What Causes Boils?

There are many causes of boils. Boils are usually caused by a type of bacteria called Staphylococcus (staph). Most staph infections develop into abscesses and can become serious very quickly.

This germ can be present on normal skin and enters the body through tiny breaks in the skin or by traveling down a hair to the follicle. Some boils can be caused by an ingrown hair. Others can form as the result of a splinter or other foreign material that has become lodged in the skin that causes the infection to develop. Others boils, such as those of acne, are caused by plugged sweat glands that become infected.