small, angry red bump in underarm area

A little less than a year ago I woke up one morning to find a small, angry red bump in my left underarm.  It was about the size and shape of a mosquito bite (in fact, that's exactly what I thought it was at first) and painfull if I pressed on it or if I stretched my arms.  It persisted for about 48 hours, the painfullness and redness lessening gradually.

Over the next six months the same symptoms recurred about eight or ten times, the bump always in my left underarm but not always in the exact same spot.  Sometimes it was redder and more painful, sometimes less, and once hardly red or painfull at all (and it faded very quickly that time as well).  Eventually I noticed that the bumps seemed to occur within 12 hours of taking an Alieve (which I would take for occasional headaches or hangovers) so I discontinued using naproxin sodium pain relievers.  No angry red bumps at all for about three months - I thought I'd found the culprit.

But the other day I woke up to find another of the underarm bumps, and I have not taken any naproxin sodium.  The only environmental factor I can think of is that I ate a large meal of chinese take-out the evening before, and it was undoubtedly loaded with MSG.  Could naproxin sodium and MSG be causing the same reaction?

Other than these bumps I feel fine - I sleep well, eat well, exercise often, and have plenty of energy.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I'm not sure, but this does not sound environmental.  Perhaps these are inflamed glands--sweat glands live in the area.  You should show a fresh one to a doctor for definitive diagnosis.  But this does not sound serious, nor does it sound drug- or food- related.

Sorry I can't be more certain.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[masin]

i also have a bump under my arm its kinda an open pore or ingrown hair i use rubing alcohal (alcohol) and iodine it went away in two days tell me if this might help you

masin