There are situations when a seal may appear under the arm. Most often it is a local inflammatory formation. Such a bump under the arm hurts inside and causes discomfort. This can happen as a result of a violation of personal hygiene, injury when shaving, or wearing tight clothing.
The bump under the arm hurts inside. Photos, causes of inflammation
Several factors can provoke a similar situation. For what reason a lump has formed under the arm, only a doctor can establish. It could be:
- furuncle - inflammation of the hair follicle;
- hydradenitis - inflammation of the sweat gland (popularly called this disease "bitch udder") ;
- lymphadenitis - inflammation of the lymph node;
- an enlarged lymph node as a result of any infection, for example, acute respiratory viral infection, mumps, measles, etc.
- neoplasm (a tumor is benign or malignant).
Furuncle
Boil (boil) is an inflammation of the hair follicle. Most often, its development provokes non-compliance with personal hygiene rules. Shaving in this area or wearing tight clothing that rubs the skin in the armpits can cause microtrauma. Through them, infection easily penetrates. At this point, a slight swelling and slight redness first appears. Further, the inflammatory process begins to progress. A bump under the arm hurts inside and causes inconvenience.
The color of the skin over the formation changes and acquires a bright red hue, sometimes with a bluish tint. The temperature of the skin over the area of inflammation is increased, this is felt when touched.
The general condition of the patient may worsen, chills appear and the temperature rises to 38 degrees and above. Often in this situation, there are symptoms of intoxication - nausea and even vomiting.
In this case, seek medical attention. Most likely, the boil will have to be opened. A course of antibacterial drugs may also be prescribed for treatment.
Hydradenitis
The next reason that a bump jumped under the arm and hurts may be hydradenitis. This disease is an inflammatory process of the apocrine sweat glands, which are located in the shallow layers of the epidermis. The causative agent of hydradenitis is often Staphylococcus aureus. It penetrates through microscopic injuries on the skin that may occur when shaving, hair removal or as a result of personal hygiene. Increased sweating can also trigger this ailment.
Most often, this disease is faced by those who have reduced immune defense. Colds, exacerbations of chronic processes, and even caries can weaken the immune system.
In children, before the onset of puberty, hydradenitis can not be, because the apocrine glands do not work up to this point. This disease can occur in both women and men. But in women, it develops more often. The fact is that the beautiful half of humanity has much more apocrine sweat glands than men, and they are more developed. In women, in addition to sweat, these glands secrete pheromones as well.
With age, the work of these glands weakens, and after 55 years, inflammation of the sweat gland practically does not occur.
Hydradenitis Treatment
If a bump under the arm inside has already formed, you should definitely consult a surgeon. It is impossible not to treat hydradenitis, because the infection can go further and affect the lymph nodes or cause an abscess that will have to be opened.
If the inflammatory process is not started and is at an early stage, then a course of antibiotics is prescribed. Napkins moistened with antiseptic solutions are applied to the sore spot.
From physiotherapy, UFD and dry heat can be prescribed. These procedures often help prevent severe inflammation and avoid pus formation.
If the bump under the arm hurts inside, and the inflammatory process has already gone too far, the treatment is carried out surgically. After the pus is completely removed, antibiotics are prescribed.
What can provoke hydradenitis?
The causative agent of the disease (staphylococcus) most often penetrates through small wounds on the skin that may remain after depilation or shaving. To reduce the risk of developing this disease, you need to use only high-quality razors, depilation to be done exclusively by professionals, and, of course, carefully observe personal hygiene.
In addition, so that the bump under the arm inside does not form anymore, it is better not to use antiperspirants with talcum powder and medical products that contain aluminum salts in the composition. Such funds are prescribed to get rid of excessive sweating. But, solving one problem, they create another. Such antiperspirants are able to clog the sweat glands, thereby creating good conditions for inflammation.
Lymphadenitis
A bump under the arm, it hurts inside - what else could cause this situation? Lymphadenitis is an inflammation of the lymph node, in this case located in the armpit. As in previous cases, the causative agent of the disease is a bacterial infection. Most often it is staphylococcus or streptococcus. Specific lymphadenitis, which is caused by the causative agents of tuberculosis, syphilis, etc., is less often diagnosed. In this case, the infection most often gets from the affected organ to the lymph nodes.
Lymphadenitis, as a rule, is acute. The temperature rises , my head hurts and I feel weak. Even the slightest touch on the area of the inflamed lymph node causes pain.
Antibiotics are required to treat lymphadenitis. If the bump under the arm (inside) is provoked by infection of another organ, then it is necessary to treat it. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a treatment that will help.
Is a bump under your arm an oncology?
I'd like to say no, but sometimes this is true. Often, a small bump under the armpit can indicate cancer. So, for example, axillary lymph node reacts very often in breast cancer.
In this case, the formation under the arm will be painless. The skin over it will not be changed. In 9 out of 10 cases of breast cancer detection, women find the tumor on their own.
Bump under the arm - what to do?
So, if a bump is formed under the arm, in no case should you self-medicate, warm yourself up or go to the "grandmother". It would be most reasonable to seek qualified help. After the necessary examination, the doctor will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment. And if it really turns out to be oncology - procrastination can cost a life. Most often, such problems are still associated with some kind of hygiene disorders or excessive use of antiperspirants.