2024-05-02 15:34:55
Contrary to popular belief, a boil is not the big, ugly pimple found on the noses of cartoon witches. It is an inflamed pimple and is often located in areas where there is hair… Like the armpits.
Definition: what is a boil?
And boil is a red, hard, painful pimple that forms on the base of a hair in the region of hair follicle. It corresponds to an infection of this area, generally caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
The Staphylococcus aureus colonizes the skin and mucous membranes of 10 to 40% of the healthy population. The colonization sites in case of carriage are the maceration wetlands such as the nasal cavity, the rectum, the vagina, the perineum or even… the armpits!
Let us add that the armpits have hair, so they represent a predilection area for the formation of boils.
A pimple under the armpit is not always a boil!
Be careful, a pimple or lump under the armpit is not always a boil. It can be due to inflammation or infection, as in the case of boils but also hidradenitis suppurativa or infectious mononucleosis, or be the sign of a tumor, such as breast cancer or lymphoma for example. (in these latter cases, it is swollen lymph nodes). If you are in doubt regarding the diagnosis, it is best to consult a doctor.
Symptoms: how do you know if it’s a boil in the armpit?
And boil under the armpit (as elsewhere) evolves in 3 phases:
First of all, the appearance of a red, hot, hard and sensitive pimple on the skin at the root of a hair; Subsequently, the head of the pimple turns white and contains pus. This is when many people are tempted to pierce it. But this behavior should absolutely be avoided; Finally, the boil breaks open and the pus flows naturally. He leaves placed at a red crater. Healing occurs within 2 weeks which follow, but a hollow scar often remains visible.
What causes an armpit boil?
The boil under the armpit corresponds to a hair follicle infection by bacteria present on the skin as the Staphylococcus aureus. Generally, we find portage lodgesstaphylococcique on patients who have boils. This is for example the case of the nasal vestibule or other humid areas such as the armpits.
The first phase of inflammation is called folliculite. This progresses to a boil through necrosis of the follicle cells. Indeed, the pus from the boil is composed of debris of dead cells and immune cells.
Boil under the armpit: is it contagious?
The boil under the armpit (or elsewhere) is contagious : it can spread from one person to another if they come into contact with pus containing the bacteria responsible for the infection. Furthermore, it is possible to self-contamination by handling the button. The fact of pierce boil exposes you to the risk of spreading bacteria under the skin which can lead to a worsening of the infection.
What are the risk factors for an armpit boil?
THE risk factors for buttock boil are :
Of the skin friction The shaving hair at the level of armpits exposes you to the risk of ingrown hairs and boils when they re-grow; transpiration excessive (for example in the event of high heat); port de t-shirts and of underwear which are not made of cotton;A poor hygiene.
It is recommended to wash the armpits once or twice a day with a mild soap and to use a hypoallergenic deodorant and well tolerated even following shaving.
A immunosuppression linked to illness (diabetescancer, HIV) or taking certain medications that modulate immune defenses (chemotherapy, corticosteroids…); Obesity; Certain skin diseases such as keratosis pilaristhe atopic dermatitis or eczema ;The fact ofbe contaminated with staphylococcus aureus (presence of a staphylococcal breeding ground).
Abscesses, infected boils… what are the complications of a boil in the armpit?
In the vast majority of cases, the boil progresses quickly and naturally towards healing. However, immunosuppression or poorly adapted care can delay things. This is particularly the case if you handle the boil or try to break it. Here are some possible complications:
Relapses of boils (furunculosis) ;And anthrax (agglomeration of boils);A abscess which is localized worsening of the infection (it causes fever); lymphangite (infection of the blood vessels from the boil); A generalized infection or sepsis.
Should you pierce a boil under the armpit?
You should not attempt to puncture the boil. In fact, handling the boil or, worse, trying to puncture it carries a risk of worsening or spreading the infection. The best reflex in the event of a persistent boil is to consult your doctor.
Who and when to consult? How is the diagnosis established?
If you have a boil for the first time and things have not improved for a few days, you should consult a doctor. The clinical examination is enough for the doctor to establish the diagnosis of a boil.
However, additional examinations may be prescribed. in case of abscess, anthrax or furunculosis in order to determine the bacteria in question and detect a possible underlying disease. “The same goes if a simple boil is resistant to antibiotics. In this case, it will be necessary to take a sample in order to identify the germ in question and administer the appropriate antibiotic,” underlines Doctor Hanane Chahoub.
Treatments: how to treat a boil in the armpit?
It is possible to treat a boil on your own. Sometimes medical intervention is necessary.
Treat your boil alone with antiseptics
To treat a boil under the armpit, local antiseptic care (hexamidine or chlorhexidine) may suffice:
Start by washing your hands. Then apply a compress soaked in product and leave it in contact with the lesion for a few minutes. Finally, the lesion can then be protected with a bandage to limit the risk of contagion.
It is better to wash sheets and towels and those in contact with the lesion at high temperature.
“These treatments should only be carried out in the case of a simple boil which appears for the first time and in isolation. However, if symptoms persist, in the event of multiple boils or relapses, it is preferable to consult a doctor,” according to the specialist.
Sometimes antibiotics are necessary
If a boil persists, local antibiotic treatment may be prescribed as lfusidic acid (Fucidine®) ou la in pyrocine (Mupiderm® 2 %).
The antibiotic should be applied two to three times a day for 8 to 10 days. It is recommended to protect the boil with a bandage following application.
“Oral antibiotics may be considered in cases of anthrax, furunculosis or very large or superinfected boils. Intravenous antibiotic therapy is also possible in cases of sepsis,” according to the expert.
A surgical procedure sometimes proposed
In the event of a persistent boil, a minor surgical procedure can be performed under local anesthetic. It consists of incise the boil in order to empty it of its pus and facilitate drainage. This procedure may leave a scar.
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