What if you have two lumps under your armpit and they hurt?

Possible Causes:

- Swollen lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small glands that trap bacteria and viruses, among other things, that cause infection. Swollen lymph nodes can be a sign of an infection, such as a cold, flu, or sore throat.

- Skin infection, such as boil, abscess, cellulitis.

- Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). It's a chronic inflammatory skin condition, in which inflamed, tender bumps develop under the arms and other skin folds.

- Breast-related conditions. These includes fibroadenoma, cysts or breast cancer spreading (rare)

- Lipoma. Benign (noncancerous) fatty tumors that feel soft to the touch and move easily.

- Rarely, lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic tissue)

Recommendation:

If you have two lumps under your armpit that hurt, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. The doctor will likely perform a physical examination, order blood tests, and possible imaging tests to diagnose the cause of your lumps. Treatment will depend on the specific underlying cause. In some cases, simple observation or home remedies may be sufficient, while in other cases, more aggressive treatments may be necessary.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if:

- Your lumps are larger than 2 centimeters(about 1 inch) in diameter.

- Lumps are hard or fixed.

- Your have other bothersome symptoms, such as night sweats, fever, unexplained weight loss, or skin changes.

- Your lumps are not improving after several days of home treatment.