Underarm boils have to be one of the most embarrassing things to have, especially in this warm season when you would want to have your arms out and your armpits breathing.
They make it difficult for you to wear vests and short-sleeved shirts because they’re not really nice to look at and I’m sure you wouldn’t want people looking at all that.
What causes these boils though? According to the Cleveland Clinic, these pus-filled bumps in the skin, are often caused by the “Bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (staph infection).” They are stated to occur on the face, neck, armpits, buttocks, and thighs.
Healthline adds on to state that “You may develop a boil in the armpit due to a bacterial infection due to shaving or excessive sweat. But it can also occur more often if you have a weakened immune system.”
The publication also mentions that boils are also caused by an infection of a hair follicle or oil gland, adding that “Once bacteria have infected the hair follicles and the skin tissue around them, white blood cells are deployed to fight the infection. These white blood cells create pus that collects under the skin. This is why what often starts as a small, red lump can become a painful eruption.”
According to Lybrate, there are different types of armpit boils, they are:
- Superficial furuncle: They are said to be common in weak immune systems, affecting hair follicles and often appear as red bumps filled with pus, accompanied by swelling and tenderness.
- Carbuncle: Involve several adjacent hair follicles, produce swelling, and are more painful, states the above source.
- Cystic armpit boils: “This type of boil occurs when bacteria enters an infected area, spreads through the skin, and produces drainage or pus in the armpit area. They can be large in size and require professional medical attention to correctly diagnose, treat, and prevent them from recurring in the future.
The Mayo Clinic suggests that to treat these boils you need to:
- Apply warm compresses daily for 10 minutes to help in rupturing and draining boils.
- Avoid self-squeezing or lancing boils to prevent infection spread.
- Wash hands thoroughly after treating boils and “Launder clothing, towels or compresses that have touched the infected area, especially if you have recurrent infections.”
Medical News Today adds that the following products can also serve as remedies:
- Honey
- Raw onion
- Fresh garlic
- Tea tree oil
- Castor oil
- Tridax daisy
- Eucalyptus
- Neem oil:
- Caraway essential oil
Also see: Facts about restless leg syndrome
