I Have A Painful Lump In My Armpit. What Could It Be?

As you have not given any details of whether you are male or female, or if you can move the lump around under the skin, it is very difficult to give a specific answer to your question.

If the lump is painful, this could point to signs of this being a swollen lymph node gland. These are essential in helping your body fight off infections and diseases, although sometimes they can get clogged up and infected. Your doctor may be able to drain this for you to reduce the swelling and pain.

Some people have also reported online, describing how something as simple as using a spray deodorant reacted badly with their skin and caused lumps to develop in their armpits. This is probably just an allergic reaction to the spray and could be avoided by switching to a roll-on deodorant instead.

If the lump does not give you any pain and you are a woman, this could be a sign of a more serious condition; breast cancer. Make sure you closely monitor any changes in the appearance of your breasts and nibbles. If the lump cannot be moved around under the skin and gets bigger you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. Even if it is not a sign of breast cancer, it is still best to get the expert advice and reassurance from a trained professional.

As with any medical condition, if you are concerned or in pain for any reason, you should always seek professional meducal advice.

This may depend upon the size of the lump. If it is not too large, it could be an infected hair follicle, or ingrown follicle. Especially if it seems close to the skin. Use alcohol, or witch hazel to swab it off several times a day. If the lump is deeper, it could be a lymph gland that has swelled, and that could indicate that you have some type of infection. Since this was asked 4 weeks ago, I hope it has already gone away, or that you have seen a doctor about it. Breast cancer can actually start from a lump under the armpit.

I have on too! Its so painful! Plus, now its feels squishy and before it was hard! And it feels like its on fire when I put my arm down!

If you are female and have lump in your armpit which can be swollen lymph node then check your both breasts by pressing and try to feel any hard cyst and also try to look at your breasts in front of mirror and note the size. Either you have any change in breast or not, the presence of swollen lymph node is sufficient to visit a doctor for all investigations. Although the lump in the armpit can be due to many reasons but differential diagnosis is very much necessary in order to exclude any life threatening problem.

New to this so bear with me. I'm a 27 yr old dog groomer with no insurance and I need help. I have a large lump growing in the back of my right armpit. It is about 1 1/2 inches in diameter with no head to it. If it had one I would know what to do. I get those sometimes, but never this large and pain full.... It has been getting progressively larger for about a week now and I'm curious as to whether a round of antibiotics will cure it or if I should have it lanced by my nurse friend? I don't know if it is a swollen lymph node or an infected sweat gland or an infected hair follicle. I can't squeeze it, it hurts when I move my arm, and that is not allowed with my profession. For all I know a dog hair got in there and messed everything up... I have stray dog hairs that have embedded in between my fingers, why not my armpit... Help! Its summer and I want to wear tank tops and be able to shave my armpits!

I have one too. That's why I looked this up and found this site. My mom always told me though that cancer lumps don't hurt. So, HOPEFULLY it's not cancer. Maybe I've been taught the wrong thing, but I hope not. Not with this. I'm only 14.

I know that's scary, but I've had the same problem and the first writer gave a great answer.  Because of the lack of air you receive under your arms, it can be a breeding ground for bacteria.  For you who says it is now "squishy," it sounds like an infection.  See a doctor and all should go well!  God Bless!

Well at first a good family doctor, and they can recommend a place for tests, other doctors, ect... Most insurance plans require you to get a referral anyway, so start at a family doctor. I would also consider a second opinion from another doctor if you can you can never be to careful on some things.

Hmmm. Not a good place for a lump.  I have them everywhere but the location you mention deserves attention.  Don't let it go.  Do the self-exam bit and see your primary.  Chances are he/she will have it biopsied and maybe have it removed or both.  Not fun but I have a family member that ignored one for years and regretted it.  She's doing okay but particular more effective treatments are available at an earlier stage-assuming of course there's a problem.  It may simply be a lump...period. It's worth the peace of mind in any case.

I'm 13 and have found one and it really hurts. I was crying all last night and then I had some more bad news about one of my family members. I'm going doctors today though. So fingers crossed

Large lump in left armpit but is not painful. It is very noticeable when I lift my arms up. What can I do?

I have one right now!
It may be an infected hair follicle or an ingrown hair.
However you might want to go see your doctor just to be safe
I hope it's nothing serious

I have a lump in the upper left armpit, area is sore and goes down into my inner arm and left shoulder blade area. I thought it was gas in my back, but now the pain is in my armpit area. What could this be?

I popped mien and all that came out was puss and blood... If you use too much deordoredent it can clog pores and cause infection

Me too they come off and on after I shave but several months ago I had a cyst right below my belly button. So I'm thinking that maybe the infection was not cured? But under my right are ar small cyst that are painful  I WORRY A WHOLE LOT?

I found a lump yesterday and was very sore. I was worried so went to see a doctor this morning. She did say that it is a swollen gland and the cause is being run down and not eating the right foods and not enough expercise. I think I'm healthy but I had a very heavy weekend drinking while the football was on and this again is another reason I'm run down.

That's a lymph node, which become inflamed with serious infections. Definitely see your doctor. He will probably prescribe an antibiotic.

You should have a doctor check that out because if there is something going on with your body that you don't understand it is best to go to a doctor to get their professional opinion.

more than likely the bump is an ingrown hair, or could possibly be a carbuncle.
For an ingrown hair, you just need to take a deep breath, then pull it out.
For a carbuncle, it would feel really hard most of the way around it and would need to be removed by a doctor. But, 19 out of 20 times it is an ingrown hair.

Most likely it's Hidradenitus.

It sound like that's infected doesn't it if its sore is there nothing ready to come out of the lump if you were to gently press have you been working out recently go and see your local nurse or gp I'm sure they could help don't put up with the discomfort

I have the exact same thing well kind of but like a day ago it was red then I was about to take a shower and it was red and yellow and it hurt it was really hard too but now that I poped it something yellow came out then latter that night it leaked some more and I was wearing a white tshirt and it looked like there was yellow stuf and alitle blood and now my moms making me see a doctor ph yea I'm 16

This could be something as big and scary as the big C or something as simple as an ingrown hair.  Get to the doctor and get it biopsied!

I have a lump there. I only really noticed it today after a friend poked me hard in the armpit and it really hurt. Its not big, but not that small.

Me too! I've had this lump for months and months now.. Almost a year! And it hurts when you press on it... I really hope it's not cancer because I haven't gone to see a doctor about it!

I've got the same thing too! I woke up a 2-3 days ago with it, out of nowhere! It reallly hurts, it's unbearable. At first I thought it was a random spot.. However after reading about it online.. Seems to something with my lymph gland?