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What Does A Lump Under The Arm Pit Indicate?

Posted on Thu, 26 Jun 2014

Question: I discovered a lump under my arm pit about 4 weeks ago - no pain, no redness and it appeared to be under the skin. Since then the original lump has got a little smaller, but there is now another lump and what seems like a prominent 'tendon' like thing running along my armpit. I visited the GP today who said she thought it was an ingrown hair - and put the tendon like thing down to me 'being a bit skinny' - although I pointed out that it was definitely new and did not appear under the other arm pit. I hope she is right of course, but I don't feel reassured as I know my body and having had ingrown hairs before I know how they look and feel too. I have decided to wait a week and go back for another opinion if the lumps etc are still there or worse but would value any opinion in the mean time!

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Sebaceous glands with intervening edema

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Yes, the faith is the most important thing and the reassurance one gets from a Doctor is very important.

The skin, the sweat glands the reaction to the disease - everything is to be different in the armpit area than the skin in other areas of the body.

From the description you have given this looks to me as an infected sebaceous cysts. The resultant edema in the armpit always looks / feels like a tendon ( perfect description you have given).

You have to get a proper dose and duration of an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medicines as advised by your Doctor for 5 to 7 days. This may well regress or vanish unless there is going to an active abscess.

Clean the area with plenty of soap and water and apply liquid povidone iodine 3 to 4 times a day ( it dries fast) to avoid development of more lumps. Continue the treatment; taking second opinion is your personal choice.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (23 hours later)

Thanks for the answer. I'm just wondering if its an infection why I have no redness or pain in the area? Is there a possibility that the problem will just clear up on its own (if its an infected sebaceaous cyst)? or is it only going to clear up with antibiotics? The lumps and tendon type thing are still there but no pain.

Thanks.

XXXX

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
''MILD'' form of an infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
The tendon like thing indicates infection. This is a very mild infection and usually the body takes care of this. Antibiotics are given in anticipation that this may turn into the next step of infection called abscess.
You already have a lump for 4 weeks and developed the tendon type thing indicating the need of an antibiotic. This may resolve, clear with antibiotics.
There may not be pain and redness in mild type of infection.
Apply povidone iodine as explained to keep the area clean.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad