A boil—also known as a furuncle—occurs due to a bacterial infection of a hair follicle and the tissue around it. A skin cyst occurs when the skin turns inside out on itself due to an unknown trigger.

In a routine cyst removal, Dr. Pimple Popper found a 'cave of hidden gems' with a surprisingly large mass of tissue that grew below the surface.

If you have a boil, you’re probably eager to know what to do. Discover the causes and treatment of boils, and how to tell the differences from carbuncles and cysts.

Boils can often resemble a pimple but boils are dome-shaped, red and tender to touch and look like raised bumps. Pimples are typically smaller, and not as painful.