Painful Boil. How to treat?

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Ok dumb q. What's a boil and how do you tell ther difference from a pimple?

+ a boil is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus - unfortunately i know TOO WELL about these horrible things

ETA: Tinks - use a hot (as hot as you can stand it!) compress for 10-15 mins at a time this will help draw it to a head and ....like Rouge said whatever you use to pierce it, make sure it is sterile. once drained, cover with a bandaid to aid healing and minimise infection to surrounding area from the draining pus......

[Tinks]

Thanks ladies. It's really painful today. I've been doing hot compresses but no head as yet. I just want to squeeze the bejeezus out of it.

[Cupcake]

When it gets a head does it just look like a giant pimple?