Armpit Cyst Treatment

Cysts are a closed pocket, or pouch of a tissue. This pocket can be filled with air, fluid, pus or other substance. Cysts occur anywhere on the body. Cysts occurring on skin region are quite common. Most common reasons of cysts include infection, clogging of sebaceous glands or foreign materials. Wondering, what causes armpit cysts? Cysts occurring on armpit can be caused due to use of antiperspirants or shaving. Armpit cysts are more commonly observed in adolescents who have just started shaving. As already mentioned above, cysts can go away on their own. However, if a cyst becomes too large, painful, causing discomfort and hinders your daily activities, then it should be removed by surgery. An armpit cyst can resemble many kinds of other skin disorders, and hence, one should find out the underlying cause of these armpit lumps, to avoid getting any recurring armpit cysts.

Causes Behind Armpit Lumps

There are various reasons behind armpit lumps. The cause can be simple shaving or can be something serious like AIDS or cancer. Hence, it is important that you get yourself diagnosed by a doctor, if the armpit cyst or lump doesn't go away on its own within 2 weeks.

Lumps can be caused due to bacterial infection related skin disorders. The bacterial infection can be to the arm or breast. It can also be due to cat scratch disease. It can also occur due to ascending lymphangitis, which is the inflammation of the lymph vessel. Or it could occur due to lymphadenitis, which is inflammation of lymph nodes.

Armpit cyst can also occur due to cancer like leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is cancer of lymph tissue or Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is the cancer of lymphoid tissue. Fungal infections are another reason one could be getting lumps on their armpit.

Benign harmless cysts, lipomas (fatty growths) can also look like lumps on armpit. Both of these skin disorders are harmless. Another reason is normal breast tissue disorder, which extends into the armpit area.

Vaccinations used for allergic reaction, mumps, measles, smallpox or typhoid can also lead to bumps on armpit. Viral infection of chickenpox, shingles and AIDS are other reasons that could form armpit lumps.

Armpit Cyst Treatment

It is important that you don't try to diagnose the cysts without professional help, also home care tips depend on the kind of armpit cyst, one has. However, in case you have been told by a medical professional that you have armpit cyst symptoms, then here are some home care tips you can use.

Diagnosis: The doctor will perform a physical examination, and take notes about your medical history and ask about other symptoms. The physical examination might include palpation, where the doctor might gently press the nodes with his/her fingertips. To find out the underlying cause the doctor will prescribe you blood tests and certain scans.

Home Care Tips: Make sure you don't squeeze, drain or open the lump. For skin care, keep the armpit area clean by washing the lump and surrounding skin properly with an antibacterial. You can apply warm, wet washcloth to the lump for 20 minutes, 3 times a day. If you have a ruptured cyst, then there is a possibility you might develop a severe infection. If you have a ruptured cyst, then wash it with soap and water and apply an antibacterial liquid with a cotton ball. Then cover the area with a bandage made from a gauze pad, to keep the dirt off it, till you visit the doctor.

This was all about armpit cysts and lumps. To receive proper armpit cyst treatment, contact your family doctor and get a diagnosis to learn about the underlying cause. In case it is a cyst, the doctor might ask you to wait and watch if the cyst goes on its own. In case the cyst becomes large, armpit cyst removal by surgery might be required. Antibiotics may be prescribed, if the cyst becomes infected.