Boils are painful, embarrassing, and more common for certain people than you might think. Usually seen in pregnant women and children, boils can occur more or less anywhere on the body, and persist for weeks, growing bigger and more painful along the way.

There are plenty of ways to get rid of these at home without lancing them, which can be dangerous, and may lead to infection. If there are any signs of infection, or the boils get worst, make sure to go to the doctor immediately. But in the meantime you can try garlic or onions.

Using one of the too, put the juice onto the affected area, or else put a part of the onion or garlic directly on the boil. Make sure that they are peeled and cut in half first. This should be enough to ‘ripen’ the boil, causing the skin to break, and the pus to be released. Make sure to clean it well, and to dress it afterward to prevent infection.

Another home remedy is to use alternating heat and cold to prepare the boil for breaking open. After several treatments of hot and cold water, the boil will often break open on it’s own, and drain. Again, be sure to clean and dress it well.