An abscess can become so swollen and tender, even the slightest amount of pressure becomes unbearable. If you have an abscess, Amrik S. Basi, MD, and the dedicated team at Elite Urgent Care in Modesto, California, can help. You can walk in during business hours if you have an abscess that requires urgent care, or click on the online scheduler or call for the soonest available appointment.
Your skin is your body’s largest organ. It’s your protective outer barrier that’s designed to safeguard all of your vital organs and protect your inner components. When your skin barrier is broken though, even with a tiny cut, bacteria can quickly enter and invade your skin.
Abscesses are a result of your skin trying to protect itself and stop that bacteria from invading any further. Your body’s inflammatory response leads to an open pocket around the bacteria — most commonly Staphylococcus aureus bacteria — which quickly fills up with fluid, dead skin cells, pus, and debris.
Sometimes, an abscess forms because you develop inflammation around a hair follicle, which is known as a boil. No matter the cause though, since an abscess is a sign that your body is fighting off an infection, it’s important to have it checked out as soon as you notice abscess symptoms.
One of the most well-known symptoms of an abscess is an extremely tender swollen lump. As the abscess progresses, you may experience:
Most abscesses continue to worsen if they don’t drain. But squeezing or pressing on the abscess is only going to make the bacteria and debris sink down into deeper tissues. The team at Elite Urgent Care can treat your abscess properly right in the office, so you can get immediate relief.
Your practitioner at Elite Urgent Care thoroughly cleans the skin around your abscess and, if needed, administers a local anesthetic injection to numb the area. They place gauze around the abscess and gently cut it open to allow it to drain. Once your abscess is cleared out, your practitioner may flush the abscess with a sterile solution.
Depending on the size of your abscess, you might need packing material placed inside for a day or two. This material keeps the abscess cavity open, so it can continue to drain.
After wrapping your treated abscess, the team counsels you on how to properly care for the wound at home and schedules you for a follow-up visit if needed. If you have signs of an infection, they may also prescribe oral antibiotic medication to help you recover as quickly as possible.
Before living another day with abscess discomfort, come into Elite Urgent Care for an evaluation. Walk in during business hours, or schedule a visit online or over the phone.
