What looks like a boil but is not one?

Answer by  RR (33)

A Carbuckle is similar to a boil but is not the same dermalogical condition. A Carbuckle is a hair folical that becomes infected and swells. A boil is an abcess or infection that draws fluid under the skin to form a large (usually round) lump anywhere on a person.

Answer by  bullet02 (172)

Boil or skin abscess is tender and reddened area of skin. There are different types of boils like carbuncles, yeast infection, pimple or acne.

Answer by  sasser1102 (198)

I had a bad spider bite from a poisonous spider. It also became infected with staph. It resembled a boil, but it was not one.

Answer by  Renooftheturks (27)

You don't give a lot of information, but my best guess would be a cyst. Cysts are usually painful and tender, can become rather large like a boil, and can burst open. When cysts do burst, they usually leak pus and blood. Cysts, like pimples, are caused by pores being clogged.