Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.
What is a skin abscess? —
This is a painful bump that forms when pus collects under the skin (picture 1). It looks similar to a pimple, but it is usually much larger.
Skin abscesses often form when there is a cut or nick in the skin and bacteria from the skin's surface gets in. Less often, it might be caused by another type of germ, like a virus, fungus, or parasite.
To treat a skin abscess, a doctor or nurse makes a small cut on the surface of the abscess to drain out the pus. This is called "incision and drainage." In some cases, they use a needle to drain the pus instead.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
If you got sedatives to help you relax during the procedure, you will get instructions for how to take care of yourself.
You should also:
●Take all your medicines as instructed – Your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic medicine. These help kill the bacteria that caused the abscess and keep your skin from getting infected again. But they are not always needed. If you get antibiotics, it is very important to finish all the medicine, even if you start to feel better.
●Keep your incision covered with clean, dry gauze.
●Always wash your hands before and after you touch your abscess or bandage.
●If you don't have a drain or packing in place, you can soak the abscess – Remove the gauze covering the abscess. Soak the abscess in warm, soapy water for 10 minutes at a time, 3 times a day. If the area is difficult to soak, you can apply a warm, wet washcloth to the area instead. After you finish soaking the abscess, carefully pat the area dry with a clean towel. Cover the abscess again with another piece of clean, dry gauze.
●Check for signs of infection – These include a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, more redness around the abscess, or the abscess getting bigger.
What follow-up care do I need? —
Your doctor or nurse will often want to see you after the procedure. Usually, they want you to come in 24 to 48 hours after the procedure, and then again in 7 to 10 days. This is to make sure your abscess is healing properly. Go to these appointments.
●If your abscess was packed with gauze, the doctor or nurse will remove the gauze during your first follow-up appointment if enough pus has drained out. If more pus needs to drain, they will change the packing.
●If you have a drain in place, your doctor or nurse will check it during your first follow-up appointment. If enough pus drained out, they will remove the drain. If you have stitches holding it in place, the doctor or nurse will remove those, too. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if:
●You have signs your infection is getting worse – These can include a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, more redness around the abscess, redness or swelling that is moving up your arm or leg, or the abscess getting bigger.
●Your gauze packing comes out, unless your doctor said this is OK.
●The drain comes out of your abscess.
Patient education: Skin abscess drainage (The Basics)
Patient education: Skin abscess (The Basics)
Patient education: Cellulitis and erysipelas (skin infections) (The Basics)
Patient education: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (The Basics)
Patient education: Skin and soft tissue infection (cellulitis) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (Beyond the Basics)
