We all carry a lot on our shoulders. Sometimes that weight is not only stress, but a real, painful problem we have been ignoring.
A swollen boil on the back of the neck is one of those problems. It sits right where collars, bag straps and hair rub all day.
It usually starts when a hair follicle becomes blocked and infected, forming a red lump that slowly fills with pus.
As it grows, the skin around it turns pink and tight, and a yellow head often appears in the centre.
Turning your head, lying on a pillow or even brushing your hair can make the area throb with pain.
