what causes abscess
most abscesses are caused by a bacterial infection when bacteria enter your body your immune system sends infection fighting white blood cells to the affected area as the white blood cells attack the bacteria some nearby tissue dies creating a hole which then fills with pus to form an abscessn abscess is a painful collection of pus usually caused by a bacterial infection an abscess can develop anywhere in the body this article focuses on two types of abscess skin abscesses which develop under the skin