Itchy armpits, rash, redness and itching: causes and treatment

The appearance of unpleasant sensations in the armpits, in addition to personal discomfort, can be a harbinger of various diseases.

If your armpits itch, there can be a wide variety of reasons, from non-compliance with hygiene rules, clothing made of synthetic fabrics, to the presence of fungal and infectious diseases.

Irritation under the arms is often observed in both men and women. Why is this happening?

Causes of itching in the armpits hygienic plan

Why does itching occur in this area? The most common reasons are:

Use of antiperspirants. In this case, there is an allergic reaction of a local nature, which is caused by the chemical components included in the antiperspirant used. Itching under the armpits in women and men occurs especially often when using products produced in the form of an aerosol.
Underwear and clothing that significantly restrict movement and irritate the skin. Itching under the armpit is especially common during the warm season.
Ingrown hair (pseudofolliculosis). A fairly common reason, which is due (to a greater extent) to a person’s genetic predisposition. You can fight it by shaving this area every 2-3 days, at least.
Incorrect procedure for removing hair from armpits. Be sure to use the product before and after shaving. Many people ignore this rule, which leads to irritation, as well as severe itching in the armpit area.
Hyperhidrosis (increased sweating). This is an individual characteristic of the body, which can become a direct cause of itching, as well as contribute to mechanical irritation of the axillary area due to increased friction with clothing.

An analysis of the reasons that provoked this phenomenon will help answer the question of why armpits itch. One has only to remember exactly after what this condition arose, and the factor that caused the itching in the armpits will immediately become clear.

Hormonal changes

All metabolic processes that occur in the human body are directly or indirectly controlled by hormones. The intensive restructuring of these processes, which occurs during puberty, pregnancy, or the onset of menopause, is accompanied by significant hormonal changes. A concomitant symptom may be itching in the armpits. Moreover, most often these unpleasant symptoms are caused by menopause.

There are situations when the symptom in question is not a natural reaction of the body to the action of an external stimulus or to a change in some internal process, but a manifestation of pathology. The treatment and management tactics of the patient will depend on what caused the itching of the skin of the axillary fossa.

Diseases that are accompanied by itching in the armpits

Psoriasis

A disease that manifests itself as red (pink) round rashes with a characteristic pearlescent tint. Elements of the rash appear throughout the body, but if the axillary area is affected, the itching will be felt there, locally. It will be observed constantly, but most likely there will be no pronounced intensity.

Hidradenitis

Inflammation of the exocrine glands leads not only to itching, but also to pain, redness, and after some time to an increase in body temperature, accumulation of pus and fluctuation (classic picture of inflammation). In this case, itching in the armpits will be the first symptom, which will make you think about the likelihood of this pathology.

Candidiasis

Fungal infection of the skin is accompanied by severe itching and indicates that the person has serious problems with the immune system. In addition, there will be significant redness in the armpits and the appearance of a whitish coating. In parallel with this, the mucous membranes are affected in a similar way. The pathological process affects the oral cavity, mucous membranes of internal organs, as well as the genitourinary system.

Furunculosis

Inflammation of the hair follicles is most likely associated with a staphylococcal or streptococcal infection. Outwardly, it looks like the appearance of rashes (a large number of white pimples). Itchy skin in this situation is one of the characteristic symptoms, but far from the most dangerous. When this process spreads, a clinical picture of sepsis (generalized inflammation) is possible, which is characterized by an increase in body temperature, heart rate and a drop in blood pressure. A very serious pathology requiring antibiotic therapy.

Contact dermatitis

A disease that is associated with local exposure to a specific irritant. As a rule, it is not so limited in nature and extends not only to the armpit area, but also to the skin of the back, chest and sides. In addition to itching, severe hyperemia (redness) will be characteristic, and blisters filled with liquid may appear.

Neurodermatitis

A disease that is accompanied not only by paresthesia (sensitivity disturbances, one of which is itching of the skin), but also by exanthema (spots on the skin with a red-burgundy tint) of significant size, as well as other disorders of the peripheral nervous system.

Autointoxication

Sometimes there is a pathological reaction of the body to a secretion it produces. In this case, it is customary to talk about autointoxication, when an allergic reaction occurs to waste products of one’s own body. Like any allergic process, it is accompanied by severe itching.

In addition to all the diseases listed above, armpits itch due to infection with parasites (scabies, demodex mites) and due to problems of a psychogenic nature.

Symptoms and their diseases

In addition to common causes, armpit itching can be caused by various skin diseases. Pronounced symptoms help to classify the disease, and therefore take timely measures to eliminate it.

Each disease signals its appearance by certain signs:

Red spots, skin with a slight whitish coating, pronounced peeling, the appearance of psoriatic plaques indicate the presence of psoriasis or a certain form of lichen.
Detection of ulcers and inflammations that cause pain when pressed may indicate progressive hidradenitis.
If small cracks, redness, severe itching, diaper rash, and peeling appear under the armpits, then the body indicates the appearance of skin fungal diseases, in particular candidiasis.
Irritation under the arms can be in the form of small, purulent inflammations, especially around the hair follicles, and pain. This symptom is characterized by specialists as the presence of furunculosis in the patient.
Varieties of dermatitis can express general symptoms, such as the formation of blistering rashes, redness of the skin, swelling, severe burning, itching. An accurate diagnosis can be made by a specialist after a thorough examination.

Infection with various forms of skin and fungal diseases is often associated with visiting a swimming pool, sauna, bathhouse, or violating the rules of hygiene in such places.

In addition to the most common skin ailments that cause constant armpit itching and discomfort, it can be caused by the presence of diseases such as:

diabetes;
seborrhea;
cirrhosis of the liver;
cancer;
neurodermatitis.

In any case, if you find signs of disease, you should not self-medicate, you should immediately contact a specialist, a dermatologist. An experienced doctor will help diagnose the disease, prescribe treatment, and tell you about preventive measures.

Features of treatment of itching in the armpits

The course of therapy is determined by the cause that provoked the appearance of the symptom in question.

Psoriasis, neurodermatitis, candidiasis, furunculosis and all other infectious and inflammatory processes can only be treated by a doctor.

Drug treatment

Allergic manifestations, as well as all cases where armpit itching is a normal response to an irritant, are eliminated by isolating the irritating factor. To speed up recovery, you will need to take antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil, Loratadine) no more than 1 tablet per day, and they must be taken at night, since these drugs significantly stimulate drowsiness.
Candidiasis. Fungal diseases (if they are not widespread throughout the body) can be successfully treated at home. To achieve maximum effectiveness, it will be necessary to combine the use of local active drugs and medications in tablet form. For example, treat affected areas of the skin with Clotrimazole ointment, and use Fucis capsules for oral administration. After a few days of such treatment, not a trace will remain of mycosis and its symptoms.
For furunculosis, as a rule, treatment is carried out by a surgeon, since it involves various interventions, but antibacterial therapy, which allows you to get rid of the pathogen, is no less important. As a rule, broad-spectrum antibiotics (Ceftriaxone, Cefuroxime) are used, 1 g twice a day intramuscularly.

ethnoscience

Among the folk remedies, the following should be noted:

Recipe 1 . Infusion of wormwood. To prepare it, you need to take 300 g of wormwood herb and pour 1 liter of boiling water over it. Drink 1 glass three times a day for a month.

Recipe 2 . Peppermint tincture. Use 200 g of the aerial part of the plant and 400 ml of medical alcohol 96%. It is infused for two days, after which you need to drink a tablespoon three times a day, the course is 2 weeks.

Recipe 3 . For topical use, a decoction of St. John's wort is used. 300 g of flowers are poured into 1 liter of boiling water, left for a day, after which lotions are applied to the affected area.

Traditional methods

An alternative to chemical drugs in the treatment of itching, burning, and irritation in the armpit area can be traditional medicine recipes. For increased sweating, it is effective to use an infusion of medicinal chamomile.

To prepare the product, you will need 2 tablespoons of dried flowers, pour 250 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.

The cooled infusion should be strained and added 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. After any hygiene procedures, the resulting product should be wiped over the armpit area.

Redness of the skin of the armpits can be cured with a decoction of St. John's wort.

To prepare a medicinal preparation, add 1 tablespoon of dry herb to cold water, bring to a boil and keep on low heat for 10 minutes.

After which, the broth must be filtered, a few drops of vegetable oil added and left to steep for 4-5 hours. Treat the armpits with the prepared decoction three times a day using a cotton pad.

If there is peeling, diaper rash, plaques, or boils in the armpits, traditional medicine experts recommend using a remedy that can be done at home.

To prepare you will need:

vegetable oil – 50 ml;
dried calendula flowers – 5 g;
dried oak bark – 10 g;
sea buckthorn oil – 2-3 drops.

Refined vegetable oil must be boiled in a water bath for 10 minutes. Next, it should be cooled to a temperature of 60 degrees, add dry herbs and bark, as well as sea buckthorn oil. All components are thoroughly mixed, left for 5-6 hours, then filtered.

Apply to damaged areas with a cotton pad, 3-4 times a day, after washing the armpits or wiping with a damp cloth. Frequent use of folk remedies will help get rid of the disease faster.

Itchy armpits in a child

Often, itching of the armpits in a child is associated with non-compliance with hygiene procedures. In the event that some pathological process occurs, you should definitely go to see a doctor, since children's problems can be much more dangerous than those of adults.

If itching of the skin in the armpit area of a child is caused by irritation, the simplest solution to the problem is to eliminate the cause of this phenomenon. To speed up recovery, you should use an antihistamine ointment - Finistil is ideal. Do not forget about the need to conduct a preventive conversation with your child regarding the need to follow the rules of personal hygiene.

How to treat

The simplest treatment if armpit itching is caused by household factors. Here it is enough just to relieve symptoms with the help of antiseptics or chamomile decoction. This plant has an anti-inflammatory effect and relieves itching and redness of the skin. You will also need to change your shaving accessories and pay more attention to hygiene. If the itching is very severe or accompanied by red spots, you can use the following remedies:

cortisone ointments (Dermatop, Fluvet, etc.);
petrolatum;
zinc ointments (Diaderm, Tsindol, etc.).

These drugs relieve itching without harming the skin, which is important when treating the armpits. Due to their relatively light structure, the products do not clog pores and do not affect the functioning of the sweat glands. What else can you do to treat your skin?

If tests show the presence of a fungal infection, anti-fungal agents are prescribed (Lamisil, Lamicon, etc.). In case of severe damage, the doctor may prescribe antibacterial drugs to be taken orally. Combination treatment will speed up recovery.
Antihistamine ointments (Zodak, Cetrin) fight against allergic reactions.
If the itching is caused by dermatitis, hormonal medications (Akriderm, Lorinden, etc.) will be required.
When itching under the arms due to profuse sweating, Botox injections or laser treatments in the salon will be required. All this affects the sweat glands, reducing their activity. Before any procedure, you should consult your doctor.
If itching occurs as a consequence of a serious illness, therapy aimed at the underlying disease is first necessary. Otherwise, unpleasant symptoms in the armpits will appear regularly.
Erythromycin is used to treat hidradenitis. Purulent formations are opened only by a surgeon. After removing the pus, the doctor will prescribe medications for faster healing, most often this is Vishnevsky ointment. The product relieves irritation, accelerates skin restoration, and removes remaining pus.

It is worth remembering that in each individual case, drugs are selected strictly individually; a remedy that is effective for one person may not have any effect on another. Therefore, accurate and timely diagnosis is important.

When the reason why the skin in the armpits begins to itch very much is eliminated, the unpleasant symptoms will go away.

Prevention

There will be no irritation in the armpits and they will not itch if the deodorant is chosen correctly

Use the same antiperspirant that you are 100% sure will not cause allergies. If it does appear, you can safely discard this most likely source of itching in the armpits.
Follow basic rules of personal hygiene. Perhaps this is the most important rule, since many diseases arise precisely because an infection enters the human body, and the lack of a hygienic culture contributes to this.
When the first symptoms appear, consult a doctor - this will eliminate the possibility of developing a serious pathology, since itchy skin is not only a manifestation of allergies or ordinary irritation, but also many other, more dangerous diseases.

Author of the article: Goncharov Fedor Eduardovich

Practitioner Specialization: Dermatovenereology
Publications on the site: 42 (All publications by the author)