Painful, pea-sized lump on armpit

[Anonymous]

On Tuesday, I noticed that I had what seemed to be a pimple on my armpit, which was pretty tender. I figured it was an ingrown hair and would go away on its own. It's now very tender and about the size of a pea, right underneath the skin. It seems too defined and hard to be a gland. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like an infection, maybe from shaving, scratching or a blocked pore from oil, sweat or dirt. Try warm compresses and maybe some rubbing alcohol to clean it. And keep the area clean and dry. At night, no deodorant and try to skip over that lump when putting deodorant on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like an infection, maybe from shaving, scratching or a blocked pore from oil, sweat or dirt. Try warm compresses and maybe some rubbing alcohol to clean it. And keep the area clean and dry. At night, no deodorant and try to skip over that lump when putting deodorant on *during the day*.

[Anonymous]

why are you so sure it is not a gland? they can feel pretty hard and defined when infected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why are you so sure it is not a gland? they can feel pretty hard and defined when infected.

I'm not sure, but when it started it really seemed to be on the surface, it's only as it's gotten bigger that it seems to be beneath the surface.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like an infected sweat gland.

[Anonymous]

Don't pick, just apply hot compress a few times a day and see f it goes away.

[Anonymous]

OP here-- Am going to try the warm compresses, but if it doesn't go away, do you know if I should see my primary or my dermatologist.

[Anonymous]

Also- Try cut back on caffeine. It sounds weird, but I sometimes have issues under my arms if I have too much caffeine (usually just one side though).

[Anonymous]

It sounds like a swollen gland to me -- you probably nicked yourself somewhere and don't realize it. Stop touching it if you can because you could inflame it further. Give it a week. This is not a dermatologist issue so if it doesn't go away see your primary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also- Try cut back on caffeine. It sounds weird, but I sometimes have issues under my arms if I have too much caffeine (usually just one side though).

Me too!

[Anonymous]

OP here-- Probably not coincidentally, I ran last weekend in a t shirt that is tight in the armpits. Normally I don't wear it because the seams annoy me. And I shaved that day. This thing started a day or so later.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like a boil. I get boils in my armpit from time to time. Sometimes they go away on their own, but a few times I had to get antibiotics from the doctor. They can get pretty painful. Maybe you could stop by at a walk-in clinic and have it looked at? I love going to Patients First.

[Anonymous]

OP, just to be sure....I would have it checked out by a Dr. Esp. if it grows.

[Anonymous]

OP here-- saw Dr. yesterday who said it was a hair follicle. He said that it's not big enough for him to recommend lancing it (yikes!) and should resolve with warm compresses and massaging it towards the surface. After trying this last night (and almost jumping out of my skin) I'm not confident it's going to work, but we'll see. I will say that after this, I'm never wearing a t shirt that is tight in the armpits when I run again. Dr. agreed that that may have caused it (combined with deodorant residue and bacteria.). If anyone knows of any tricks, I'd be glad to hear them.