Understanding Armpit Lumps: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Help
What Exactly is an Armpit Lump?
An armpit lump is any type of swelling, bump, or growth that forms under the skin in your underarm area, better known as the axilla. This area contains a great number of important structures which include:
- Lymph nodes: Part of your immune system, these small, bean-shaped glands help fight infection.
- Hair follicles: The base of each hair, which may become inflamed or infected.
- Sweat glands: These may become clogged or inflamed, causing lumps.
- Adipose tissue and skin: Tumors such as lipomas or skin tags may be seen here.
Depending on the cause, the lump may be small and tender, firm and painless, or large and troublesome.
Common Causes of Armpit Lumps
Here’s a breakdown of what could be causing your lump:
1. Hair and Skin Conditions
Ingrown hairs: After shaving or waxing, hairs can curve back into the skin, causing inflammation of the tissue and a tender, pea-sized lump.
Folliculitis: When hair follicles become inflamed-sometimes from bacteria, other times from friction-you may notice red, acne-like bumps.
Boils: These are infected, pus-filled lumps that are tender or painful to the touch.
Hidradenitis suppurativa: this is a chronic skin condition in which small, painful lumps form under the skin. The bumps may result from blocked sweat glands.
2. Infections
Infections can be another cause of armpit lumps. Here is why:
Infected lymph nodes: these small glands act as filters and trap bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens. If one is fighting an infection, such as the flu or mono, or even a skin infection, his or her lymph nodes may swell and become tender to the touch.
Skin infections can include impetigo and even abscesses, leading to some lumps underneath the skin.
3. Cysts and Lipomas
Cysts: Fluid-filled sacs that can form in the skin, around a hair follicle or a sweat gland.
Lipomas: Soft growths made up of fat cells; they are usually painless but can grow bigger over time.
4. Allergic Reactions
Deodorants, perfumes, and lotion may cause an allergic reaction and irritate the sensitive armpit skin. This will also make your armpit swollen and include little lumps or bumps.
5. Serious Causes
While rare, some armpit lumps can be due to more serious conditions:
Breast cancer: Cancerous lumps are often firm, immovable, and painless. They may appear near the armpit due to the spread of cancerous cells to nearby lymph nodes.
Lymphoma: A cancer of the lymphatic system that can cause swollen, painless lymph nodes in the armpit.
Leukemia: A cancer of the blood that sometimes presents with swollen lymph nodes.
6. Autoimmune Diseases
Inflammatory conditions of the lymph nodes, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, can present with lumps in the armpits.
What Does an Armpit Lump Feel Like?
The characteristics of the lump may give some hint as to its etiology:
Soft and movable: Probably cystic or lipoma.
Firm and immovable: It may be a swollen lymph node or tumor.
Red and painful: These may indicate an infection, like an abscess or boil.
Itchy or irritated: Can be an allergic reaction or an ingrown hair.
If you happen to notice in your armpit, a pea-sized lump that hurts, then this may be the results of infection or an ingrown hair. The lumps hard under your armpit not moving will require further examination.
Why Use Ultrasound to Examine an Armpit Lump?
An armpit ultrasound is one of the finest diagnostic tools to tell whether your lump is normal or abnormal. Here’s why: Non-invasive and painless: It uses sound waves to create an image of what’s happening beneath the skin.
Quick and reliable, ultrasounds can often delineate a cystic lesion (fluid-filled) from a solid tumor.
Lymph Node Clarity: Infections, the spread of cancer, or other disorders that cause lymph nodes to swell can be closely monitored.
This makes ultrasound the go-to first step before considering more invasive procedures such as a biopsy.
What Happens During an Armpit Ultrasound?
Here’s what you can expect if you have an ultrasound:
Preparation: A water-based gel is applied to your underarm by the technician. This helps the sound waves move.
The scan itself: A small, hand-held device called a transducer is moved over the skin. It sends sound waves into the body and picks up the echoes to create pictures in real time.
Duration: The procedure usually takes about 15–30 minutes.
Results: Many private clinics have same-day results, in which you can discuss the findings with your doctor immediately.
When to See a Doctor for an Armpit Lump
Not all lumps require medical attention, but you should seek help if:
- The lump persists for more than two weeks.
- It’s getting bigger or changing texture.
- It is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss.
- It’s hard, immovable, or especially painful.
- You have previously had lumps that necessitated treatment or removal.
What to Do Next?
Common and mostly benign are armpit lumps. If you are doubtful, nevertheless, do not hesitate to go forward. A short ultrasonic scan may guide further therapy or provide peace of mind by helping to identify the source.
Whether it’s an armpit cyst, an inflammatory lymph node, or anything else, first step toward feeling better is recognizing what you are dealing with.
To book online select the date and time that suits you best – alternatively, please contact us with any questions via the chat, call or email links provided.
Telephone: 020 7101 3377
