently
- Wash your towels frequently
- Properly care for wounds (clean them and apply antibacterial ointment)
- Avoid sharing baths and personal items such as razors, athletic equipment, and clothes
In some cases, yes, a minor abscess can heal on its own. But if your infection isn’t getting better, it’s very painful, or you don’t want to wait to get it resolved, call SmartClinic Urgent Care at 661-430-9040, book a consultation online, or walk in today.
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