A nurse or doctor can help right away. The skin is cleaned, protected with a sterile drape and numbed before anything is done.
The abscess is then opened and drained, and the pressure and pain usually ease almost immediately.
The wound is cleaned and dressed, and sometimes packed with gauze, with antibiotics added if the redness has spread.
Following the aftercare advice and changing the dressing as shown helps the area close and heal cleanly.
Remember that help is close by. The videos below show back cysts and abscesses being treated by professionals.
