Armpit rashes can be a bother! And most often, we don’t realize that they are there unless they get all red and bumpy.
Now, armpits are caused by several different things. And because the causes vary, the treatments differ. The duration also varies a lot. While some may last for just a few hours, others can be there for months.
Fortunately, most rashes can be treated by ointments available over-the-counter and home remedies. But make sure you know the reason which caused the rash before you start with the treatment. That way, you can also make sure that it doesn’t occur again in future.
Types and their Causes
Most often, a painful rash under the armpit occurs because of some allergy. They may be eczema, ringworms, shingles, a staph infection, or hidradenitis suppurativa. A bacterial infection may also cause them in the lymph nodes.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
This is caused by sebum overproduction. It appears as oily patches of scales or flakes. A kind of seborrheic dermatitis occurs in infants. It usually occurs on the ears, scalp, armpits, and face.
Atopic Dermatitis
This is commonly known as eczema and mostly starts during childhood. The playground of this particular rash is in the fold of the skin. There’s usually a crust over the itchy and red rash.
Candida
Candidiasis or Candida is basically yeast or fungus infection. Unlike eczema, it occurs on areas of the skin that are frequently moist, such as the armpits.
Common effects of this are swelling, scaling, itching and red rashes. This condition worsens during hot and humid weather. On top of that, if you wear tight clothes, then may God help you!
Hygiene also matters a lot. Make sure not to use steroid creams on fungal infections. Antifungal creams serve best for these.
Contact Dermatitis
As the name suggests, this occurs when an irritant or allergen comes into contact with you. Deodorant smells can often lead to this condition, as do shirt fabric or a new detergent for laundry.
Treatments for Armpit Rashes
The most important task for treating your armpit rash is to figure out what’s causing it in the first place. Most common crashes are caused by skincare products, chemicals in the soap you use, or laundry detergent.
Once you figure out the cause, if you stop using it, then the rash goes too. You can soothe the itch with moisturizing lotions (if the rash is dry), oatmeal baths, or by applying a cold compress to the area.
Make sure you don’t touch the area or scratch it. Sometimes rashes may also occur due to stress. In that case, relaxing goes a long way in getting rid of it.
Some Common Home Remedies
1. Oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal helps treat the irritation and itchiness of an underarm rash. What it does is normalize the pH levels of our skins and adds moisture to them.
A scientific review got published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology in 2012.
According to that, oatmeal’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-irritant properties
Take 1-2 cups of oatmeal (finely grounded) and add it to warm water. Make sure you mix it well. You may also add some lavender as it has antibacterial properties. Soak your armpits in this mixture once daily for 20-minutes. Rinse and pat the area dry.
2. Cold Compress
Cold compresses often help in taking care of the burning or itching sensation caused by an armpit rash. They are most effective for heat rashes and make sure blisters don’t form in the region.
Soak a clean piece of cloth in cold water and apply it to the affected area. You may also wrap some ice cubes in a piece of cloth and apply it. Do this throughout the day.
3. Aloe Vera
This works wonders in soothing skin. Create a paste with coconut oil and apply it to the affected area twice or thrice daily. Rinse it off after 20minutes. You may also use a mixture of aloe vera and turmeric powder.
4. Olive Oil
Olive oil has antioxidant properties, and this helps alleviate the itchy sensations. Apply it directly on the rash using cotton thrice daily. You may also use honey or turmeric powder to make a paste.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
This has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Dilute it before applying it; otherwise, the acid in it may increase irritation. Apply it thrice daily and make sure to rinse it off after 5-10minutes.
6. Tea Tree Oil
The antimicrobial, antifungal and antiseptic properties of tea tree oil make this a very effective cure in most cases of armpit rashes.
In fact, tea tree oil can be used to treat most skin conditions and not just rashes. Make a mixture of olive oil and 5-6 drops of tea tree oil and apply it directly to the affected area.
But before applying, make sure the area is cleaned properly and completely dry. Rinse it off after 10 minutes with cool water. Do this twice or thrice daily.
Tips to Maintain Hygiene in the Underarms
Armpit rashes can be very uncomfortable and painful because of the inflamed skin and the itchiness, or it may cause pain under the armpit.
In severe cases, the rash may develop into blisters oozing foul-smelling fluid. Here are a few tips to prevent underarm rashes from occurring:
- Maintaining good hygiene goes a long way in preventing rashes from occurring. Take regular baths and showers, and clean your underarms properly. Air-dry them instead of using a towel.
- Don’t make use of detergents, skin care products, and deodorants that contain too much perfumes or harsh chemicals.
- Avoid wearing tight clothes so that your underarms have enough breathing space for the sweat to escape.
- After shaving your armpits, apply some aloe vera gel to the region. This helps moisturize the area, as dryness may lead to a rash.
- Stay cool.
