Boil often appear on the hairy skin. Sone of them is armpit. Boils in the armpits can appear if body hygiene is not maintained or after shaving the hair in the armpits. However, the appearance of boils in the armpits sometimes can also signifyserious health problems.
Boils are red bumps on the skin that are filled with pus and are painful. This condition is often harmless and resolves on its own within a few weeks. However, boils that appear in the folds of the body, such as the armpits, can interfere with your comfort while on the move.
Causes of Boils in the Armpit
Boils in the armpits are generally caused by a bacterial infection that triggers inflammation of the hair roots (follicles) in the armpits. This inflammation or infection can be caused by several things, including:
1. Excessive sweating
Boils in the armpits can be triggered by excessive sweating due to hot weather or physical activity, such as exercising. This condition is more prone to occur when you don't clean your body properly after sweating.
2. The habit of shaving armpit hair
Apart from excessive sweating, the armpits are also prone to growing boils if the armpit hairs are shaved, especially if the method is not appropriate.
Incorrect shaving habits or using a dirty razor have the potential to cause irritation or sores on the underarm skin, so that bacteria can more easily enter under the surface of the skin. This condition can lead to infection and the appearance of boils in the armpits.
3. Ketiquette dirty
Likewise, if you don't clean your face regularly, being lazy to clean your armpits can cause dead skin cells to accumulate. This can trigger the formation of pimples or boils in the armpits.
4. Certain medical conditions
Boils in the armpits are also prone to appear if you have a weak immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight infections that appear on the skin of the armpits. In addition, the appearance of boils in the armpits is also more prone to occur in people who have certain diseases, such as diabetes, kidney failure, to cancer.
Ulcers in the armpits caused by cancer can appear along with other symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, weight loss for no apparent reason, or lumps in the armpits.
If the boil in the armpit is severe enough, then reappears and leaves scars or blackheads, then this condition could be a sign of a chronic skin disease called hidradenitis suppurativa.
If it is caused by certain medical conditions, boils in the armpits need to be examined by a doctor to determine what the cause is. After the doctor determines the cause of the boil in the armpit, further treatment will be carried out.
How to Overcome Boils in the Armpit
Mild boils in the armpits rarely require medical attention by a doctor and can be cured with simple treatments at home. Treatment steps that can be taken are:
- Do not pop the boil, as this can allow more bacteria to enter the skin.
- Clean and compress the boil area with a warm compress for 20 minutes, 2-3 times a day, to relieve pain.
- When the boil bursts on its own, immediately clean the pus with sterile gauze and warm water.
- After that, apply an antibiotic ointment to the boil area 2 times a day until the boil is dry.
If the boil in the armpit is large or severe, it is best if the boil is treated by a doctor. To treat it, the doctor may drain the pus in the boil with a minor surgical procedure. After that, the doctor can prescribe antibiotics in the form of ointments or oral medications.
Immediately consult a doctor if the boils in the armpits get bigger or multiply, are accompanied by fever, do not go away, or often reappear. Once the cause is known, the doctor can treat boils in the armpit appropriately.