A small hollow region is formed when the shoulder bone, chest wall and the upper arm region merge together at a point, which is known as armpit. Armpit is known as axilla in technical terms and is one of the warmest parts of the body. There are number of blood vessels and lymph nodes present in the armpit like many other areas of the body. Some of the lymph nodes of the armpit are used to fight infection in this region. Armpit contains several sweat glands and hair follicles and that is why we sweat a lot in the armpit and hairs grow here as and when we shave.
Armpit lumps can be formed due to an infection and often they are harmless and benign (non-cancerous). Sometimes lumps arise due to accumulation of fat tissue or even allergic response to harsh perfumes and odorants. Your doctor can easily detect the difference between harmless lump and cancerous ones. When the lymph nodes get enlarged it gives rises to armpit lump.
Armpit lump can range from small size to thick noticeable large ones. Consult your health care provider promptly, if you notice any sudden change in size or color of the armpit lump.
Armpit Lump Causes :
Armpit lump is often harmless and occurs due to abnormal growth of the tissue. In rare cases lumps can form due to underlying medical condition.
Some of the major causes of armpit lump are given below :
1. Infection
Bacterial or viral or even fungal infection can occur in the armpit. The environment in the armpit is dark, moist and warm making it excellent atmosphere for parasites to live. It is quite common for many people to have an infected armpit which may give rise to armpit lump. Bacteria and other micro-organisms dwell in this place and feed on the dead cells multiplying in number. In due course the pores of the sweat glands get blocked forming a cyst or lump.
2. Lipomas
Lipomas are nothing but accumulation of fatty tissue under the skin which forms a cyst. Lipoma can occur anywhere in the body like neck, shoulders, armpit, back and abdomen. Lipomas are often harmless and never turn into cancerous cells. Lipoma can target anyone but the risk is high if you are obese and fall in age group of 40-60 years.
3. Fibrous Tissue