little bumps under armpits?

[alexisf]

hello,

I have had these little bumps under the skin on both armpits for years now... I had my dr. feel them about a year and half ago and he said they are lymph nodes that became that way from me shaving (I do shave quite a bit, and am not known to switch razors when supposed to). anyways, he said that they would go away when I laid off shaving, but I haven't so they haven't really done much either.

They are very small, probably a pin head size or slightly bigger. not a pea size for sure. there seem to be more on the left side, and only about 2 or 3 on the right. There are probably 6 on the left.
a couple days ago, I woke up and felt pain on the left armpit. I had just shaved that same day, so it almost felt like an ingrown hair was developing or something. not sure if that's related.

What I'm wondering is, is there a possiblity that they could be something else?I tried looking it up online but I found that it could be everything from infected sebaceous glands to cancer (lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer etc).
I'm only 24 years old and have regular paps and am a blood donor so I feel that some kind of cancer would have shown up in my blood work. but is that something I should be worried about?

also, if it is minor, is there a way I can get rid of them without having to stop shaving? would waxing be better?

any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Janinnn]

Is there any thing I can do except going to dermatologist? Cause I'm like 13 and I have soo many of them... does the warm compress help or do I really need to go a dermatologist?

[b0sslady2001]

I was diagnosed with HS about 1 year ago and have been through the ordeal of lancing a BIG DEEP boil on the bottom of my breast (which DOES NOT NUMB due to infection...OUCH!!) and recurring PAINFUL boils in my armpits. I haven't had any more breast issues (thank goodness!) but am still having the armpit problems. Mine seems to respond best to Doxycycline when it flares up. My flare ups seem to correspond with my PMS...it happens about 5 days before my period, so I also think it has to do with a hormone imbalance. Sometimes though, it just randomly happens mid-month. (maybe stress induced??) I put "udder balm" or "bag balm" on the boils and sometimes this will help soften the skin up so that they can drain. Yes, it is marked for veterinary use and is used to soften up cow udders (lol), but is available in your local drug store. It's cheap, seems to help and is totally safe for humans. It's very similar to "Boil Ease" and much less expensive. One tin of it will last FOREVER!!

The main reason that I am writing this note is because I am a classic yo-yo dieter and I noticed something VERY interesting during my two most recent weight loss attempts. I am 5'4' and 180 pounds at the moment and had a high weight of 198, so I am on the chunky side of the fence. I wear a size 17 in blue jeans and extra large tops.

I have tried many diets, but the only one that works for me is a high protein, VERY LOW carbohydrate ZERO SUGAR diet. (Atkins induction menu for one whole month instead of the suggested two weeks) I did this recently for one whole month (SHEER TORTURE...LOL) was very strict about it when I did it, and I kept the carbs below 15 grams a day. MEAT, EGGS, CHEESE AND LETTUCE ONLY!!! "YES" TO MAYO and ranch dressing, NO TO KETCHUP (it contains sugar) also...NOTHING WHITE...I allowed myself a very small portion of green beans or broccoli once a day. I also drank enough water to fill a lake. NOTHING TO DRINK BUT WATER...and an occasional unsweet tea with Splenda! NO DIET SODAS!! It takes the first three days to detoxify the body and then the weight loss begins! :0)

I recently managed to "stay on the wagon" for a month and lost 18 pounds without exercise. The thing that makes this relevant to this forum is that during the time that I was on that strict diet without sugar or carbs (which turn into sugars in the bloodstream) I didn't have ANY outbreaks of HS and the outbreak that I had when I started the diet faded away completely in about 7-8 days after I started the diet. My body was finally detoxified of all of the CRAP that I stuff into it every day.

I then "fell off of the wagon" after a month and returned to my normal everyday "idiot" diet of fast foods, highly processed foods and refined sugars. (and PEPSI, PEPSI, PEPSI, ALL OF THE TIME...FULL FLAVORED) What a bad girl I am!

It took about two to three weeks of the old habits to REtoxify my body before the armpit symptoms reappeared, just as bad as they were before. HMMMMMMM.......I just wonder if there's a connection......lol

I wonder how many HS sufferers there are who are carb and sugar intolerant like I am? I tend to gain weight in the middle and are an "apple" body type. I was told that I am prediabetic and have high insulin levels and high blood pressure. My blood sugars are normal.

Due to these strange reactions of my HS to the special diet, I would almost lay money on the fact that MANY cases of HS are caused by toxins in our bloodstream caused by bad diet habits and high insulin levels in the blood. Especially since some of the research I've done says that most HS sufferers are overweight.

I guess that when my pain and suffering in my armpits is worse than the sugar and carb cravings, I might actually break free from this HORRIBLE disease. I would love to see an experiment with about 100 people with HS on a diet like this one to see if my guess is correct.

Maybe someday I'll find the willpower to make the permanent diet/lifestyle change and test my theory over a longer period of time. :0)

I hope I help at least ONE person with this post! That would have to be someone with better willpower than I have, but I'm sure that they are out there somewhere...

Marci

[AMau]

Please please please no one take Marci's advice. Marci, please stop trying fad diets, and eat a human diet consisting of whole plant based foods (which contain things like vitamins, minerals, and anti oxodents - some vital things the body needs to maintain health). Until then you will continue to fail and have issues. For expert nutritional info please search for Dr Neil Barnard, Dr Michael Gregor, Dr Caldwell Estelstein. These ridiculous anecdotal experiments followed by harmful advice has to stop.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it sounds like hidradenitis suppurativa. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin disease that affects areas bearing apocrine sweat glands and hair follicles; such as the underarms, groin and buttocks esp in women.

Apply warm compresses on the lumps and keep the area clean. Topical antiseptic treatment and topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment is very useful.If still the lumps persist then specific treatment like antibiotics,vit A supplements,corticosteroid injections,isotretinoin,antiandrogens and sometimes excision and drainage ,laser therapy and radiotherapy are found useful.I feel that you should consult a dermatologist and discuss these options with him.
I hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.