Puberty hits, pimple on pits and you wanna know the tricks for armpit pimples removal!
Pimples are common to people hitting their puberty… or people dealing with a certain health condition. Either way, it’s safe to assume that all of us might’ve experienced a skin break out at least once in our lives and/or might still be conquering the same situation today.
Armpit pimples are due to clogged sweat glands and bacteria build up in the pores. It might be an effect of ingrown hair, folliculitis and pseudofolliculitis, armpit boils, contact dermatitis, and other armpit-related conditions. Treat your pimples to ease discomfort. Never opt for squeezing!
WHAT ARE ARMPIT PIMPLES?
Armpit pimples are bumps resulted from either clogged sweat glands or bacteria build up in your pores. Pimples often occur on our face, back, and buttocks, that’s the reason why pimples underarms might cause you concern at first. I wouldn’t claim it’s completely harmless, for there might be an underlying health condition to why you’re having pimples on your pits today, but it is often harmless and sometimes only due to unfortunate circumstances, like poor shaving skills.
Armpit pimples are common. In fact, a lot of people from a tropical country might’ve encountered pimples on their pits already. Take note that armpits rub against each other, and you sweat underarms. That’s a real dilemma.
Although armpit pimples are said to go on their own. It’s advisable to treat it yourself, if you can, to avoid further complication, like difficulty to shave armpit hair, ill reaction against deodorant, and the likes. On the other hand, If you’ve noticed pus on your armpit pimples, it’s best to seek an immediate medical treatment.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CAUSES OF ARMPIT PIMPLE?
There are a lot of possible causes to why one experience pimple underarms, it could be due to an unfortunate circumstances, an underlying health condition, or a reckless food intake.
1. Ingrown hair
Ingrown hair is one of the most common causes of armpit pimples, usually a result of poor shaving that might later on lead to armpit bumps. This occurs when a hair follicle grew sideways under the skin. Ingrown hair is not a serious circumstance, but it gives discomfort, especially if resulted to a pimple, a red inflamed bump underarms.
This condition often go on its own, but there could also be an underlying infection to why armpit pimples occur, and that’s why it’s important to know the probable cause of your pimples. There’s also no specific treatment for ingrown hair, but there are various ways on how you can prevent armpit pimples from occurring due to ingrown hair, and that is to exfoliate your armpits, use single-blade razors when shaving, and apply a cool wash cloth right after shaving your pits.
If you’re using roll-on deodorants, on the other hand, know that it causes build-up of bacteria and dead skin cells in the sweat gland, one of the probable reason behind your pimples on pits.
If experiencing ingrown hair, you might also feel itchy, sore, and inflamed underarms. Pus might be present too.
2. Folliculitis and Pseudofolliculitis
This is an armpit condition that directly affects the hair follicle underarms, resulting to inflammation. This is due to an infection that usually appears when the skin is open or after shaving. You’d be an easy target of this condition if you’re prone to skin infections or if you’re immuno-suppressed. Regardless, we should always be cautious when shaving underarms to make sure we are not irritating our skin or causing an ingrown hair to avoid getting a pseudofolliculitis.
Replacing your razor should be done regularly to prevent bacteria from infecting your pits.
3. Armpit boils
Have you heard of armpit boils or those pus filled bumps that we often refer to as “furuncles”? This is a painful infection underarms that appears around the infected hair follicles, containing pus.
Fortunately, most armpit boils are harmless and might eventually drain on its own within two to three weeks. However, call of surgical procedure might be needed if there’s no progress within the said time duration.
The common causes of this bacterial infection are excessive perspiration or sweating, poor shaving, poor hygiene, and weakened immune system. Applying antiperspirant to stop excessive sweating, switching to single blade razor, practicing personal hygiene, and strengthening your immune system might be of huge help to prevent armpit pimples from occurring.
Never pop or squeeze your armpit pimple or boil in hopes of removing the pus, that won’t do any better. Antibacterial soap is advisable for cleansing the pits, slowly (but surely) disinfecting the pus-causing bacteria.
4. Contact Dermatitis
Before using any skin product, it’s best to identify allergens first to ensure your safety. Contact dermatitis is due to allergy reaction. If you’re using a deodorant or antiperspirant, and your pits reacted against it, drop the product immediately. Consulting a physician would always be the best option in identifying allergen. Taking note of the product’s active ingredients is a must, as well.
5. Tight clothes
Believe me or not, but wearing tight clothes might cause you armpit pimples too. It might sounds odd, but it’s true. Wearing breathable clothes is preferable, especially if you have sweating problem that might trigger the occurence of pimples more.
6. Blunt Razors
Blunt razors will only complicate your shaving experience. Replace that with a good quality single blade razor, perfect for shaving pits, to avoid armpit pimples from occurring.
7. Blocked hair follicle
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin condition due to a blocked hair follicle underarms. It looks like a small, pimple-like bumps that causes inflammation and infection. It’s advisable to avoid dairy and sugary food if you have this.
8. Other armpit conditions
Other armpit conditions might lead to armpit pimples too, if not treated. Armpit pimples can be a symptom of a more serious condition, a consequence of poor circumstances, and/or an impact of occlusion in your armpits.
9. Food intake
Always watch your diet because we sweat what we eat. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will be of help in detoxifying the body, while avoiding pimples on armpits from occurring.
TREATMENT FOR ARMPIT PIMPLES
Although, armpit pimples are said to go on their own, there are a lot of ways on how you can get rid of them if you wish to. Here are some of the treatment options that you can choose from:
HOME REMEDIES FOR REMOVAL OF ARMPIT PIMPLES
1. Aloe Vera and Rose water
As we all know, aloe vera is a popular plant commonly meant to kill pimple-causing bacteria. It contains sulfur and salicylic acid which are popular active ingredients, as well, in most of cleansing products. Based on a study, these compounds (sulfur and salicylic acid) are efficient in terms of reducing the visibility of both acne and pimples.
If you’re interested to try it on your pits, then prepare two (2) tablespoon of aloe vera gel, one (1) fresh aloe vera leaf, and one (1) tablespoon of rosewater.
Procedure:
1. First, prepare a fresh aloe vera leaf and aloe vera gel inside a clean container.
2. Add the rosewater next. Mix all the ingredients ’til it blend to get a creamy paste out of it.
3. Once it’s ready, apply the paste on your armpit pimples. Massage it for at least 5 minutes. Wash it properly after.
4. Pat dry your pits using a clean towel. Repeat this process at least twice a day for the best result.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the most popular remedies in all forms of cleansing, and that’s due to the salicylic acid, a tested active ingredient against pimple-causing viruses and bacteria. It also allay inflammation underarms, gradually healing the pimple marks.
If you’d like to try apple cider vinegar to treat your armpit pimples, prepare one (1) tablespoon of apple cider and (2) tablespoon of water ahead of time.
Procedure:
1. Mix apple cider vinegar and water inside a clean bowl.
2. Use a cotton ball when dipping into the mixture. Rub it directly on your armpit pimples.
3. Let the mixture stay for at least 3 to 5 minutes. Wash it properly right after. Pat dry it using a clean towel.
3. Green Tea
Green tea is popular among people with diabetes. It also helps if you want to lose weight while heightening your defense against serious diseases, like heart disease and cancer. It helps fight against skin inflammation and excess sebum production, thus depleting the probability of armpit pimples’ occurrence.
If you’re interested to try green tea, prepare one (1) green tea bag, few drops of lemon, and a half cup of water.
Procedure:
1. Add a green tea bag into the boiling water. Let it mix completely with the water.
2. Once finished, let the green tea cool down first.
3. Add few drops of lemon next. Mix it again.
4. Using a cotton ball, dip it into the mixture. Apply it directly on your armpit pimples.
5. Wipe it off using a dry tissue. Repeat this procedure thrice a day for a better result.
CONVENTIONAL REMEDIES
1. Topical Medication
Topical or oral medication helps in amplifying the symptoms of armpit pimples, like redness and inflammation, only in the span of days. Acne medication might be helpful too in terms of removing pimples on armpits.
2. Hydrocortisone Cream
Spot treat your armpit pimples using hydrocortisone cream. This cream is said to be effective in terms of diminishing the armpit pimples.
3. Allergy Medication
If you’re able to identify allergens that cause your armpit pimples, drinking your doctor’s prescribed medication is needed to ease the reaction.
HOW TO PREVENT ARMPIT PIMPLES?
Here are some of the precautionary measures that you can consider to avoid getting armpit pimples underarms:
1. Wear loose clothing instead of a fitted top. Especially, if it’s hot and humid. In that way, you will be able to protect your pits from rubbing in the area, lowering the chance of getting an inflamed bumps underarms.
2. Use a single-blade razor when shaving. It’s preferably to shave in the direction of the armpit hair to avoid getting an ingrown hair. Replace your razor regularly to keep your pits clean and safe from pimples-causing bacteria.
3. To reduce the need of shaving your pits, laser hair removal might be the solution. This will help you avoid the probability of getting an armpit pimple out of poor shaving skills.
4. Do not shave your armpits dry. This will only harden your armpit skin, causing you either ingrown hair or razor burn. It’s advisable to shave right after taking a bath to make sure your pits are not yet completely dry. Be cautious when shaving your armpits to avoid pimple-causing factors, like skin inflammation and ingrown hair.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Armpit pimples are not due to acne, but to other underlying conditions that might cause you one. It’s always best to consult a physician. Practice personal hygiene too!