An Infected Cystic Swelling in the Armpit
Q: I’m a female and I’m 30 years old. I have had a small pea size lump in my arm pit for about 3 years. I woke up 3 days ago with the lump started hurting and was the size of a walnut. The next day it had a pin size hole through which a green thick awful smelling fluid was coming out. So I went to the ER. They drained it by squeezing really hard. They said it was really thick- like cottage cheese, and they got most of it out. They also said they trimmed the sac a little in my arm pit. They left it open and packed it. They said I still needed to see a surgeon to have the lump removed. What could this lump be? Can it be cancerous? Why did I get this? I’m also on a skin antibiotic pill. Please help me with some information on this. Thank you and God bless.
-By Tiffany
Reply:
The lump in your armpit is unlikely to be cancerous. Malignant lumps have a tendency to grow and spread. They are unlikely to stay silent for 3 years.
The lump you had could be a sebaceous cyst, which later got infected (due to moisture in the area or maybe some hand maneuvering).
What Is a Sebaceous Cyst?
It is a cystic (fluid filled) swelling formed by occlusion of a duct draining the sebaceous gland.
There are a number of tiny glands called sebaceous glands underneath our skin. These produce sebum, an oily lubricating fluid that prevents dryness and keeps our skin soft.
Quite commonly, the duct draining a gland may get blocked. In such situations, sebum produced by the gland keeps collecting there itself, leading to a cystic swelling called sebaceous gland.
This swelling may stay like this for years. The fluid may get dried up to give a hard lump.
Sometimes, it gets infected and the gland gets filled with cheesy pus.
The treatment is squeezing out the pus.
In cases of long standing lumps, chances of recurrences are pretty high. That is, the remaining lump, after drainage, can again grow to produce a lump.
Treatment for Long Standing Cysts
The treatment involves removing the the whole gland with its covering or capsule. Even a little piece of capsule left can give rise to a lump again.
So, you need to go to a surgeon. He will perform a minor surgery in the area. All he will do is removing the remaining gland contents with the capsule.
Meanwhile, take your skin antibiotics to get rid of any skin infection before the surgery is performed.
Take Care,
Buddy M.D.
I’m a male of 21 yrs living in Africa. 3 weeks back I shaved my armpits, but after 2 days I developed a certain small swelling. I tried applying a balm for 1 week expecting it to diminish but it kept on enlarging and painful. After 1 more week, I went to a physician and he said it was a sebaceous cyst. I was given tablets and told to go back after 3 days if the tablets don’t work & the cyst doesn’t diminish. I went back & have it cut off by the surgeon.
Qn: What is the best treatment and prevention of such infections?
Infected sebaceous cyst require antibiotic treatment and simultaneous drainage of pus inside them.
To prevent them, maintain a good body hygiene. Keep the armpit area clean and dry. It needs to be well ventilated. Wear loose cotton clothes which can absorb excess moisture in the area. Bathe yourself daily.
Maybe you injured the sebaceous cyst while shaving there, and that’s how it got infected. Be careful while shaving.
I had lumpectomy 10yrs ago, and radiation. At time of surgery had infection at that site,no messer, corrctected with antibiotics. Last 2 yrs, and last 6 months worse with growing and horrible arm and hand pain( 3 doctors have said leave it alone) after build up It seeps fluid tinged with blood-feels larger would this cause the pain I have which is horrible and how can I find a surgeon to do this removal ..
Where exactly was the lump? Your age? Why were you given radiation therapy? Was that malignant?
Hi. I have a cyst in the underarm area since 3 or 3 weeks and pus is coming out often. Before it was small then became bigger and painful and most of the fluid came out after that it became same in size and now also pus is coming out sometimes mostly when I clean the area.
Is it something to worry about? Am scared to go to dr in case is he/she says it is cancerous. I am not that strong to hear this sad thing about myself.. please guide me what should I do? Any effective home remedy?
Due Thanks
The lesion is unlikely to be cancerous. You need to see a doctor to get it drained completely.
This may be an infected sebaceous cyst or hair follicle.
I undergo an excision surgery on my right armpit. The doctor said it was a ruptured sebaceous cyst. Two months after the surgery, another cyst near the same area occured. It swollen for few days and then one day, suddenly the head appeared and it popped itself. I squeezed until blood comes out and clean the area with water and applied antiseptic cream everyday until the wound healed. Now after one month, the same spot I feel Abit pain (just like pimple pain) as if it’s coming back again. What shall I do? Why it keep coming back? It is something I need to worry about? Please help me by giving me your advise. Thank u.
This is how sebaceous cyst behave. They keep coming back again and again, particularly at phases of life when you body produces more of secretions. After young adulthood, their recurrence is less.
You may take care of it whenever you get one .Just drain it aseptically and keep the area clean to prevent infections. If you want to get rid of it completely, you need to get it excised surgically by a surgeon, making sure he removes the cyst with its capsule.
Thank you doctor for the advice. I’m 32 years old. May I ask if this also occurs to adults like me? When I got the first cyst, I used to sweat alot cause living in hot climate country. Since migrated to colder climate country, I barely sweat. That’s why I don’t understand why the cyst reoccurring the 2nd and 3rd time now. May I know if hormonal change or diet trigger this reoccurrance?
Well yes. If you sweat little, it’s likely that the amount of sebum your body is producing is also less. So, the frequency of recurrence of cysts should be less.
However, it has been clinically seen that if you get a cyst at a place, it has a tendency to reappear again at that spot. It’s growth would be less if you are in a colder climate.
Doctor, wanna add on. Does applying tea tree oil on my armpit daily will help to reduces the reoccurrance? Or any advice to prevent it from coming back besides surgery. This is because I just did the surgery 3 months ago and the scar is still healing.
Tea tree oil reduces inflammation and has little role to play here. However, you may give it a try.
Thank you doctor for the advice. Much appreciated.
You’re welcome.
I plucked a few weeks ago but unfortunately wounded it. A small lump appeared later on. No puss and a little hard.
Does it pain?
Hi doctor,
I had excision of a sebaceous cyst on my underarm two years+ ago. A few months after the surgery, another cyst appeared around the same area. The pus came out suddenly and I cleaned and put antiseptic cream to prevent further infection. For about a year I didn’t see reoccurance. Suddenly, 4-5months ago, the cyst appeared again. It gets tender and a little swollen so I put on cold compression and it will subside a few days later. I thought the cyst was self-drained but it reappeared every month for a week+ (slightly tender and a little swollen) and then subside again. Is it a hormonal things (does menstrual cycle affects?) Although it does not affect with my daily activities but is there something i need to worry about? Will it be okay if I leave it as is? It’s kind of stressful.
Thank you.
This happens when the cyst is incompletely removed while excision. It keeps appearing again and again. Whenever you get pain or pus there, antibiotics would be required to control it.
If it troubles more often, you may need to get it operated/ excised again. A complete excision of the cyst along with the cyst wall would solve your problem.
Thank you for the advice. But if I leave it as it is, would it be okay? Besides of it keep reoccurring and subsiding, will it cause any major health issue later if I leave it as it is now?
No major issue. However, it’s likely to trouble you with repeated infections. Each time, you’ll need to put antibiotics there. Gradually, common antibiotics would stop acting and you may need to use stronger ones.
My sebaceous cyst had been there for half a year. Suddenly, today it popped on its own. Gooey, flesh colour stuff came out. Is this normal?
I tried to squeeze all the stuff out until I saw only clear bright red blood coming out. And then applied antiseptic cream on it.
Can u advise if the dark red, gooey stuff is normal?
Thank you.
That’s normal dear. You may just keep the area clean and apply the antiseptic you are using till it dries up.
Thanks, doctor. What a relief ?
You’re welcome.