Many skin abscesses are caused by bacteria getting into broken skin. To ensure that this doesn't happen, the skin surface should be kept clean and free of bacteria.
Other ways to reduce developing abscess are to do the following:
Wash your hands regularly
Wear clean clothes
Do not share towels
Wait for your skin abscess to completely heal before you start using communal equipment
Be careful when shaving your face or private areas and do not share your shaving equipment
If you use tissues when wiping the pus from an abscess of another person, make sure you dispose of them properly and thoroughly wash your hands
MBBS (Singapore), MRCS (Edinburgh), FRCS (Edinburgh), Master of Medicine (Surgery)
Comprehensive Colorectal Care, From Screening to Surgery.
This article has been medically reviewed by Dr Aaron Poh
Dr Aaron Poh is a Colorectal and General Surgeon with extensive experience in minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery. He performs a wide range of procedures including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and advanced endoscopic treatments such as complex polyp removal with EMR and colonic stenting. His surgical expertise covers colorectal cancer surgery, hernia repair, gallbladder removal, as well as proven treatments for haemorrhoids and other anal conditions.