It's not really necessary to treat an opened boil with an antiseptic. The important thing is to keep it draining. But Adrian Connolly, M.D., clinical assistant professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, recommends an OTC antibiotic ointment like Bacitracin Steril or Neosporin as insurance against infection. Lead staph to slaughter. If you're prone to boils, you may be able to lessen their frequency, Dr. Connolly says.
Boils are usually cysts that have become infected.
Leave cysts alone, or have them excised by a doctor. Don't spread it around. When a boil is draining, keep the skin around it clean, Dr. Connolly says. Take showers instead of baths to reduce the rare chance of spreading the infection to other parts of the body. After treating a boil, wash your hands well before preparing food because staph bacteria can cause food poisoning.