Essential Oil for Skin Boil: Choosing out of 15 Options

man with severe acne caption how to get rid of skin boils

Anyone who has ever been harassed by the irritation and pain of a skin boil knows that getting rid of them is a high priority. Fortunately, you can use essential oil for skin boil infections and we have 15 options to choose from. Before we reveal those options to you, you need to understand that these are not all-inclusive cures and a skin boil that has become severely infected might require the treatment of a healthcare professional.

What Boils Are

Boils are a type of hair follicle infection that swells with pus and forms a lump on a person’s body.

A boil is driven by an overgrowth of bacteria with the ability to clot blood. These bacteria-filled infections can occur all over the body, causing pain and discomfort for the individual who has them. Boils can even appear in a person’s mouth or around their eyes, where they are called gumboils and styes, respectively.

Unfortunately, boils are also contagious and are capable of appearing deep within the body too. Inside the body, boils do far greater damage than they do on the skin’s surface, going so far as to threaten people’s lives with organ wounds and infections.

Important! Basic Tips for Using Essential Oils

There are several things to keep in mind before making use of essential oils. Most of them are commonly used in a diffuser for aromatherapy, added to steam, gargled or added to one of the common carrier oils, like coconut, almond, olive or jojoba before being utilized topically. Unless they are considered “food” oils, the vast majority of essential oils are not meant to be consumed orally. Also, because they are highly concentrated, some people experience skin irritation when using them. If you skin is sensitive to a particular essential oil, you can still use it, but dilute it with carrier oil first.

1. Black Seed Oil

An essential oil for skin boil infections which has been around for centuries is black seed oil. This oil has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties to clear up the infection causing the boil.

What to do:

  • Add ½ tsp of black seed oil into your favorite hot or cold beverage.
  • Drink this mixture two times a day until the infection disappears.

castor beans on a table

2. Castor Oil

Castor oil is another essential oil for skin boil infections which has been around for a very long time. Labeled as an antiseptic, it is also effective at eliminating the underlying infection.

What to do:

  • Add 4 to 5 drops of castor oil to a patch of cotton gauze.
  • Place the gauze over the affected area and leave it in place.
  • Repeat this remedy several times a day until it draws out the infection.

3. Bergamot Oil

Bergamot oil is a less common oil for most people, but it is a great essential oil for skin boils. This oil has been used for skin ulcers, herpes, chicken pox, eczema and itching for quite some time, because it is effective at drawing out infection, just like it will do with a boil.

What to do:

  • Add 6 drops or so of bergamot oil to a bowl of hot water.
  • Soak a cloth in the solution, wring out the excess water and then apply the compress to the affected area.
  • Repeat this remedy several times per day.

4. Lavender Oil

Beyond having a pleasant scent lavender also a top essential oil for skin boils. Besides helping to relief inflammation around the area, lavender is also quite effective at bringing the boil to a head rapidly.

What to do:

  • Gently rub several drops of lavender oil over the boil.
  • Cover it with a patch of gauze or adhesive bandage strip.
  • At various times throughout the day, place a warm compress over the bandaged area for 5 minutes at a time.
  • Change bandage and apply new oil twice a day.

5. Tea Tree Oil

An essential oil for skin boils which is among the best possible cures is tea tree oil. With its numerous antifungal, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, tea tree oil is able to kill any form of skin infection, especially those which cause boils.

What to do:

  • Place a damp, warm compress over the affected area for about 5 minutes.
  • After you have warmed the area, gently rub in several drops of tea tree oil over the boil and surrounding skin.
  • Cover the area with a bandage.
  • Repeat this process three times daily.

tea tree oil in spa

6. Eucalyptus Oil

Though most often associated with sinus and respiratory issues, eucalyptus oil is also effective as an essential oil for skin boil infections. Having anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial properties, eucalyptus helps to sooth the pain and swelling as well as killing the irritant causing the infection.

What to do:

  • Blend 3 drops of eucalyptus oil with 1 oz. of slippery elm powder.
  • Add several drops of hot water until the mixture creates a thick paste.
  • Spread the paste over the boil and allow it to dry in place.
  • Repeat this remedy 2 to 3 times per day.

7. Helichrysum Oil

Getting relief from an essential oil for skin boils can be accomplished through the use of helichrysum oil as well. The most effective property of this oil comes from its ability to help reduce inflammation and pain while the boil draws to a head.

What to do:

  • Apply several drops of this oil directly to the affected area and cover it with a bandage.
  • Use a warm compress to help absorption.
  • Repeat this remedy to 3 times per day.

8. Thyme Oil

The anti-inflammatory compound thymol, found in thyme, works not only to reduce swelling around the affected area, but also acts as an analgesic to make the area less painful. Because of these properties, thyme is another excellent essential oil for skin boils.

What to do:

  • 3 or 4 drops of thyme oil mixed with slippery elm, as discussed above under eucalyptus oil is an excellent way to utilize this powerful oil.
  • It can also be used directly on the affected area along with a warm compress.

9. Clove Oil

Another powerful essential oil for skin boil infections is clove oil. Clove oil has antimicrobial properties for treating the infection, but it also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties to help numb the pain around the area as the boil works toward a head.

What to do:

  • Apply several drops of clove oil to a patch of gauze and place it over the affected area.
  • Allow it to stay in place for several hours.
  • Remove the patch and replace it with a fresh one and fresh oil 3 times per day.

10. Bay Oil

Known as a powerful antiseptic, antibiotic and astringent, bay oil is an essential oil for skin boils which is also quite promising. It cleans the area to keep the infection from worsening, kills the bacteria and helps to draw the boil to a head more quickly.

What to do:

  • Apply a warm compress to the area just as you did with tea tree oil above.
  • Gently rub several drops of bay oil over the boil and the surrounding skin.
  • Bandage the area and leave it in place.
  • Change bandage and oil several times per day.

11. Cinnamon Oil

The flavorful spice cinnamon is also known to be an effective essential oil for skin boil infections. Often used to treat skin rashes, acnes and infections, cinnamon’s antimicrobial and antiseptic capacities can are effective at clearing up a boil too.

What to do:

  • Because cinnamon oil is pretty powerful on sensitive skin, you should add about 3 drops to 1 tsp of coconut or other carrier oil to dilute it.
  • Apply the mixture generously over the affected area, cover it with a bandage and leave it in place.
  • Replace the bandage and oil several times per day.

12. Spearmint Oil

A great inflammation fighter, which is less likely to irritate your skin than cinnamon oil or its cousin peppermint, is spearmint. Spearmint tends to stimulate blood vessels and capillaries around the affected area and quickly draw the infection to a head, making it an excellent essential oil for skin boils.

What to do:

  • Mix 3 to 4 drops of spearmint oil with 1 tsp of Bentonite clay.
  • Add just enough warm water to create a paste.
  • Apply the paste liberally over the affected area and allow it to dry in place.
  • Replace the paste 2 to 3 times daily.

juniper berries in small bowl

13. Juniper Berry Oil

An underused essential oil by most people, juniper berry could be the best essential oil for skin boil infections. Naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial, this oil fights skin irritations and infections as well as helps encourage the growth of new tissue in the infected area while reducing the risk of scarring.

What to do:

  • Use 3 to 4 drops in 1 tsp of carrier oil.
  • Use this oil blend to cleanse the area 3 or 4 times per day.
  • You can also apply it directly to a patch of gauze and leave it in place to help draw the boil to a head.

14. Rosemary Oil

Rosemary is another essential oil for skin boil infections that you have to try. Not only is it particularly effective as an analgesic to numb the pain in and around the boil, but it also stimulates blood circulation in the area which draws the boil to a head much faster.

What to do:

  • Rosemary oil can be used in any of the manners we have already discussed in the above remedies, it can even be consumed orally as it is a food oil.

15. Geranium Oil

The last essential oil for skin boil infections on our list is geranium oil. This oil’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties help relieve swelling and pain while killing the root of the problem. An added benefit is that geranium oil is also a natural deodorizer.

What to do:

  • The most effective use of geranium oil is to apply several drops directly to and around the affected area without dilution and then covering the area with a patch of gauze.
  • It can also be used in the all of the above remedies, except drinking it, because it is not a food oil.

Conclusion

The pain and discomfort of a boil, especially if it happens to be right where you sit, demands some urgency for being rid of it. Any essential oil for skin boil infections on our list will be able to bring relatively quick relief to the irritation you are experiencing. Make use of one or several our remedies whenever you have a skin boil and get fast relief. Also, add any questions, comments or success stories to the section below.

Images: depositphotos.com.