Lump In The Armpit – Is This A Cause For Concern?

The appearance of lumps in your  armpit  or enlarged lymph nodes  is usually not a cause for concern, although it can be unpleasant. You are about to learn what to do when you detect a lump or other lesion in your  armpit  .

Where do the lumps in the armpit come from?

In 80% of cases, lumps in the armpit are not a cause for concern and do not herald any further health problems. So don’t panic because of them. The main cause of changes in the armpit is infections of the skin tissue, such as inflammation around the hair follicle.

Below you will find some answers to your questions:

Most common cause: inflammation of the hair follicle

A lump in the armpit is most often associated with inflammation in the area around the hair follicle. This lump can be painful and triggers a panic attack at first, luckily it is not justified. Ingrown hairs can cause inflammation in the sweat gland.

As a consequence, sweat cannot get out of it, and bacteria grow quite quickly in it. After some time, smaller or larger lumps may appear under the armpit.

Inflammation of the hair follicle is not serious, but it can be painful and very bothersome. Often the problem goes away on its own, but in some cases the nodule may develop into a cyst that will require specialized treatment.

In this situation, the doctor will most often prescribe antibiotics to protect your body against staphylococcal infection. However, if the medications do not help, you will have to move to other methods to remove the lump.

How can lumps and boils from forming?

Some of us are more prone to their development and for such people it is often a recurring condition. There are special creams with an antiseptic effect that slow down the process of nodule formation. However, first of all, it is worth being especially careful when depilation, because it is incorrect epilation that can cause ingrown hairs.

Remember about proper hygiene and exfoliation of the skin in the armpits, so that the pores remain open. Avoid using overly intense deodorants that contain large amounts of chemicals, as they irritate this extremely sensitive skin.

Most importantly, don’t panic when you detect a lump in your armpit. It is the inflammation of the hair follicle that is the most common cause of such a lesion under the skin.

An enlarged lymph node

In this case, you should also not panic – an enlarged lymph node is also the result of inflammation. You probably already know that there are many lymph vessels in the armpit that are responsible for transporting lymph into the bloodstream, cleansing and filtering the blood. They are what help you fight most infections.

Unfortunately, sometimes your lymph nodes become swollen when your immune system is weakened and it is easy to become inflamed. Hence the lumps appearing under the armpit. Enlarged lymph nodes may be caused by a previous skin infection or a bacterial infection.

If you detect an enlarged knot under the armpit, it is worth taking a lymphatic test to determine the cause of this ailment. Lymph is taken directly from the gland for testing, but don’t worry – it’s not painful.

The results of this test will indicate if there is any bacterial infection behind the enlarged node, which will allow you to choose the appropriate treatment method.

Lump in the armpit and lymphoma

Remember – the information contained in our text is only one of the possibilities, not a diagnosis! A lump under the armpit in a minority of cases may indicate an enlarged lymph node caused by lymphoma.

Lymphomas are neoplastic diseases, we can divide them into Hodgkin’s lymphomas and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Fortunately, the cure rate for them is quite high – 90% and 70% respectively. Both of these types have a relationship with B lymphocytes, and this is how a doctor can determine if a person has lymphoma.

Treatment of lymphomas involves chemotherapy, but its intensity depends on the individual characteristics of each patient. Treatment methods and the chances of recovery are increasing every year, so remember that the most important thing is faith in your recovery, courage and support of your loved ones.

Does a lump in my armpit have to be cancer?

If you find a lump or other lesion under your arm, remember that it’s not worth worrying about in advance. Instead of panicking, it’s worth making an appointment as soon as possible. In lymphoma, accompanying symptoms may include mild fever, trouble sleeping, night sweats, and weight loss.

As already mentioned, the most common cause of nodules is inflammation of the hair follicle. However, it is worth consulting a specialist to rule out the remaining possibilities and be able to sleep peacefully.