Situations Where An Underarm Node Is Worrying

Many of us have discovered a lump in the armpit at one point. This problem is common, not always a reason to be alarmed. In this article, we explain the situations in which an underarm node is worrying. 

What are the possible causes of the formation of a lump in the armpit?

In 80% of cases, the appearance of such a node is a normal thing that does not cause problems. If you find that a lump has appeared in your armpit area, you should not be scared, because it is most likely caused by a form of furunculosis. Do you know what boils are? Here is some information about this condition:

The most common cause of nodules in the armpit: boils

The most common cause of the formation of a lump in the armpit is boils. This is inflammation of the root of a hair. Furunculosis is painful, and its detection can cause panic. It usually occurs as a result of an infection of a sweat gland caused by a hair grown under the skin. When perspiration remains in the follicle, bacteria accumulate very quickly. Thus, smaller or larger swellings may occur.

Although it is not a serious problem, boiling can be quite annoying. Sometimes this goes away on its own, but other times certain cysts form that require proper treatment. In these cases, your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics to protect you against staph infection. But if they do not help eliminate the cyst, other measures will be needed.

How can you prevent the formation of these nodules or cysts in the armpit? Unfortunately, some people are more prone to such problems than others, and if you have had such a swelling in the past, it will most likely reappear at some point. There are certain antiseptic creams that can delay their formation, but it is best to be very careful about the method of hair removal used – especially if it involves the use of a razor. Every time you shave, you risk facing hairs that grow under the skin, which causes boils. Before epilating, wash and exfoliate the skin under the armpit to open the pores. Do not use deodorants that contain aggressive chemicals, as the armpit is a very sensitive area.

Given the above, you cannot consider a lump in the armpit to be worrying if it is caused by a boil.

The second most common cause: swollen lymph node

Do not be scared. Inflammation of a lymph node is known as lymphadenitis. There are numerous lymphatic vessels in the armpit area that carry lymphatic fluid into the blood for the purpose of filtering and cleansing it. In this way, the body fights infections.

If we have a weakened immune system or if we have contracted a virus, the lymph glands can swell or become inflamed. Therefore, this explains the appearance of the nodule in the armpit. Lymphadenitis occurs mainly due to skin infections or other bacterial infections.

So what should you do when you find that you have an inflamed lymph node? First, an analysis of the lymph fluid is needed to determine the cause of the inflammation and find out which bacteria caused it. This is done by extracting a small amount of fluid from inside the gland. The area can be easily anesthetized so that the procedure is not painful.

The results of the analysis will reveal the cause of the inflammation, and the doctor will prescribe you an appropriate treatment.

Cause number three: lymphoma

Unfortunately, there are also situations where a lump in the armpit is worrisome. It may be an inflamed lymph node due to the presence of lymphoma. It can be a ” Hodgkin’s lymphoma” or a “non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma ” .

Both are types of cancer, but the treatments are very effective. Survival rates for non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s lymphoma are 90% and 70%, respectively. The two forms of lymphoma are characterized by the presence of white blood cells called B lymphocytes (or B cells), these are the elements that doctors look for in tests to diagnose these two diseases.

Lymphoma requires several sessions of chemotherapy, but of course each person is different, and the number of sessions as well as the healing time will vary. Today, science has evolved enormously in the field of oncology, which is why we must always keep our hope. Cancer is a disease that requires a lot of personal effort, courage and support from family and friends, but it can be overcome.

What to do when you think a lump in your armpit is worrying

When you think that a lump in your armpit is worrying, you must, first of all, keep calm and not stress. If you have a lump in your armpit, you need to see a doctor immediately. Lymphomas also cause symptoms such as low fever, sleep problems, night sweats and weight loss.

Even if you do not have worrying symptoms, it is good to see a doctor. And don’t worry – in most cases, it’s just a simple cyst.

Only the doctor can confirm a diagnosis, so do not postpone the consultation. And rest assured, most of the time, the lump in the armpit does not signal a serious condition.