Itchy Armpits – Causes and Symptoms

1. Non-Regular Washing

Sweat and dirt, mixed together and broken down by bacteria that normally live on the skin, is the main cause of itchy skin. Regular washing helps. Spicy food

2. Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is a disorder of not yet explained cause. It may appear only in armpits or also on face, hands or feet.

3. Candida Infection

Candida albicans is a normal resident on the human skin, but in conditions with low immunity such as diabetes, cancer, AIDS, blood disorders, chemotherapy, corticosteroid therapy, it may overgrow, especially on moist areas of the body (mouth, armpits, groin, under breasts, and skin folds on the stomach). Additional risk factors are hot humid weather, tight synthetic clothes, obesity, and poor hygiene.

Affected area may be covered with red rash, peel off, itch, or swell.

Treatmentis with anti-fungals by mouth or as over-the-counter creams. Prevention is by keeping underarms dry by wearing airy clothes, using baby powder, and losing weight.

4. Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is inflammation of apocrine glands, a special form of sweat glands that gives the odor to the body. From unknown reason glands become clogged, secretions build within them and form cysts that get infected, usually by Staphylococcus aureus. After several hours or days cysts usually open and drain clear or yellow fluid. Inflammation leaves scars. Process may continue for several years. Cysts may appear in armpits, groin, or under breasts.

Treatment options:

• antibiotics by mouth or as ointments
• injections of anti-inflammatory drugs
• surgical drainage or excision of cysts

Prevention. Hidradenitis suppurativa is not caused by poor hygiene. Shaving has to be avoided and area should be kept dry with wearing airy clothes. Losing weight can help.

Fox-Fordyce Disease

Fox-Fordyce disease is a rare disease resembling hidradenitis suppurariva but occurs mainly in young women (13-35 years of age). Sweat glands become clogged and small itchy bumps appear under the arm, or/and in the groin. Treatment is like in hidradenitis suppurativa.

Enlarged Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes in armpits may itch in:

• Paget disease of the breast (cancer)

Disorders that cause generalized itching may of course affect armpits. These disorders include senile pruritus, heat rash, kidney and liver diseases, allergies, adverse effects to medications, skin or intestinal parasites, contact dermatitis, internal cancer, senile etc.

Further Reading:

• Itchy Arms and Hands
• Itchy Skin Causes
• Itchy Rash
• Itch (Pruritus) - Diagnosis and Treatment