I wouldn’t risk draining an abscess by yourself. They not only need to be drained, but also packed with sterile gauze to avoid infection. You'll also require antibiotics. Speaking from experience, I had an abscess on my arm back in 2007. I wasn't aware of what it was, and it grew quite large. I thought it would heal on its own, but it got so bad I had to go to the ER. They drained and packed it, but I ended up needing to be hospitalized for two reasons. First, moving my arm was excruciating, and I didn’t stretch it out, causing my muscles to tighten. The doctor couldn’t fully extend my arm. If I had waited a few more days, I might have lost my arm. I ended up with a staph infection and had to undergo surgery to remove the entire infection, followed by a week of using a vacuum on my arm. I didn’t realize how deep it was until the vacuum came off. The hole was so big it could have hidden a golf ball. I still have a noticeable scar on my arm from it. Yes, some procedures may look simple, but there’s a lot more to them than you think. Just be careful.
