The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which is normally present on our skin and in many cases in our nostrils, causes the infection known as a boil. Although generally harmless, ‘golden staph’, as it is known, can sometimes infect the skin.
Risk factors for developing boils include:
- Poor personal hygiene
- Poor nutritional status and as a consequence, depleted immunity
- Broken skin from a variety of causes including scrapes and scratches, or skin problems such as eczema
- Diabetes, in particular when the condition is poorly controlled