Medical expert of the article

Dermatologist

New publications

Atheroma under the armpit

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

Atheroma under the arm looks like a dense subcutaneous cone, unlike cysts in other areas, atheroma often manifests itself with pain, as it is prone to inflammation and infection.

trusted-source [1], [2], [3], [4]

Causes

Regio axillaris - the axillary zone contains a large number of sebaceous and sweat glands, and is also covered with hair. Thus, this part of the body is almost an ideal place for the development of subcutaneous retention cysts, especially if they are provoked by such factors:

Metabolic disease.
Hormonal imbalance.
Increased sweating - hyperhidrosis.
Non-compliance with personal hygiene.
Injury of the axillary region.
Injury of the zone with a sloppy shave.
The use of antiperspirants, deodorants, contributing to obturation discharge ducts of the sebaceous glands.

In 55-60% of cases, atheroma under the arm is transformed into an abscess, an abscess and can reach huge dimensions (over 5-7 centimeters). Also for the cyst in this zone is characterized by spontaneous dissection and outflow of pus outward. Such situations, although they bring relief, reduce the pain symptom, are not a method of healing from atheroma. The cyst will recur until it is removed by surgery.

trusted-source [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]

Symptoms

Possible symptoms and complications of festering atheroma under the armpit:

Increased body temperature.
Pulsating pain in the armpit.
Puffiness is an increase in regional lymph nodes.
Hyperemia of the skin.
There may be symptoms of intoxication - nausea, vomiting, falling blood pressure, lowering the pulse rate.

Treatment

Atheroma in the armpit should be treated operatively, without waiting for its suppuration and complications. Also, methods of self-treatment, extrusion of the cyst, are unacceptable, this can result in the expiration of pus inside the soft tissues, ingestion of the products of the decomposition of bacteria into the blood and lymph and even sepsis.