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Are you suffering from one or more very sore red cyst-like lumps under your arm pit? Well, it may be Lymphadenitis. If you are in a lot of pain right now and can’t get an immediate appointment with your doctor, there is one very simple treatment you can do that may just make that nasty lump go away. Start taking increased doses of vitamin E supplements. Vitamin E is a very powerful antioxidant and a fat soluble vitamin with no known toxicity. It may just make that nasty lump go away within 24 to 48 hours, before you even get into that doctor’s appointment that you may have already scheduled.
Years ago when I was suffering from re-occurring underarm lumps my aunt suggested that I try taking vitamin E as treatment before getting them lanced and biopsied. I did and was amazed that they went away within one or two days. Although there is no clearly proven medical support for the use of vitamin E to get rid of underarm lumps, there is ongoing research about its benefits in many diseases, especially cancer and heart disease.
The lymphatic system’s overall function is to drain fluid from all over the body back into the bloodstream. It is also a major part of the body’s immune system, and plays a huge role in defending the body against cancer and infections like the common cold. It is also closely related to the circulatory system. Some health experts claim vitamin E can help gradually break down blood clots in the circulatory system, and can also prevent more from forming. Perhaps it also alleviates swelling and fluid build-up in the lymph nodes.
Although lumps in the armpit have many causes there may be a very simple explanation for your condition. According to Evanston Northwestern Healthcare,
“Cysts and infections on the surface of the skin of the armpit may be caused by shaving or use of antiperspirants (as opposed to deodorants). This occurs most frequently in adolescents just beginning to shave. Abscesses under the skin may also produce large, painful lumps in the armpit.”
Lymphadenitis is the medical term for swollen lymph glands and may mean you have an infection. So if your symptoms also include other common cold-like symptoms then this is a likely probability. Streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteria are the most common causes of lymphadenitis, but viruses, protozoa, rickettsiae, fungi, and the tuberculosis bacillus can also infect the lymph nodes. You will need to see a doctor to run lab tests to determine if this is the cause of your underarm lumps. The most significant test is a white blood cell count (WBC) and a blood culture to identify the organism. A high number of immature white blood cells means you have a bacterial infection. In some cases, the doctor may order a biopsy of the lymph node. If you have lymphadenitis and choose to visit a medical doctor he or she will most likely prescribe medications and may include antibiotics.
According to Quest Health Library,
“Water melon possesses detoxifying properties and may be useful for those with lymphadenitis. Lemon juice may also be beneficial, although it is a good idea to dilute with water to make it more palatable. In addition, a diet high in vegetable protein is recommended. This can be achieved by eating brown rice, seeds and sprouted grains.”
Painful lumps may mean you have something more serious to consider like cancer. As with any disease, it is best to check with a doctor if you have any concerns or questions. The information provided here is not meant to diagnose, it is merely provided as information to help educate you about the possible reasons for your condition.
One final note, I would love to hear from anyone who reads this and finds success after taking vitamin E supplements. After doing a lot of searching on the web I have not yet found any substantial research on this treatment. Over the years I have passed on the news to other sufferers, many of whom have told me that it worked for them too. If it works for you, please comment!
Tags: Antioxidant, Antiperspirant, Armpit, Axilla, Cyst, Lump, Lymph Gland, Lymph Node, Lymphadenitis, Lymphatic System, Swelling, Vitamin E
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It worked after only 48hrs….Unbelieveable..I was very impressed..I was in severe pain and now tenderness almost 100% gone..
I found this website yesterday and went out to buy Vitamin E.
Today, the cysts in my armpit has gone down, I am very hopeful it will work!
Thanks!
it’s been three days since i started taking Vit E 400 IU, aftter 24 hours of taking it the pain was gone now the lump has completely gone down..thanks very much Caryn Talty!!!
It works!! 800 IU for 3 days. Tenderness and swelling has gone way down. Incredible.
Hello,
I,m having that lump in my armpit and at times it is throbing. I’ve done a cancer marker test to determine wether I have breast cancer but the test showed no sign of it. At the moment I’m taking chinese medication to reduce the lump. I’ll try vitamen E as recommended.
Thank you so much! was in a lot of pain but stumbled upon this site and tried out the vitamin E and its helping. The pain went away the first day and the lump is continuing to disappear. Just take 3 pills a day and it should work for you!
I just came across the article and will go out tommorrow to purchase Vitamin E to see if this works. I’ll repost after I try, can you also email me I have other questions about cyst.
hello. I have one of theses lumps that is always there, and always small and not painful. However, now its big and painful. I am wondering if its from a bad diet as I am living in Brazil right now, and we have been eating out a lot lately. I also wonder if it is from a cold from change of climate. I am going to try out the vitamin E thing and I will let you know.
I have had this lump right on my belt line approximately in the location of your right front pocket for almost two years now. It is not painful or hard, and it is usually about the size of a half a marble at its peak, but each day I can squeeze about a teaspoon of sometimes puss, and other times more watery looking fluid out of it. If I take a hot bath I can almost get rid of it completely, but within a day or two it is about the full size again. I did go to a doctor about 9 months ago and she said it was a cyst or a boil caused by an ingrown hair, which is possible since I do shave down there, and gave me a prescription for infection but it did exactly nothing. So do you know if you can also get these in other locations than the armpits, such as on your waist in the under the belt line location?
I have tried several things on it without any luck, so I hope that vitamin E can help this. Can you also tell me how many IU’s you should be taking a day, since I know that they come on different doses?
Thanks
You may want to try turmeric. Take 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric powder in water three times a day. You may find it disgusting, but after four days or so you might find your problem clearing up. It is great for boils too.
22/09/08 – currently have my 3rd abscess in my right armpit, the minute one goes away i seem to get another.
please please can sum1 confirm this works? thanks
Miss N
I have been getting these cysts off and on for many years. Once I start taking the vitamin E (2-3 pills /400 I.U.) I have been successful in alleviating all the symptoms.
It usually takes about 3 days to see a good response. I also try and take 1 a day after all the symptoms stop for a while to keep my system working. Good luck.
Thank u very much for the quick reply. Im going to go and buy some today.
;o)
Vitamin E has the power of treating Lymphadenitis. Your article is really very good and to the point. Thanks for posting it and relieving people from Lymphadenitis.
Wow, I am so surprised to see that I am not the only person who has lymphadenitis! I have been suffering from these cysts in my armpits since I was a 14, and now I am 25! I’ve always felt like I was plagued! I am embarrased to wear sleeveless tops because I have scars left from those ugly creatures! I am going to try taking Vitamin E. I hope that I will have a success story as well. To the author, thanks for this information. I was doing research, and when I read your article, I found a sense of hope! I am skeptical about alot of things, but I am going to give this a shot! Hopefully, you will be hearing from me again! Thank you and good luck to everyone!
it’s a relieve to know that many experience what i have.. I’m so worried though but my mum says it’s probably due to shaving a little too hard. do u guys think so too? i had this before , it was painful then it went away, then now i have it again, only about 2 inches higher than before, it was painful about 3 days ago, then the pain just went away, but now the lump is still there. should i be worried?
I’m going to try those vitamin e tablets as well.
I went to the doctor yesterday about the painful lump in my arm pit and he diagnosed me with lymphodenitis. He prescribed antibiotics and pain killers. I plan to take your advice and try the vitamin E as well, but was wondering if any of you were prescribed antibiotics. I’m curious as to why none of the above comments mention seeing a doctor about their painful condition. Will antibiotics work? I will continue the antibiotics plus I will begin taking the vitamin E and will let you all know if it works for me.
I’ve had a painful lump in my right armpit that seems to get worse right before menstration. The doctors have put me on 400-1,00 0 mg of Vitamin E per day. I hope it works. I was given antibiotics as well and it went away for about a week, then it came back. My wbc count is normal. We’ll see if this works! (fingers crossed)
I was also given an antibiotic for my lymphangitis, Tetracycline, by my physician. At one stage he even lanced the lumps to culture it. I continued to break out with more lumps and was told to double up on the prescription, this also did not improve the condition. I then was told about the vitamin E solution and I tried it and it was very successful almost immediately. If you choose to take the antibiotic I would only take that to see if that will cure the breakout. If you do not see any results, by all means try the vitamin E. Otherwise you will never know which method has worked for you. Since then any time I have the slightest inkling that it is coming on I immediately start the E and have remained free of future breakouts.
Good luck with what ever you choose.
I am 40, and over the last couple of years have had these lumps about 4 times. Some bouts are worse than others, and usually the left armpit gets the worst of it. During my last bout, about two months ago, I went to the GP who took a blood test to test for diabetes (negative). She felt it was important to establish the cause before recommending antibiotics. We both decided to keep an eye on things for signs of infection. I rode that one out. I am not a popper. It’s too bloody painful to even touch the thing.
And then I came across this article. Bought the Vitamin E immediately. In this instance I had had the lumps (about 15 of them, and some joined. ….Aarrrrggggghhhhhhh) Some really big, and others, really small. It was a week into the ordeal, and I wasn’t going to the GP. So I took the Vitamins. And hey presto, the raging monsters subsided, and I two days on, I didn’t need to stand like a teapot with my hand on my hip.
Thank you for this article. Thank you.
Sorry I forgot to add that I get these monsters when I have just shaved with hair remover or razor.
And I also use Mitchums antiperspirant. My sister also used Mitchums and had her first outbreak a year ago. I didn’t make the connection with antiperspirant then, and now the penny’s dropped.
So does it mean No Shaving and No Antisperspirants?????? Oh my Goodness.
Try not to use antiperspirant the same day you were shaving. It’s the bacteria that make the smell and if there is no hair, there is less good environment for bacteria. So it makes possible to skip antiperspirant for at least one day.
Also, you can try to use antiperspirant every second day. I guess even Mitchum ad says something like “It’s so strong, that you can use it every other day”…
I think this is interesting, because I have just had my first outbreak (which has been lanced, and that helped a little bit, but is still painful) but I was also using Mitchums and had just shaved…my fiancee also shaves and also uses Mitchum solid. just a good for thought.
OMG Monica. Thanks for sharing about your Mitchum’s experience (and your sisters). Maybe a little bit more insight about why I was using Mitchums. I had searched and searched for a good antiperspirant and failed. That was of course until i found Mitchum’s. And to be honest with you, that is when the problem started, though it took my sisters reaction (for her three days after she started using it). And then I found this article, and made the connection to antiperspirant, which was made even more shocking by my sister’s reaction. Are you going to carry on using Mutchums? lol
I don’t know how to thank you. I have never had an abscess or boil in all my 48 yrs. of living. Yet within the last 3 weeks I had these ugly painful bumps popping up under my right armpit for no apparent reason….no change in deodorant , no change in diet. Nothing that I thought could attribute to such a drastic change in my body’s make-up. I desperately researched the possible causes and was completely disillusioned by what I read. And then I stumbled across your recommendation for Vitamin E IU and it’s amazing. They are almost completely gone. No more pain. Nothing. Thanks so much for this forum and spreadig your knowledge with those of us who were desperately seeking a resolution to this problem. Raise the roof Caryn Talty. Sincerely, JoAnn, San Francisco ,Cal
For more than 4 years I’m suffering from a lump under my armpit. Every 6 months get infected and doctors said that is going to be there under infection risk if I don’t remove it. Before 1 month, same story again, the same lump which comes in the size of a rice grain got infected. Didn’t want to go to doctors again and get those antibiotics which upset my stomach and are not a solution as infection keeps repeating itself. Read this article, the only one which gives the right information. Started the E 400 EU and the infection went away and the lump is disappearing and the infection which turned the lump into a egg size monster, is gone.. Thanks again and hope there are other people as lucky as we are, as no Health Clinics can provide this information..a lucky click on this site and solved.
Thanks Caryn
Elvis
Dublin
No I asked my doctor and he said that’s is a scam and 100% untrue. I have a bad infection under my arm and am taking antibotics. Vitamin E did nothing for me so this is a pointless article. He said you body just fought the infection and the Vitamin E did nothing. Just good timing from you guys.
I’m not sure about ‘pointless’ Lance. Sorry it didn’t work for you.
I’m just inclined to believe my doctor is all.
and he told me Vitamin B6 is what you need not Vitamin E
Lance,
B6 has an important role in the body; your doctor is right about that. It helps the body eliminated excess copper, which could benefit the lymphatic system. Vitamin E also works too, and your doctor should have told you that it helps boost the immune system and helps with infection fighting. If you have chronic underarm infections or have infections that cannot be cured without the use of antibiotics, then there is an underlying condition that you need to uncover. Excess B6 in isolation can cause neuropathy (tingling and numbness in hands and feet for example). It needs to be balanced with magnesium and not taken in excess, unless you have a condition called pyroluria.
It is unclear in your post whether or not you took the E prior to or along with your antibiotic. The article clearly states that the E is suggested for folks to try PRIOR to seeing their doctor. In many cases the infection might clear up without the need to treat with an antibiotic or having to get a biopsy or lancing. Folks can certainly have more severe cases that require the antibiotics, and some may even have cancer. Vitamin E is helpful in both situations but not the only cure, obviously.
I certainly hope your doctor explained to you the dangers of repeat antibiotic use and the need for proper diet and probiotic use during and after the antibiotic treatment.
Best of luck in the future with your armpit lumps.
Well then why is everyone on here raving how well it worked for them? I’ll have you know doctors are idiots sometimes and charge bunches of money for a crappy service then ask you to come back for more and more pointless test of which we find out later that we must pay because insurance didn’t cover it. Then not even come to reach a diagnosis or even a prognosis! Anyhow its certainly worth a shot since everyone has given it a good review and you might take both even if they don’t counteract.
Yesterday I had a lump show up in my left armpit. Well, not so much show up, I can see it but I can feel it. It’s about the size of a pea and so painful I hardly got any sleep last night, as I only comfortably sleep on my left side. It doesn’t hurt all the time, only when pressure is applied – from having my arm against my side or raising it above my head. I used a hot compress earlier and that helped for a little while. I’m going to go try some vitamin e and maybe some vitamin c also. Maybe I’m just getting a cold and my glands are swollen. We’ll see. I hope it works.
My name is Maiya and about a year ago i got one of these painful lumps, i soaked in Epsom salts and hoped it would go away, it did, but it took a month. I think our medical professionals are just too quick to slice and dice. A holistic doctor told me two things. 1. that the aluminum in antiperspirant can cause severe reactions, including but not limited to cancer and these painful lumps 2. That an antiperspirant also clogs the pores and makes it impossible for you to eliminate waste in the form of sweat, holding it in to fester.
I started using “Tom’s” alll natural deoderant and everything was fine. People say “Toms” doesn’t work, but that’s because some people skip a day of showering and hope the deoderant will do its work. Because Tom’s is a deoderant and NOT an antiperspirant, you will need to shower every day. One day, my 3 year old found my deoderant in the wee hours of the morning and smashed it all over the walls, “fingerpainting” with it. The Whole Foods Market where i buy such all natural items, was a bit far (about 40 miles) so i went to my local grocery store and bought the latest antiperspirant (Dove brand) and guess what? Four days ago i felt the tiniest little lump in my underarm, two days ago it was just smaller than a ping pong ball and VERY VERY painful.
I read this article about Vitamin E (soaking in salt for a month just seemed like it would take too long) and called my local holistic doctor and said “How much vitamin E do i take?” I was told that he isn’t a doctor (disclaimer, they all have to say that) but the maximum dose a human can take of Vitamin E is 1500 IU’s or 1000mg of Vitamin E. I thought, ok, i’m a bigger girl, i”m going for the max. Last night i took 1500 IUs at around 7pm, this morning at 6:50AM as i write this, the size of the lump is reduced to half as well as the pain. I slept peacefully. I didn’t have any side affects of any kind.
During this treatment, i am keeping my underarm area clean with witchhazel as well. This keeps me from accumulating sweat and possibly causing the cyst to grow, keeps me from stinking because the last thing I want to do is smother the cyst in deoderant. Witch hazel is also great for a number of things, abrasions, fiscors (those tiny cuts you can get on the anus from being constipated), from eating acid food and having a buring, very acidic bowel movement, relief of yeast infection itch, relief of itch/burn/pain associated with tearing or cutting after childbirth). Since witchhazel is safe for the skin and its an astringent of sorts, i use it to clean the area, it will draw moisture out, without drying the skin, it will kill any bacteria in the area and relieve pain and swelling. I have found this to be very helpful in the last 24 hours. I’m sure that as i go about my day without deoderant under this one arm i’m raising a few eyebrows, it can’t smell great (even though i bathe and such), but needs must!
Wow! Thanks for the suggestion! I really wanted to know everything you just went over. thanks! And you’re a genius thinking about witch hazel!
I’ve never had any armpit lumps but there was an article on Yahoo that was talking about the effect of vitamin e on alzheimers. Recent research suggested that the anti-inflamatory nature of it helps slow alzheimers. I did a short post on my blog about it.
So I am confused. Vitamin E does help, but are we all just supposed to cease shaving our armpits to try to prevent them? Since this seams to be the cause?
Monica, the thought has crossed my mind, lol. Please tell me there is another way.
Guys,
I have been getting these lumps on and off … I have noticed that I get these lumps when I drink RED wine excessively … I stop drinking wine…. BINGO there it goes..
OK> My wife got a lump over two weeks ago, and didn’t tell me as I planned a trip all year which she didn’t want to ruin. When I got back she told me about it and said it was the size of a pea. In 1 week, it increase to a marble then a few days later it’s still getting larger, very, very painful. The naturalist said to soak in epson salt with a hot compress. She also said it was an infection. The salt wasn’t working and she said to go to a regular doctor and get an antibiotic. 4 days later, its more painful and now the size of a golf ball. It looks purple and red and is peeling. Ok, a friend from the Phillipines said to take a Chrisanthimum leaves 3 to 4 clean and warm with hands by rubbing together then poke a hole and apply to the lump for 1/2 hour twice daily, it didn’t work either.
I just read this blog and drove to the 24 hour pharmist and picked up some Vitimin E 1000ui. She took it. I’ll update this when we find out more…… I hope this is going to work. Only wish I could take away the pain!
Ok, my wife took the Vitimin E at about 1:00 a.m. this morning and just about 10 hours later the lump started leaking puss Yellow/Green- sorry, its the facts. She took another 1000 iu of E at noon and will take another tomorrow morning.
She says the pain has not gone down, (ok from 1-10 last night it was a 9) and this afternoon it is a 7.5.
I’m guessing the Vitimin E is working! Thank you so much! I did not know what else to do.
I was wondering if it is a problem geographically or environmentally? Before this I never heard of such a problem.
I have been getting lumps like this in my arm pits and groin area for the past couple years and they have made me very self conscious. Shaving in these areas definitely makes these worse. Mitchem deodorant makes them terrible! But i am starting to think that any antipersperent would do this. I have never tried vitamin e but plan on going to buy some first thing tomorrow. I am sick of feeling plagued by these painful and ugly cysts!!!
Hi Caryn!
I was suffering from sore/tenderness/swelling of my lymph nodes around my armpits, the back of my head, and at the back of neck. In late October, I went into the ER because I had a boil under my left armpit. It was huge and painful! A surgeon had to cut it open and drain it. The proceedure was quite painful even though he had administered me some numbing medicine. It was worth it though because the pain had stopped and I was able to freely move my left arm again. After all of that, he prescribed me with an antibiotic called Septra DS and some Lortab. Within 7 days of taking that antibiotic, I developed an allergic reaction to it. So now I have a new allergy and that is to not take any antibiotics within the Sulfa drug family.
So on down the road a new developement occurred. The nodes under my armpits, at my neck, and at the back of my head started to become sore, tender, and swollen. At my appt (Nov 23, 2009), I’ve discussed this with my doctor and he said it could have occurred because I’ve stopped taking my antibiotics and that the infection was still present. So he prescribed me with another antibiotic called Levaquin. I could not get it filled because I did not have the money to at the moment. The darn thing came out to be $100.29. Which is expensive to me due to the fact that my hours are being cut at my job. So paying a $100.00 for a prescription is quite a sacrifice for me…lol!
I was on the internet a few days ago looking for a remedy for sore/tender/swollen lymph nodes and that’s when I came across your article. I took your advice on try taking Vitamin E and let me say it works! It so happened I had some Vitamin E supplements on hand, I took them, 3 times a day, for 2 days. I’m feeling a lot better than before and I just wanted to thank you for sharing this article with us. Its people like you Caryn, that don’t make the world seem like a bad place. You are a true God send and a life saver!
In the last six months I have had three of these painful lumps. The first two were really small and went away on their own within a few days. However, the third one I just received this week. The pain peaked the other night at 3 am, when it woke me up. I found this website and decided to try the Vitamin E in the morning. I took 800 IU at about 10 am and didn’t really notice a decrease in pain as the day went on. I should say, my lump was pretty large so I expected it would take some time to see results. I went to bed without much improvement in my condition. When I got up at 6 am, I noticed it finally came to a head and began draining.
I want to attribute the Vitamin E, but part of me also thinks the same result would have happened without it as I took it right as the pain was peaking. If I sense another lump developing in the future, I will take the Vit E immediately to see if it prevents it from fully forming. That said, I am not sure the Vitamin E relieved my symptoms, but it certainly didn’t make the situation worse.
I have one marble-size lump on my left hip and two about the same size on the right hip. They seem to be I received injections over the years. They don’t hurt, but they itch badly and the skin is very dry directly over the bump. Do you think Vit E would help that? I’ve tried many different lotions, hydrocortisone, etc., to no avail. My doctor says they’re nothing to worry about, and while I won’t “worry”, the itching is driving me crazy!
Hi there, I’ve started getting these abscesses for the last 6 months, i’ve had about 4 so far on my left armpit, i was told to take flucloxacillin antibiotics but the abscess kept on coming back. A month ago i got surgery on it but the doctor didn’t remove it properly so its still here and once the wound dries up it swells up again because of the pus and drains again!
Do you reckon these tablets will make it go away?
Cheers