How do you know if it's a pimple or a boil?

Answer by  FishGal88 (351)

Pimples and boils are not exactly the same thing. While they are both technically an infection on and in the skin, boils run much deeper into the dermis than a pimple might. Treating a boil in the same way you might a pimple can lead to scarring, you may find it best to see a doctor.

Answer by  simna (473)

When compare to a pimple, a boil will be large in size. It needs medical treatment. It is very painful and it has a long life span of more than 1 week. A pimple will be small in size and less painful and has a short lifespan.

Answer by  margiep (422)

Pimples and boils are similar but boils are larger than pimples. Boils need to be drained where as pimples shouldn't be popped to avoid further infection.

Answer by  seedtosalad (175)

A boil is much larger than a pimple and often tends to form in folds of the skin like the neck, underarm or groin area. Pimples are treated with benzoyle peroxide to dry them, boils are drained and then treated with antibiotic ointment or in severe cases, oral antibiotics.

Answer by  whoareyou (3483)

A boil would require a doctors treatment, although acne medication won't hurt. A pimple will eventually come to a head, pop, and go away, where a boil will remain.

Answer by  eyeguy (3760)

A boil will contain fluid which once drained will refill itself repeatedly. A pimple will contain a small dense head and once removed will not normally refill itself with fluid