Final answer:
Abscesses and carbuncles are both skin infections, but carbuncles are deeper and more severe, often causing systemic symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abscesses and carbuncles are both skin infections, but they have some differences. Abscesses are pus-filled lesions that can occur anywhere on the body, while carbuncles are deeper infections that typically form from multiple furuncles. Carbuncles are usually larger and more severe than abscesses, often causing systemic symptoms and requiring medical treatment.