What Causes Lumps Under Armpits – A lump in the armpit is common in both men and women and is caused by swollen lymph nodes in the armpit. Often these lumps are hot and painful. “They are usually large, firm, painless to the touch, and occur spontaneously,” says Anna Chacon, a doctoral double-certified dermatologist and member of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Fortunately, there are home remedies for armpit lumps that can help reduce the appearance of the lump. However, if you develop other symptoms, such as a fever, and the lump does not go away, see your doctor right away. In this article, we’ll look at the causes and symptoms of armpit lumps, as well as some natural remedies you can try at home.
What Causes Lumps Under Armpits
The most common cause of a painful lump under the armpit is a swollen lymph node. Lymph nodes are parts of the lymphatic system that move lymph from body tissues into and out of the bloodstream. These nodes filter lymph fluid and can swell for the following reasons:
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The most serious cause of these nodules is cancer. Therefore, if it does not subside, it is recommended to seek medical attention.
In most cases, lumps or simple lipomas caused by infected lymph nodes can be easily treated at home. Here is a list of home remedies for underarm lumps.
An ancient and simple home remedy to treat a lump is to apply heat to the swollen area. Although there is no scientific evidence, it is believed that this method may help reduce swelling and pain in the affected area (1).
You can also apply heat to the lump using a warm compress. Make sure not to apply excessive pressure during the process.
Private Armpit/axilla Ultrasound
Research has shown that massage can help reduce pain (2). It can also help improve blood circulation in the affected area and reduce swelling.
Vitamin E has anti-inflammatory properties (3). These properties can help reduce the size of a painful lump in your armpit. Take vitamin E supplements only after consulting your doctor.
Watermelon has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (4). These properties can help detoxify the blood, eliminate bacteria that cause clotting, and reduce swelling in the affected area.
You can even eat a bowl of chopped watermelon. Add watermelon slices to salads, fruit bowls, and smoothies.
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Lemon juice is a rich source of vitamin C and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (5). This can help reduce the lump’s painful swelling and help it heal.
Nutmeg has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (6), (7). These properties reduce pain and allow the body to fight infections and swelling caused by bacterial infections.
The ever-popular onion can also be used to treat underarm lumps. Onion juice has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties (8). This can help reduce pain and inflammation in the armpit.
Squeeze the juice from the onion and swallow it. You can make the onion juice taste better by adding your favorite vegetables.
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Turmeric is known for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (9). It can help relieve painful lumps and reduce swelling. Applying turmeric topically can reduce itching and speed up the healing process.
Drink a glass of turmeric milk daily, preferably before bed. Repeat topical application of turmeric twice daily.
Vitamin A plays an important role in stimulating the immune system (10). It aids the migration and activity of T cells and B cells. It also promotes lymphocyte function and has anti-inflammatory properties. When the body does not get enough vitamin A from the diet, the immune response fails and this makes lymph node infections more likely. Therefore, you can quickly reduce armpit lumps by increasing the sources of vitamin A in your diet.
Activated charcoal can help reduce pain and inflammation. It helps absorb toxins from the body and heal infections (11).
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Studies have shown that garlic has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (12). Consuming garlic regularly can eliminate infections that cause swollen lymph nodes and reduce pain and swelling. Garlic is also a great detoxifier.
Contrast bath therapy is the use of hot and cold water to reduce muscle soreness. Cold compresses can help relieve pain, while warm compresses can improve blood and lymphatic circulation (13),(14). This method can be used as an effective home remedy to treat lumps in the armpit.
If it is difficult to soak the affected area in the bath, use two different cloths soaked in two baths and place it over the armpit for the same amount of time as mentioned above.
Apple cider vinegar has antiseptic properties that fight infections (15). It is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce pain and swelling.
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It is important to understand that not all lumps in or around the breast are signs of cancer. Hormonal changes often lead to the formation of these lumps. If the lump doesn’t go away within a week after using these remedies, see your doctor.
See your doctor if the lump doesn’t go away within a week. They will prescribe antibiotics to control the infection.
Sometimes lumps in the armpit come and go without pain or discomfort. Using home remedies to treat your armpits can speed up this healing process and keep it from getting worse, especially in the case of an infection. If the lump doesn’t heal after a few weeks or seems to be getting worse, see your doctor as you may need a prescription for antibiotics.
There are many reasons why a painful lump may form in the armpit. However, it is important to monitor closely and not self-diagnose. Lumps in the armpit have been linked to breast cancer and lymphoma.
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Dr. Anna Chacon says: “Cancer lumps are often huge, hard, painless to the touch, and appear spontaneously. The majority will continue to grow in size over the next few weeks or months.” Seek immediate medical attention if you notice tenderness, redness, pain, or an irregular size.
A lump in the armpit is often harmless and may go away on its own. You can use home remedies to get rid of it. However, if it does not resolve with help, you should consult your doctor. A correct diagnosis helps treat symptoms before they get worse. Check out our infographic to learn what to expect during a medical consultation.
A lump in the armpit is caused by swollen lymph nodes and can be painful and uncomfortable. In many cases, swollen lymph nodes can be caused by cysts, microbial infections, allergic reactions, or cancer. Symptoms such as pain and tenderness may occur along with a swollen lump in the armpit. You can apply several home remedies for armpit lumps to relieve pain and swelling, such as hot water therapy, massage with coconut or olive oil, lemon or watermelon juice. See your doctor if the lump doesn’t go away soon or if it keeps coming back.
According to Dr. Chacon, “It can be caused by shaving or the use of antiperspirants (not deodorants). This is especially common in teenagers who are just starting to shave.”
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If an underarm lump does not go away after 2 weeks of using natural remedies, or is accompanied by tenderness, redness, pain, or an irregular size, you may need to see a doctor.
Yes, in rare cases it can be a sign of cancer. It’s important to remember that not all lumps in the armpit indicate cancer.
An unexplained lump in the armpit has about a 4% chance of becoming cancerous in people older than 40 and a 0.4% chance of becoming cancerous in people younger than 40 (16).
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Dr. Naveen Sharma is a renowned Ayurveda expert with 10 years of experience. He completed his B.A.M.S in Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery in 2007 from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka. He holds professional membership of AYUSH. Dr. Sharma’s areas of expertise include cancer, liver disease, autoimmune diseases, lifestyle disorders, migraines, hair loss, PCOD… more
Sucharita Mishra is a Master of Biotechnology and she has 2 years of experience writing on topics related to health and wellness. She has been working on the determination of various heavy metals present in green tea for her master’s thesis at Mysuru’s CSIR-CFTRI. After completing her graduation, Sucharita decided to pursue her passion for writing. She is addicted to everything. Lymph nodes are part of the body’s immune system. Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit can be a sign of a bacterial or viral infection, injury, or serious health condition such as cancer.
Possible causes of swollen lymph nodes vary in severity from common infections that usually go away on their own to more serious conditions such as lymphoma.
In this article, we look at why lymph nodes swell, the most common causes of this symptom, and when to consult.
Armpit Lump: Causes, Diagnosis, And Treatment
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