Boils vs. carbuncles Generally carbuncles are more serious. Both carbuncles and boils are acute deep perifollicular infections caused by staphylococcus bacteria invading the hair follicles, but carbuncles are more extensive with multiple plugs of pus, which drains out through multiple ulcerated orifices. Boils often occur on the head, face, back, and neck. The lesion covers a single hair follicle and surrounding tissues, and the inflammation is more limited with pus plugs. Boils have mild systemic symptoms and are mainly characterized by localized skin pain. For treatment, boils are usually treated with topical mupirocin ointment, erythromycin ointment and oral amoxicillin and other antibiotics under a doctor’s supervision, and can be cured soon after the pus plugs burst. Carbuncles often occur in the thicker skin of the neck and back. Canker sores involve multiple adjacent hair follicles and their adjacent tissues, and can also spread to the deeper connective tissues under the skin. Carbuncle systemic symptoms are more serious, there may be chills, fever, loss of appetite and other symptoms, the onset of the early stage, the pain is mild. If the lesion spreads, the pain is further aggravated and the severity of systemic symptoms deepens. Carbuncles require the use of ichthyol ointment under the guidance of a doctor to promote the collection of pus to form abscesses, and then incision and drainage of pus, daily dressing changes, and supplemented with intravenous cefazolin, ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics to fight infection. If the patient suffers from boils or carbuncles, it is recommended to consult a doctor in time and carry out appropriate treatment under the guidance of the doctor.