What is an Abscess Wound – CMC Wound Care
With gross-out videos being all the rage these days on social media, you may have watched a few videos of physicians popping and draining abscesses. But did you know that any one of us can get an abscess anywhere on our body for a multitude of reasons? Dr. Nicolas Mexas, MD with CMC Wound Care recently took a few minutes to explain what abscesses are and how he and his team treat them.
What is an abscess?
An abscess is your body’s way of trying to heal an infection. “As your body fights the infection, it builds a wall around it,” said Dr. Mexas. “A fluid and pus-filled pocket forms underneath your skin that contain the offending bacteria, white blood cells, dead skin cells, and additional debris. It becomes a problem if it gets bigger, causing tension and swelling. They can be very painful and the inflammation will make the area warm to the touch and red in color.”
What causes them?
“Anyone can get one at any time. It can be so many things,” explained Dr. Mexas. “You don’t have to be diabetic or immunocompromised. A relatively healthy person can get an abscess. Ultimately something occurs that introduces bacteria – a blockage in the oil or sweat glands, some type of trauma.”
Dr. Mexas noted that abscesses can develop anywhere on the body but most frequently occur around the armpits, anus, vagina, and groin area. Some of the risk factors he listed were:
- Chronic skin conditions like acne or eczema
- Compromised immune system
- Ingrown hairs
- Cuts, punctures, and abrasions
- Insect bites
- Diabetes
- Poor hygiene
- Metabolic Syndromes
- Smoking
- Viruses
- Parasites
Who should you see for an abscess?
“At first, a lot of people will go to the Emergency Department or their primary care doctor because they have this growth that is red, and hot, and so painful,” stated Dr. Mexas. “They can assist patients and provide some immediate relief and prescribe an antibiotic. Then it’s often recommended that they come to see us at CMC Wound Care for follow-up care.”
“Sometimes there are instances where patients will come to CMC Wound Care first. We will make an incision and drain it to relieve the pressure. We ensure that we get all material from the wound. There are instances where the abscess is more severe and so we may have to do a more invasive surgical procedure to ensure that we remove all of the abscess material.”
“We then have to pack the wound. You can’t just suture the wound because it will open up again. So we pack the wound with a ribbon of gauze that fills up the pocket and closes up the wound. This allows the pus to continue to drain and for the wound to heal from the inside out,” explained Dr. Mexas. Patients are advised on how to change their packing daily and they are oftentimes prescribed antibiotics to control the infection. CMC Wound Care will also schedule follow-up visits to closely monitor the healing process and provide other support services.
Wound Care you can count on
Dr. Mexas said that patients with an abscess should not ignore advancing symptoms. Minor abscesses may clear up on their own but you should see your healthcare provider if it doesn’t go away within a few weeks. With proper treatment, they will clear up quickly but if allowed to, they can become dangerously infected and in extreme cases even be fatal.
At CMC Wound Care, you will have the assistance and support you need during the healing process. Since the inception of our program, our team has treated over 4,200 patients and healed over 15,000 wounds. If you are dealing with an abscess or any other wounds that won’t heal, ask your primary care provider for a referral to CMC Wound Care or call 843-347-8347 for more information about our program.
