Usually, boils and carbuncles can be distinguished by the scope of infection, clinical symptoms and treatment methods. 1. Scope of infection: Boil is an infectious inflammation of single hair follicle and the tissue around the hair follicle, which mostly occurs on the superficial skin, and is common in sweating and broken parts; carbuncle is an infectious inflammation of multiple adjacent hair follicles and the tissue around the hair follicle, which mostly occurs between the skin and flesh, and is usually located on the head, face, neck and back. 2. Clinical symptoms: boils show a single raised red, swollen and hard nodule, accompanied by pain, and the systemic symptoms are relatively mild; carbuncles show diffuse purplish-red spots, localized tense and shiny, with multiple nodules or pusheads, and the symptoms of infection are obvious and more serious. 3. Treatment: boils can be sterilized with iodine, then topical antibiotic drugs, such as mupirocin ointment or erythromycin ointment, etc.; carbuncles may require oral anti-inflammatory drugs, such as amoxicillin, cefaclor and other antibiotic drugs, while for chronic patients such as diabetes, need to strictly control chronic diseases, serious cases require surgical incision of the infected area to drain pus. Boils and carbuncles are more likely to recur. In daily life, patients should keep their skin clean and hygienic, develop good hygiene habits, and eat a regular diet that is light.