A swollen armpit can be attributed to various conditions, ranging from mild to serious. This is because the lymph nodes located under the arms can swell up due to infection, injury, or serious diseases. In fact, one of the most common causes of swelling under the arm is infection, as many areas of the body drain into the lymph nodes in the armpits. Surface injuries or allergies to certain products, such as deodorant, can also result in swelling. While most causes of swelling under the arm are mild and treatable, cancer is also a possible cause of this issue, and may include melanoma, lymphoma, or breast cancer.
Since the lymphatic system is supposed to remove bacteria from the body, swollen lymph nodes are often a sign that they are trying to fight off an infection. Infections that come from the hands, arms, and breasts are likely to cause swelling under the arm since these areas drain into the lymph nodes located here. Other signs of infection include chills, a fever, and headache as the body attempts to fight it off.
Injuries on the surface of the skin can also result in swelling under the arm, especially if an infection results. Bites, scratches, and cuts may cause the lymph nodes to flare up, particularly when they are located in the underarm area, such as tiny cuts caused by shaving. Additionally, allergies to certain products, such as deodorant, perfume, soap, and shaving cream, may cause swollen lymph nodes, especially when they enter the body through cuts in the skin. Fortunately, the swelling should go down once the injury heals, or the product is no longer used. If the swelling does not disappear on its own within days, antibiotics may need to be used on cuts and scratches to keep bacteria out.
Though most cases of swelling under the arm are quite treatable, this can also be a symptom of various types of cancer. For example, since breast tissue includes the skin under the arm, swelling of this area may be a symptom of breast cancer, especially if it is painless and gradual. Lymphoma, which is cancer of the lymphatic system, can also result in swelling under the arm, as can melanoma, or skin cancer. For this reason, a swollen armpit should not be ignored. If the swelling does not decrease after antibiotics have been used, the patient should see a doctor to determine the underlying cause.
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SarahSon
Post 8 |
When I was at my annual exam, the doctor found a small swelling under my arm. I was not even aware that this was there. It was not tender or sensitive, but once she showed me where it was you could definitely feel it.
She scheduled me for a biopsy to see if it was anything I needed to be concerned about. The biopsy ended up negative and they said this was something that would not turn in to any kind of cancer.
It can be pretty scary to realize you have some swelling under your arm because there are so many lymph nodes there. It is something I would want to get checked out right away. |
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Mae82
Post 7 |
It's a little embarrassing, but if you are going for your physical at the doctor's office make sure you get someone to teach you how to do your own breast exams. It is a good idea to learn how to feel for your underarm lymph nodes because then you will know how to spot if they feel differently, get swollen or develop a lump.
One of the female nurses at my doctor's office taught me how to do a proper breast exam, and while it was a bit awkward I am glad I learned how to do one properly. It is reassuring to know your own body enough to spot if something dangerous develops early on. |
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manykitties2
Post 6 |
There are a lot of people that run into trouble with heavily scented deodorants. When I first started using deodorant I picked the one that I thought smelled the nicest. It was richly perfumed and I liked that a lot. Unfortunately after that my underarms swelled and itched quite a lot.
My doctor told me that I had had an allergic reaction to some of the ingredients and that I should use unscented deodorants from now on. It wasn't a huge deal switching I just wish I had known sooner because the swelling hurt quite a lot. At least the medication my doctor prescribed did its job. |
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Perdido
Post 5 |
I have a cousin who is allergic to so many products. When she first started shaving, she found out that many types of shaving cream cause her skin to react violently.
She used a peach scented shaving cream under her arms. After she finished shaving, the area started to itch and turn red. Within an hour, it had swollen. It was very sore.
Her doctor told her to put bags of ice under her arm to ease the swelling. He also told her to take a strong antihistamine every four hours until she didn’t need it anymore.
After she recovered, she tried dry shaving, but she always seemed to cut herself this way. She started using a product formulated for sensitive skin, and she didn’t swell. |
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orangey03
Post 4 |
I am the worst at remembering to replace my disposable razors when the blades become dull. If I shave my underarms with a dull razor, I nick myself and bleed a little, and the cuts become sore for days.
Once I did this before going swimming in a lake. I could not apply deodorant, because it would burn the cuts. So, there was no layer of protection between my tiny open wounds and the lake full of bacteria.
I got an infection, but I did not know it right away. I thought that the swelling under my armpit was due to my cuts. When I got a fever and chills and the swelling increased, I knew it must be something more.
I told my doctor I had gone swimming after shaving, and she said I most likely got the infection there. She gave me antibiotics and told me to stay out of the lake when I have open wounds. |
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OeKc05
Post 3 |
I have never experienced swelling in this area, but I have had swollen glands in my neck. This is probably because the areas of my body that become infected the most are my throat and ears. I seem to get strep throat several times a year, and I swim a lot, so my ears get irritated. The sides of my neck under my jaw swell up and become sore.
I would imagine that swollen lymph nodes under the arms feel much the same. I have a friend who is allergic to several types of deodorant, and hers will swell up for a couple of days if she uses one that bothers her. She says they get sore and tender, and it hurts to fully lower her arms down by her sides. |
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latte31
Post 2 |
I agree. I think that when people think about breast cancer they usually don’t consider the lumps under the arm as a possibility for having breast cancer. I heard that it is important to do self exams especially in this area.
They say that you should have your arm raised and with the other hand work in a circular motion in order to detect swollen lymph nodes under the arm. If you do this regularly you will immediately be able to tell if something is not right.
Thank goodness my friend did this because when she got her mammogram results it came up negative, but she found a lump under her arm that turned out to be cancerous. |
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anon150675
Post 1 |
Very useful article. Thank you. |
