An abscess can form anywhere in your body. This pus-filled pocket can be quite painful and is usually caused by infections. You should not try to treat a boil on your own. Instead, turn to the team at Modern Urgent Care. Our Central Valley, CA, clinics provide experienced abscess treatment, including incision and drainage, to help you find relief from uncomfortable symptoms.
What Is an Abscess?
An abscess is an extremely common skin infection. When germs penetrate the skin, white blood cells travel to fight off infection. An abscess can form if inflammation and swelling build up around the damaged tissue. The swollen area fills with pus, a fluid consisting of dead white blood cells, tissue remnants and germs.
An abscess can be tender or painful and cause other symptoms like:
- Swelling
- Redness or blotchy skin
- Pus build up under the skin
- Skin that’s warm to the touch
- Fever or chills
Types of Abscesses Treated at Modern Urgent Care
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. They often form in an oil gland or hair follicle, under the armpit, in the breast or around the anus.
Cysts and boils are often mistaken due to similar appearances and treatments. However, cysts on the skin are usually painless while an abscess is more red, swollen and painful.
Urgent Care Treatment for Abscesses
While a small abscess may resolve on its own, you should never attempt to burst or drain one at home. This can spread the infection to other areas of your skin.
If abscess symptoms worsen, you may be wondering whether you should go to an urgent care clinic or the ER. For quick, effective treatment near Ceres, Stockton and Manteca, CA, you can count on Modern Urgent Care for high-quality care without hospital wait times.
When you come to our clinic, we will take a look at your abscess and determine the best course of treatment which may involve an antibiotic or drainage.
Will Urgent Care Drain an Abscess or a Cyst?
If your abscess or cyst requires drainage, we can handle that in our clinic. Draining an abscess is much less painful than allowing the infection to burst naturally.
After the infected area is numbed, our physician makes a small incision, draining the abscess so that pus leaves the wound. The site is then cleaned and dressed. When treated by a trained medical professional, most skin abscesses heal quickly and completely.
Effective Abscess Treatment at Modern Urgent Care
If an abscess is causing you discomfort or pain, find a Modern Urgent Care location near you. You can book your appointment up to 20 minutes ahead of time to save your place in line.