Well, the boil is largely healed

[conuly]

though it's still an open sore that needs a bandage, and I'm starting to get a rash from the bandage, so that's fun. There's gotta be a solution to this problem.

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Comments

[gingicat]

Are you looking for suggestions for the rash?

[conuly]

If you have any, I’ll absolutely take them. I’m not entirely sure it is a rash or if it’s a bruise exactly in the shape of the bandaids.

[gingicat]

For me it's almost always a yeast infection under the adhesive. Two things work; leaving the bandage off (which will also let the boil dry out, it's probably at that stage), and washing the skin with pre-surgery soap. The only time I have not gotten adhesive rash was when I was obsessive about using the surgical soap. Do *not* get it in the wound.

[cellio]

I don't have experience with boils, but for other slow-to-heal injuries I've had success leaving the bandage off at night while I sleep and then applying a new one in the morning. This depends on not being a heavy thrasher while sleeping; during the day I need to protect it, but my bed's pretty safe in that regard.

If the rash is specifically from the adhesive, you might be able to use a bigger bandage (or gauze and surgical tape) to at least move the affected area, putting gauze or the absorbent part of a bandage over what's now covered by adhesive. This is speculation; I haven't tried this one.

[conuly]

It's definitely the bandage, I get itchy whenever I put a bandaid on anywhere other than my foot or hand. I don't know why those body parts are immune, but the torso and arms are the worst.

[fred_mouse]

If it is any brand of bandaid, then something like gauze held on with hypoallergenic medical tape might help. If it is brand specific, do you have a latex allergy, and if yes, check the component of the bandaid?

I turned out to react to the specific glues; this includes the hypoallergenic medical tape, but does not apply to one brand (bandaid brand, I think) and as I've aged I seem to react less.

[madamoiselle_sambuca]

Get better soon. <3

[rebeccmeister]

I think I'm also a person who sometimes reacts to something in the glue on softer skin, so I think this seems like something to consider.

Also: boils suck!

[fred_mouse]

Having looked in my cupboard - it isn't the bandaid brand that I don't react to, although they are okay. It is actually the really cheap ones, but I think that is because they fall off so easily!

[minoanmiss]

Tegaderm might help? I'm not sure if it uses the same adhesives as bandages.