Causes of painful armpit pimples and how to fix them

The skin under the arms is usually thin and quite sensitive. Because the underarm skin contains many sweat glands and is prone to clogging pores, this area is very prone to pimples, causing discomfort. Let’s find out with Hello Bacsi through the causes and treatment of pimples in the armpits to soon bring a smooth, smooth look to this skin area!

What is armpit pimples?

Axillary boils are an inflammation of the skin caused by an infection of staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) or an excessive accumulation of dead skin in the armpit. When there is an infection problem, the skin under the arm will become red and swollen, then when the boil will develop, it will come with pus and cause burning pain to the skin.

If your armpit boil persists for more than 2 weeks or doesn’t get better and gets worse, see a dermatologist.

Recognizing signs

An infection in the armpit affects the hair follicles and surrounding tissues. Axillary boils begin with the formation of red, hard, painful nodules that range in size from 0.5 to 1 cm. Over the next few days, the lumps on the armpit will soften, get bigger, start to cause pain and then form pus on the inside.

Some other signs of armpit pimples include:

• Underarm skin turns red, painful, burning, and swollen
• There are many small pimples in the armpits
• The patient may have a mild fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Itchy skin around the boil.

In most severe cases, armpit pimples can clump together to form a large infected patch. At that time, you should go to the hospital for timely and proper treatment.

Causes of pimples in the armpits and treatment for each specific problem by specialty

While there are many causes of armpit pimples, most cases are caused by a hair follicle infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Most infections that can lead to armpit acne stem from a few of the following reasons:

Due to friction, skin sweat

Anytime the underarm skin is rubbed, it can lead to damage, irritation or even a skin infection. Friction can contribute to inflammation, clogged pores and underarm breakouts. The skin under the arms can be rubbed off when wearing tight clothing, carrying the straps of a handbag or carrying a backpack. Also, even if you use deodorant or antiperspirant in your armpits, you can still sweat in this area. Excessive sweating in the skin under the arms can make the skin always wet, creating conditions for bacteria to multiply and easily cause pimples.

Due to using the wrong razor, tweezers

Regularly using tweezers or razors to remove underarm hair increases friction and irritates the delicate skin in this area. Shaving under the arms can sometimes cause a red rash, rough skin, and skin irritation. This can make your skin itchy, but it usually only lasts a few days. If you use an old or poorly cleaned razor, it is easy to get a razor burn. If you pluck the armpit hair incorrectly, it can create holes in the skin. This feeds bacteria into tiny cracks in the skin, leading to infections such as folliculitis or armpit pimples, or even ingrown hairs.

Ingrown hairs

Ingrown hairs are hairs that have grown out of the hair follicle and then curled up to grow back into the skin. In some cases, ingrown hairs will curl up and return to the hair follicle before they come out of the skin. However, these will go away on their own, so you don’t need to remove them as this can breed bacteria, causing folliculitis to the skin. To prevent ingrown hairs, you can try some of the following methods:

• Exfoliate to remove ingrown hairs
• Replace the razor with a new blade
• Shave in the direction of hair growth
• Apply a cool towel to your skin after shaving

Pimples in the armpit due to folliculitis

Folliculitis is an infected hair follicle, which usually looks like a red bump in or near the hair, and may contain pus or blood. If your folliculitis is caused by bacteria, you may be treated with antibiotics by your doctor. Antibacterial soaps formulated with benzoyl peroxide are also used to kill bacteria on the skin, but not everyone is suitable.

Therefore, it is best to talk to a dermatologist before using any antibiotics as they can sometimes cause an allergic reaction on the skin (known as allergic contact dermatitis). ).

To prevent reinfection, you should use a new razor, disinfect the shaving area, and keep the underarm skin clean and free of bacteria. In addition, you should shave in the direction of hair growth to prevent folliculitis. Besides bacteria, there are many other causes of folliculitis. Therefore, further evaluation by a dermatologist is required for the most accurate diagnosis.

Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance or ingredient to which the skin is allergic. In the armpit area, this can be due to exposure to deodorants, antiperspirants, soaps, or scents from laundry detergents. This condition can cause a red, rough rash and make your skin itchy. In the early stages of allergic contact dermatitis, fluid-filled blisters may appear in the armpit.

A number of medications can help relieve allergic contact dermatitis, such as over-the-counter antihistamines to relieve itching and topical steroid creams to help calm mild reactions.

Armpit pimples are caused by a yeast infection

Areas of skin that are constantly wet are at risk of developing a yeast infection caused by Candida bacteria. Yeast infections often produce red bumps or pimples that are filled with pus.

To treat yeast infections, you can apply over-the-counter antifungal creams. However, yeast infections have similar symptoms to other conditions, so it’s best to see your doctor for advice on the right treatment.

Purulent sweat gland inflammation

Purpura is a common skin condition involving the armpits and groin, but can occur in other areas of the skin. The disease usually begins with the development of red bumps and, if left untreated, can get worse as the pimples gradually expand and deepen into the skin. Inflammation of the sweat glands can be painful and make it difficult to move the arm. Over time, these swellings can leave severe scarring, which in turn leads to the formation and drainage of the sinus tract.

How to treat boils in the armpit caused by purulent sweat gland inflammation can be applied by doctors in many different methods such as:

• Use antibiotics
• Lifestyle changes (lose weight, quit smoking, ..)
• Surgery and removal of the affected areas of skin to drain the pus and fluid.
• Antibacterial washes, such as 4% chlorhexidine wash and 10% benzoyl peroxide wash

In some cases, if the above treatments are unsuccessful, doctors will inject a biologic drug called adalimumab (Humira) instead.

Whatever treatment dermatologists recommend, it’s important to follow your doctor’s orders carefully and regularly.

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How to cure pimples in armpits at home

Treatment of armpit pimples depends largely on the extent of the infection of the skin. If your armpit pimples aren’t too serious, you can treat them yourself at home. By taking advantage of available natural ingredients or home remedies, you can also use them to treat boils in a fairly benign but effective way.

Hot compress

For mild underarm pimples, applying a warm heat pack several times a day can help speed up the healing process. By stimulating blood circulation to the boil area to reduce inflammation, it also promotes the rapid ripening of acne to collect pus. After the boil has broken open on its own, you can apply grease and then cover it with sterile gauze until the wound heals on its own. When applying heat on the armpit skin, pay attention to the temperature of the pack to avoid burning the skin.

Turmeric powder

When you have pimples in your armpits, you can use turmeric to treat acne. The ingredients in turmeric powder contain a large amount of curcumin with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects for the skin. Besides, turmeric also adds nutrients to nourish the skin and help damaged skin recover quickly caused by pimples. The first thing you need to do is clean the underarm skin thoroughly. Then, you just need to mix turmeric powder with water to form a paste and continue to apply it directly to the acne-affected skin. Repeat twice a day until the affected area is completely healed.

Tea tree oil

As a well-known ingredient that has a strong effect, when applied to the skin, tea tree oil will have the effect of killing harmful bacteria that form pimples. Note that you need to dilute tea tree oil with olive oil or coconut oil before applying to the skin to reduce its effectiveness. At first, you remember to clean the skin under the armpits clean and dry, then you just need to dilute tea tree oil with olive oil and apply regularly until the skin with pimples in the armpits is completely healed. .

Invasive treatment

When the boil is in a serious stage, you may be asked by your doctor to perform a minor surgery to suck the pimple inside the skin. However, this method can leave permanent scars on the skin. Minor surgery to remove pustules on the skin is carried out as follows:

• Disinfect the skin area that needs minor surgery to remove any harmful agents on the skin. This is to minimize the risk of skin infection after surgery.
• The doctor will use a medical knife to make a small incision at the boil, then use a clean towel to press on the boil so that the pus and blood seep into the towel. It is important to avoid allowing pus and blood to spread to other areas of the skin, causing serious inflammation.
• After aspirating pus, if the fluid or water at the boil continues to leak, the doctor will continue to disinfect the skin and apply a special cream to the wound. Finally, use medical gauze to cover.
• After 24 hours, you can remove the bandage to help the wound open and heal faster. After the minor surgery, you need to pay attention to proper skin hygiene to limit the risk of re-infection or the spread of acne.

This measure should be performed by highly qualified personnel and in a sterile environment. Therefore, you should not do it yourself at home to avoid spreading infection.

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When to see a doctor?

Pimples under the armpits are not uncommon, but they can be a sign of an uncomfortable skin condition that causes many inconveniences to daily life. Most pimples will clear up on their own, but if you notice discharge, bleeding, or suspect other unusual symptoms, seek care from a dermatologist.

While home remedies for armpit pimples can be helpful, it’s always better to see your doctor to safely prevent infection and other complications.

If after 3-4 days of treatment, you still have a fever or your symptoms do not improve, you should immediately contact your doctor for further monitoring and treatment. Normally, boils can go away on their own from 7 to 15 days, but obviously when pimples appear in the armpits, you will have to experience double discomfort due to friction from clothes or when exercising, sleeping. …

How to prevent armpit pimples

Armpit pimples can usually be treated safely at home. However, armpit boils can recur if proper preventive measures are not taken. To prevent pimples from appearing, you need to pay close attention to the following issues:

• Wash and clean clothes, bed linen and towels regularly. After washing, you should dry your personal items in the sun to kill bacteria
• Do not share personal items with others to avoid the risk of infection
• Shower regularly and exfoliate at least once a week
• Shave or pluck armpit hair carefully to limit skin damage
• Follow a scientific lifestyle and a nutritious diet and avoid fatty foods, spicy foods or stimulants. Instead, you should regularly add green fruits and vegetables to help increase the skin’s resistance.
• Do not touch, touch or arbitrarily prick the boil in the armpit.
• Limit physical activity until the infected underarm skin has completely healed. Because these activities often produce sweat and make the healing process of pimples take longer due to clogged pores.
• Wear loose-fitting clothes, giving preference to loose and soft fabrics.
• Clean the underarm skin regularly, and use a towel whenever the armpits sweat too much

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