Pain Under Armpit

Do you often experience soreness, burning sensation or pain under armpit? The armpit, which is medically referred to as axilla or axillary cavity, is quite prone to developing infections. Boils, rashes and skin infections are more likely to develop in this area as bacteria can easily flourish in the warm and moist skin folds. Moreover, the skin in this area is thinner and is therefore more sensitive. Pain under the armpit may also be accompanied with changes in the color and texture of the skin. Pain in the armpit may even radiate to the shoulder and the arm. Soreness in the armpit is usually indicative of a pathogenic infection, but underarm pain could even be caused due to other medical conditions. One must therefore seek medical help in order to identify the underlying cause of pain in this region. Scroll down to find out about the circumstances under which one may experience pain under axilla.

What Causes Pain Under Armpit?

Pain in the armpit could be caused due to a wide range of reasons. Here's some information about conditions that may be responsible for causing pain under armpit.

• Since the skin in this region is more sensitive, it can easily get affected on coming in contact with harsh substances present in deodorants, antiperspirants or hair removal products. At times, use of antiperspirants could even give rise to a burning sensation. Razor bumps that appear if one uses a dull blade for shaving off the armpit hair could also become inflamed thereby causing pain.
• Bacteria can enter through cuts or breaks in the skin and give rise to an infection. Boils or cysts could develop if the skin gets irritated. Those who sweat profusely are definitely more susceptible to developing boils in this region. Clogged pores/sebaceous glands could also give rise to the formation of fluid-filled cysts or lumps.
• Hidradenitis suppurativa is another condition that may give rise to boils in the armpit region. The development of boils or cysts is often accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, redness, swelling and burning sensation.
• Lymph nodes are tiny bean-shaped glands that perform the important function of trapping and destroying pathogens. The axillary lymph nodes may enlarge due to an injury or infection in the arm. Lymphadenitis or inflammation of lymph nodes in the underarm region could also cause armpit pain.
• Pain in the armpit region could also be experienced if lymph nodes located in the armpit swell up. Swollen lymph nodes may be caused by cancerous or non-cancerous conditions.
• An infection in the breast tissue could also cause pain in the armpit. Women suffering from breast cancer may also develop a painful lump in the armpit.
• The pain that may occur due to overuse or excessive stretching of the muscle present in the armpit region is referred to as axillary myalgic pain. Pain may also be accompanied by tenderness in the armpit. Those who often play sports that involve forceful swinging of arms could experience pain under armpits. Subscapularis muscle strain that commonly affects those who play tennis, baseball or javelin could also cause armpit pain.
• Bacterial, viral or fungal infections could also cause pain in the armpits. Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection that may cause painful lumps in the armpit. Viral infections such as measles, mumps, chickenpox, typhoid, shingles and AIDS may also cause pain in this region. Bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus could also cause pain in underarms. Infectious mononucleosis, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are other medical conditions that may cause armpit pain.

Treatment for Pain Under Armpit

Since pain in the armpit could be caused due to a wide range of reasons, it is extremely essential to identify the underlying cause. Doctors usually conduct blood tests and imaging procedures to determine the underlying cause. The treatment would vary depending on the medical condition responsible for causing armpit pain. For instance, antibiotics, antiviral medicines or antifungal drugs would be prescribed for treating bacterial, viral or fungal infections respectively. If pulled muscles under armpit are the reason behind armpit pain, muscle relaxers would be prescribed. One must also refrain from indulging in strenuous physical activities that may worsen one's condition. If a serious medical condition is responsible for causing pain in the armpit, extensive treatment would be required. For instance, chemotherapy and radiation therapy would be required for conditions such as leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

One can also try out some home remedies for pain relief. One can apply hot or cold compress, whichever is more comfortable. For cold compress, take 4-5 ice cubes and wrap them in a piece of cotton cloth. Place it on the painful armpit for about 10-15 minutes. Do it thrice a day for speeding up the healing process. If you wish to use hot compress, take a cotton cloth and warm it up on a pan. Place it on the affected armpit for about 5-10 minutes. Make sure that the cloth is not too hot to touch, otherwise it may burn your skin. Those who develop boils or cysts every now and then, must consult a dermatologist. Make sure that you use good-quality skin care products. Since pathogenic infections are usually responsible for causing such health problems, one must try to strengthen the immune system by following a healthy diet and leading a healthy lifestyle.

If you notice a lump in the armpit or have been experiencing pain under armpit, seek medical help immediately. A timely treatment is essential for alleviating the symptoms and lowering the risk of complications.