Sore Lump Armpit

A lump in the armpit can be caused by any number of factors, and it is advisable that you get the lump examined by a doctor. In many cases, the lump may be a superficial problem, such as a skin infection. Boils and cysts are not uncommon in the underarm area, especially among people who shave the underarms. However, the lump may also be an internal problem, of which the most common and likely is a swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpit. It is difficult to say what the lump is without actually examining it, and treatment is of course impossible without a certain diagnosis.

Swollen Lymph Nodes Under Arm

If you have merely developed a boil or a cyst in your underarm area, you mainly need to be strict about your personal hygiene. Keeping the area clean is of the utmost importance – preferably bathe twice a day, and wash your underarms a couple of times more. Ensure that you wear clean clothes made of natural fibers at all times, so that you don’t sweat too much and bacterial presence is minimized. Avoid touching the lump unnecessarily, and certainly do not try to pop or burst it. A cyst will usually disappear on its own and requires no treatment. The only real treatment you may need for a boil is a warm compress, applied several times a day. This eases the pain quite effectively, and is also supposed to help fight the infection and drain the boil. If and when the boil bursts, you must immediately and thoroughly clean the area. This will usually happen within a week or two. If the lump persists for any longer or is too painful, you should visit a doctor as it may be an abscess rather than a boil. Cysts too sometimes need to be removed surgically, if they do not disappear on their own.

Another common reason for a lump in the underarm area is inflammation of the lymph nodes. However, this by itself is usually only a symptom of some other problem, which could be an infection, an autoimmune disorder, or the development of a malignant tumor. There are a number of infections that cause enlarged lymph nodes, and a diagnosis can be made only after identifying the other symptoms. Breast cancer and certain types of lymphoma and leukemia can also cause the lymph nodes in the armpit to swell up. As you can see, these conditions require a proper medical diagnosis and prompt treatment.