A boil—also known as a furuncle—occurs due to a bacterial infection of a hair follicle and the tissue around it. A skin cyst occurs when the skin turns inside out on itself due to an unknown trigger.

Because boils and cysts cause bumps and growths on the skin, it's easy to mistake one for the other. However, knowing the differences between the conditions can help you determine when to see a ...

Learn about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention tips for infected blackheads.

Boils and cysts both look like bumps on your skin. The main difference between a cyst and a boil is that a boil is a bacterial or fungal infection, and is more likely to be painful.

A boil—medically known as a furuncle—is a common skin infection that occurs when a hair follicle or oil gland becomes infected. Generally, your primary care provider (PCP) or a dermatologist ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I watch a lot of skin-care videos by dermatologists. Sometimes they will have a patient who has a very infected and inflamed blackhead, boil or cyst, etc. It seems like the main ...

Pilonidal cysts can be prevented by avoiding direct pressure on the area if a hair follicle becomes infected. When should someone seek medical attention for a boil?

Cysts and boils are both lumps that appear under the skin. Although the symptoms are similar, the causes and treatments are different. Learn more here.

What are the causes of a boil on the ear? Learn about the causes of boils, how they differ from pimples and cysts, and how to treat them.

In a new Instagram video, Dr. Pimple Popper—aka dermatologist and TLC host Dr. Sandra Lee, MD—asks popaholics to pick a favorite: blackheads or cysts.