"Bitch udder" in medical terminology is called "hydradenitis", which means the inflammatory process in the field of apocrine sweat glands with the formation of purulent contents and is a type of pyoderma.
Apocrine glands, which differ from eccrine glands in that they have a specific localization, are characterized by inflammation due to their infection.
The sweat produced by them is thicker than usual and has a strong specific odor. His reaction when conducting research is neutral or alkaline. This environment is not terrible to pathogens, so a similar disease develops in these glands. What are the main reasons for the "bitch udder"?
The causative agent of this pathology
Hydradenitis is usually caused by bacteria, and most often - staphylococci. In some cases, it can be triggered by exposure to streptococcus and Escherichia coli.
Pathogens enter the sweat glands through microscopic injuries of the skin, through the lymphatic tract. However, there is another option for getting into the glands of the infection - through the mouth of the hair follicles.
The “bitch udder” under the armpit is mainly localized, resembles the nipple of a dog that feeds offspring. From here came the name of this disease in common people.
Who is at risk?
In children, before the onset of puberty, such a disease never occurs, due to the insufficient development of the functions of the sweat glands. The disease can affect adolescents, and it is often diagnosed in women. People of mature age, in whom the functioning of the apocrine glands are extinguished, the onset of this disease is no longer in danger.
The inflammatory process that develops in the ducts of the sweat glands can be observed with hormonal changes in the body, for example, during menopause or during pregnancy.
Differences of this disease from furunculosis
Hydradenitis should be distinguished from such a pathology as furunculosis, since with the occurrence of certain characteristic symptoms, such confusion occurs. The difference between this disease and furunculosis lies in the fact that purulent formations do not contain a necrotic core, which is secreted during the opening of boils. How to treat the "bitch udder", consider below.
Causes of hydradenitis
What gives an impetus to the occurrence of this ailment? This is a common question on the part of patients. Pathogens can live on the skin of a person, however, they can provoke a particular disease only in the presence of certain conditions favorable to them.
The main reason for the occurrence of hydradenitis is the weakening of the body's immune defense when it is unable to withstand the pathological effects of microbes and viruses.
Similar situations may occur in the following cases:
- As a result of the development of chronic diseases in the patient, as well as against the background of various acute infectious pathologies, when the “udder” appears as a secondary infection.
- After the operations and various injuries.
- Due to high emotional or physical stress.
- With frequent stresses - the psychosomatics of this disease is such that constant nervous experiences can trigger the development of pathology.
- Due to the development of a variety of autoimmune diseases.
- With the appearance of pathologies that are associated with a change in metabolism.
- Hormonal disorders at different ages.
Provoking factors in this disease
There are also a number of factors that can provoke the disease "bitch udder" or hydradenitis, and they can be attributed to:
- Excessive perspiration, which is associated with the physiology of a particular organism, or may be a consequence of a violation of the secretory function of the glands.
- Hyperhidrosis associated with severe physical exertion, hot climate and high humidity.
- Poor-quality and uncomfortable clothes - tight, synthetic, which can rub on the skin and cause the development of diaper rash.
- Inadequate hygiene in the armpits and genitals.
- The use of certain cosmetics that violate the pH of the skin, for example, antiperspirants, and powders that clog its pores.
- A variety of injuries and injuries - cuts from shaving, combing with itching, scratches, abrasions from clothing, ingrown hairs after epilation.
- Nutrition - a passion for poor-quality diets, the lack of the necessary number of trace elements, the excessive consumption of carbohydrates, which serve as a nutrient medium for pathogenic microorganisms.
Localization of hydradenitis
Pathological purulent formations characteristic of this disease are localized, as a rule, in places of a large number of apocrine glands. Such areas are the armpits, which explains the fact that axillary hydradenitis is considered the most common form of this pathology.
In addition, these parts of the body are subject to constant negative effects of external factors - traumatic depilation, and friction of tight clothing, and inappropriate antiperspirants.
Some people also neglect the hygiene of these places where sweating is increased.
Where else can hydradenitis be localized:
- Groin area.
- The area of the perineum, as well as around the anus.
- On the scrotum in men.
- On the labia in women.
- Folds under the mammary glands.
- Directly on the mammary gland, as well as in the nipple area.
- In rare cases, hydradenitis can appear on the scalp.
In order for the infection process not to spread throughout the body, with the formation of a single lesion, the antibacterial treatment of this area should immediately begin.
The main symptoms of hydradenitis
Most often, this disease is unilateral, for example, an armpit on one side. Bilateral hydradenitis is extremely rare.
At the initial stage of the pathological process, one, and most often, several small nodules with a dense structure appear under the skin.
Gradually, these painful seals increase in size, reaching about 2 cm in diameter, and begin to protrude on the surface of the skin.
The skin around such formations turns red and inflamed, itching is possible, after which severe swelling of the affected area develops. The nodes begin to merge with each other, forming a large inflamed burgundy infiltrate.
What is accompanied by this disease?
These characteristic signs are accompanied by the following conditions:
- General malaise.
- Hyperthermia, fever.
- Cephalgia
- Nausea and loss of appetite.
- Pain in the affected area.
When a solid formation gradually softens, when pressure is applied to the cavity, specific fluctuations are formed - fluctuation, which is a hallmark of the “bitch udder” from the boil.
After the infiltrate matures, its opening occurs. At the same time, purulent contents flow out, and a scar forms in this area during skin overgrowth.
The whole process of the disease takes, as a rule, from two weeks to a month, which can be complicated by the appearance of new abscesses and inflammations against the background of healing of old ones. After the release of pus, the patient's health usually improves significantly. At this stage, it is extremely important to prevent purulent contents from entering neighboring tissues, since it contains a very large number of pathogens. Otherwise, the involvement of other sweat glands in the pathological process threatens the patient with the development of repeated hydradenitis. Thus, the disease can go into a recurring chronic form.
Varieties of pathology
According to the localization of abscesses, hydradenitis is divided into one-sided and two-sided. Also, the disease can be axillary, inguinal, located in the anus, scrotum, navel, labia, mammary glands.
The cause of the development of purulent acute hydradenitis is a blockage in the sweat glands, which is accompanied by characteristic symptoms - temperature, pain in the areas of abscess formation.
A recurring form of the disease is characterized by the duration of the inflammatory process, which, fading away, resumes at some intervals. Extensive glandular inflammation is the most complex form of hydradenitis, and in this case, complex treatment with antibacterial drugs is required.
The suppurative form of hydradenitis is also called inverse acne, and adolescents most often suffer from it. A feature of the pathology is that different forms of acne are combined with inflammation of the sweat glands.
So, how to treat a bitch udder?
Disease treatment
There are two methods to get rid of hydradenitis - conservative and operational.
What is meant by them?
Conservative therapy is successful only in the first days from the time of compaction. In this case, funds for external treatment of areas of inflammation and oral medications can be prescribed, which are usually used as antibiotics:
- Doxycycline.
- "Erythromycin."
- "Linkomycin."
- Ampicillin.
- Tsiprolet.
- Amoxiclav.
- "Ciprofloxacin."
Treatment "bitch udder" should be prescribed by a doctor.
Skin treatment
For processing plots used:
- Ichthyol ointment or Vishnevsky ointment.
- "Ilon."
- Levomekol.
- Solution "Clindamycin".
- Zelenka, iodine, synthomycin ointment.
However, it is not always possible to cure the "udder" independently, using traditional methods and drugs. Often it is necessary to carry out surgical removal of the abscess. If the education is single, then the surgical intervention is performed under local anesthesia. After opening the wound is treated, drainage is installed to remove fluid from its cavity. In the subsequent period, for recovery, various physiotherapy procedures can be prescribed - laser therapy, infrared radiation, magnetotherapy, ultrasound treatment, etc.
Consider also the alternative treatment of "bitch udder."
Treatment of the disease with folk remedies
It is impossible to cure hydradenitis using exclusively folk methods. However, in combination therapy with medical devices, they are still allowed, which helps maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the affected area and exclude infection of neighboring tissues.
What folk remedies for the “bitch udder” help?
Onions, aloe and cabbage leaf - the most popular treatment for hydradenitis in folk medicine. It occurs as follows: onion is chopped on a grater or meat grinder to a homogeneous mass, mixed with aloe leaves chopped in the same way, after which the mixture is laid out on a cabbage leaf. After that, the sheet is used as a compress on the damaged area of the body. It must be kept for two hours.
In addition to this remedy, lotions and rinses of the skin are also used with infusions of medicinal herbs - chamomile, St. John's wort, oak bark, etc.
Many people wonder how to speak "bitch udder"?
To get rid of abscesses, it is recommended to use onions, which need to be cleaned and fried in fat. Then it is mixed with chopped laundry soap. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected areas. It is necessary to read “Our Father” 3 times.
Hydradenitis in a child
"Bitch udder" (the photo is available on the network in large numbers) in children occurs most often in adolescence and this is due to a hormonal imbalance. Such factors as prolonged infectious pathologies, sweating, diaper rash on the skin, and poor hygiene provoke the disease. But pathology can occur without special reasons.
In this case, one should not self-medicate, since children have high risks of developing severe forms of hydradenitis and various complications.
The teenager must be shown to a specialist who will determine further actions:
- At the very beginning of the pathology, as a rule, local therapy helps. The child is prescribed antibacterial drugs and ointments.
- In case of more late treatment, a surgical opening of the abscess is prescribed and further rehabilitation treatment.