Cyst under the armpit: why, is it serious?

What are the symptoms of an armpit cyst?

Different types of ball located under the arm exist:

► “The first type is the ganglionwhich is presented under a firm mass, rarely softexplains Doctor Jean Du Breuillac, general practitioner and member of the College of General Medicine (CMG). The ganglion is deep, which makes it almost undetectable by the patient himself. The lymph node in the axillary cavity is almost invisible as it is so deep“.

► The second type of cyst under the armpit is the abscess, which forms a mass just under the skin, or even in the thickness of the skin. “The abscess is relatively close to the skin surface. He forms a pocket of pus: it is red, painful. The skin around the abscess is tight, with burning sensations. Aesthetically, the abscess is similar to a sunburn. Often the injured area feels warm. When the patient lifts the arm, we see very quickly if it is an abscess,” explains Dr Du Breuillac.

►Lhidradenitis presents itself as an abscess, but it is much less inflammatory. The lump under the armpit is swollen and under pressure. “Differentiating hidradenitis from abscess is not always easy, because an inflammatory reaction can develop around the hidradenitis, which then becomes confused with the abscess.“, describes our specialist

What are the possible causes?

The presence of pus in a lump at the level of the axillary cavity is the sign ofan infection caused by microbes or pathogenic microorganisms such as certain bacteria. “In the event of an infection associated with fever, we will not be surprised to see some lymph nodes. Otherwise, the bacterial infection is the main cause of the abscess: if the pus is flowing, we have no doubt“, he explains.

Hidradenitis is caused by blockage of the sweat glands, whose role is the secretion of sweat. “The gland becomes blocked, but continues to synthesize sweat. As a result, it grows enormously and quickly, sometimes reaching the size of a walnut. The skin wall being very thin, it may crack and release micro-bubbles of sweat. On the other hand, hidradenitis does not release pus, unless there is an inflammatory lesion. In fact, the lesion around it can become increasingly larger: the retention of sweat causes a major inflammatory reaction all around the gland. This is why the diagnosis of a cyst under the arm is often incorrect..”

Is there a risk of cancer?

“It is extremely rare, even impossible for a patient to feel a cancerous node in the axillary cavity. For example, some women may wonder if they can feel a lymph node in their armpit, indicative of breast cancer. If the cancer is very advanced, lymph nodes may appear in the chest, or even in the armpit. However, at this stage, significant symptoms are visible on the breast and the cancer has already been treated.“, reassures our interlocutor.

Hidradenitis cannot develop into cancer. However, it tends to recur: it is Verneuil’s disease. The lesion recurs in the same place, but can also develop, more rarely, in the inguinal fold (groin). We don’t know very well the cause of Verneuil’s disease.

When and who to consult?

If a lump under the armpit appears, it is advisable to consult your GP as a first step. “The appointment with a general practitioner or with his GP is quicker, and we know about cysts. Consultations with dermatologists take longer, the patient risks developing a serious inflammatory reaction. However, in the event of a recurrence, it is recommended to consult your dermatologist.. In the event of a one-off episode, you consult your general practitioner,” he recommends.

In case of infection, the prescribed treatments are antibiotics and mild disinfectants, to use for several days, even several weeks. If hidradenitis is not infected, treatment involves limiting the irritation. In the event of a recurrence, preventive treatment in the form of tablets may be prescribed. In certain extreme and very rare cases, if the skin is very damaged, a surgery can be considered to remove the damaged part of skin.

To avoid recurrences in cases of hidradenitis, a few measures should be taken, such as avoid shaving the armpit as well as the deodorant. In practice, over time, the patient will be able to identify behaviors likely to trigger hidradenitis. Personal hygiene must be impeccable, since sweat creates skin irritation and sweat gland obstruction. The patient should avoid letting the lesion swell too much to reduce the risk of infection. If hidradenitis becomes infected, it turns into an abscess, which is actually the third stage of development.

• Do not try to puncture the cyst under the armpit.
• Avoid touching it as much as possible.
• Consult your doctor to receive appropriate treatment.
• Do not use an antiseptic that is too strong, unnecessary, because the infection is under the skin.
• Consult especially in case of recurrence: the diagnosis of Verneuil’s disease is often late.

Thanks to Doctor Jean Du Breuillac, general practitioner and member of the College of General Medicine (CMG)