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Armpit Rash- Causes, Treatments, And More
Armpits are usually a prime spot for any sort of irritation so having an armpit rash is common in many people, the severity of it might differ overall. You might not be able to see the armpit rash right away, but it will cause irritation and itch that turns unbearable later on.
Armpit rash could be scaly and white or red and bumpy. There are a lot of things that contribute to causing armpit rash and each involves a lot of treatments to get rid of them. Once the cause is determined it becomes easy to get rid of the armpit rash.
Armpit rash can last from a week or two to even a few months. Mostly all the rashes are treated easily using some home remedies or some over-the-counter treatments. However, it is very important that you know the reason behind the occurring of armpit rash before going for its treatment. This will help you in preventing it from occurring in the future.
For instance, when the rashes are caused due to the hot climate, they usually disappear soon but the rashes caused due to some skin condition or lifestyle may last even longer and require some extra treatments.
Let’s see what are the causes, symptoms, and treatments for armpit rashes and when you need to see a doctor for the same.
Types Of Armpit Rashes And Causes
Atopic Dermatitis
This condition is also known as eczema. It usually starts in childhood. It is usually commonly seen in folds of skin like armpits, inside of elbows, etc. These types of rashes are generally red and itchy. The itching in such rashes is so intense they can even bleed after you itch on the same spot continuously. Sometimes they also seep clear fluids.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
It is a type of skin irritation caused due to overproduction of skin oils or sebum in the skin. Unlike dry patches seen in eczema, these appear like oily patches of scales or flakes. The flakes may be yellow or white in color due to sebum oil.
Contact Dermatitis
This is seen when you come in contact with an irritant or allergen. This could be the fragrance in your lotion or deodorant that could lead to having an armpit rash of contact dermatitis type. Using any new detergent in your clothes can also be a reason to think of.
Armpit rash occurring in contact dermatitis is usually red, itchy, dry, and blistered. There are many different causes that are responsible for contact dermatitis, these are:
- Chemicals.
- Medicines
- Bites or stings from insects
- environment or food allergens.
Candida
It is essentially an infection caused by yeast or fungus. It mostly occurs on those areas f the skin which remains moist like the skin under your arms causing an armpit rash. It may cause red rashes, swelling, itching, scaling, etc.
Candida can become a lot more worse in hot climatic conditions or wearing tight clothes or due to poor hygienic conditions. Unline other armpit rashes, candida rashes can be greatest easily using antifungal creams. Never use steroid creams for such armpit rashes because they can make candida rashes even worse.
Hair Removal Processes
Many people go through hair removal processes that might make their skin painful, itchy, and tiny red bumps might be caused. These bumps are usually located in and around the follicles of hair. Removal of hair from underarms can give rise to armpit rash.
Ringworm
This is another type of fungal infection that usually causes a silver or red ring-like rash in your armpits or neck or anywhere on your body. The armpit rash formed by this type is scabbed, swollen, scaly, dry, and itchy in nature.
Home Remedies To Treat An Armpit Rash
- Most of the crashes occurring in armpits are a result of some of the other allergies or general skin irritation to which our skin responds. You can try the following remedies to get rid of an armpit rash if you feel you have one.
- To prevent the armpit rash infection from spreading keep the area clean and dry and try to wear loose-fitting clothes. Taking lukewarm water showers can also help to provide some relief.
- Stay far from the sun as much as you can and do not stay in humid environments as they might trigger the spreading.
- Do not scratch your armpit rash, instead just tap and pat if it is itching.
- Taking a bath with added vinegar, baking soda, oatmeal, or salt.
- Apply glycerol-based and unscented moisturizers for scaly and dry rashes few times a day.
- Do not take long time showers and avoid long-time contact with water.
2. There are some natural supplements and therapies that would help to reduce and treat your armpit rash. Not many scientific studies prove the benefits of using these but they have worked well for some people. Some alternative remedies to be tried at home include:
- Using coconut oil.
- Sunflower oil.
- Topical vitamin B-12.
- Cardiospernum- it is a type of vine that is available in form of an ointment.
- Biofeedback.
- Hypnosis
- Meditation
- Massage
- Acupressure. In this remedy, pressure is applied to some specific points on the body to treat the condition.
If the home remedies do not work quite well for you, you can try certain OTC medications to treat your armpit rashes. OTC medications to be used for allergic reactions include:
- You may apply OTC hydrocortisone creams few times a day. The percentage of this cream you need is between 0.5% to 1.0%.
- Using antihistamine tablets. Some tablets of this sort cause drowsiness in some people causing the itching to stop as the person usually sleeps.
- Using OTC calamine creams and lotions
- Applying OTC creams having antifungal gels, sprays, etc. You may apply it daily for about 2 weeks, where ringworm infections and candida are causes of the rashes.
3. Armpit rashes that usually appear due to any prevailing chronic skin condition usually require medical attention. In most cases, when you visit a doctor, they might suggest some OTC medication or lotions given above.
People having eczema condition due to which armpit rashes are caused might be prescribed some of these:
- Topical steroid creams.
- Calcineurin inhibitors or PDE4 inhibitors.
- Phototherapy uses UV light to boost the production of vitamin B.
- Biological medications containing human immune protein in engineered forms.
4. Treatment options for those people having or suffering from conditions of seborrheic dermatitis include:
- UTC antifungal lotions and creams
- Washing the armpits using products containing zinc pyrithione.
- Using exfoliating products for softening the scaly patches every other day or in few days.
- Using topical corticosteroids, antifungal creams, or any nonsteroid cream according to the directions.
Sometimes using steroids can worsen the rash, it is important that you visit a doctor before applying any of the creams or medication to avoid any side effects or worsening of your condition.
Prevention Of Armpit Rashes
Understanding what has caused the rash to build up in your armpits can help in minimizing the severity of the disease.
Some general tips that you can use to avoid getting armpit rashes to include:
- Identifying the allergens first and then avoiding them to prevent any infection in the future.
- Using personal care products that are unscented and free of fragrance could possibly cause itching.
- Bathing using lukewarm water and not taking too much time under showers.
- Using powders that are anti-chafing when you are in warm weather or working out.
- Washing all your clothes, towels, and bedding as frequently as you can. Probably once or twice a week.
- Wearing undergarments and clothes that fit well.
- When you are around animals, soil, or plants, wash your hands regularly.
- Avoid sharing intimate things like towels, combs, clothing material, etc.
- Wearing clothes made of natural fibers and cotton when the weather is warm.
- Ensuring that your pets and farm animals that you make regular visits to are vaccinated.
Possible Complications In Armpit Rash Cases
Once you start taking proper care, your rashes will go away without facing any complications. However, if you fail to take enough care, they might leave some scars behind. Scarring from rashes under your armpits usually occurs when you scratch the rashes too harshly allowing the infection to get worse.
Severe or chronic rashes tend to have broader complications. For instance, there are many conditions of allergy that can be related to eczema-like asthma and contact dermatitis. Severe fungal infections can also lead to some life-threatening complications including failure of organs and sepsis.
It is always good to see a doctor if the rashes keep occurring on the same spot or they are not going away for a long time.
When To Visit A Doctor
When the armpit rash becomes chronic or severe, you must visit a doctor. They will determine the symptoms and causes of the rash to provide the best treatment for you.
Also, there are few types of rashes that require the immediate attention of the doctors such as any allergic reaction or severe infection. These types of rashes are quite rare and do not happen generally.
Take a careful look at the following and see check if the rashes appear like these, you need medical attention if the rashes are:
- Spreading very fat and covering the entire body or most parts of the body.
- Rashes are accompanied by fever or blisters
- Develops all of a sudden and spread really quickly.
- Are swollen or painful
- Bleed, release the pus, or ooze out.
- Located around genitals, eyes, or mouth.
- Accompanied with constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea.
- Appear when your body is shaking.
- Accompanied by dizziness or confusion of some sort.
If these things are prominent, make sure you head towards the clinic or your dermatologist quickly.
This was all you needed to know about armpit rashes.
