Results for: Adult :: Male :: Armpit
The pictures below demonstrate conditions that can affect the armpit in adults. Because the skin of the armpit is folded over on itself and has a high number of sweat glands, it is unique to other areas of the body. This can lead to infections such as folliculitis, an infection of hair follicles, which may require antibiotics or drainage of an abscess. Rashes under the armpit are often caused by deodorants or detergents and lead to a condition known as irritant contact dermatitis or allergic contact dermatitis. Sometimes the skin of the armpit can darken, known as acanthosis nigrans, which is a darkening to the skin that occurs most often in obese people but can be due to some medications (eg, steroids). Erythrasma is another condition that darkens the skin, and it is caused by bacteria, most often in those who are obese or have diabetes.
Abscess
An abscess is an infection characterized by a collection of pus underneath a portion of the skin. Bacteria commonly causing abscesses are
Staphylococcus aureus and
Streptococcus. These bacteria…
Acanthosis Nigricans
Acanthosis nigricans is a condition characterized by abnormal thickening and darkening of the skin, especially in body creases. It is most commonly associated with obesity or polycystic ovarian disease in…
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction (the reaction to the allergen occurs 48–72 hours after exposure). The most common allergens causing allergic contact dermatitis…
Boils (Furunculosis)
Boils (furuncles) are painful pus-filled bumps on the skin resulting from the deep infection of a hair follicle. The infection is usually caused by a type of bacteria called
Staphylococcus aureus (staph).
Erythrasma
Erythrasma is a common chronic skin condition affecting the skin folds. The slowly enlarging patches of pink to brown dry skin are caused by an infection by the bacterium
Corynebacterium minutissimum.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic condition of the sweat glands. The sweat glands become clogged due to a variety of reasons, leading to enlargement (dilatation) of the ducts behind them. This dilatation…
Intertrigo
Intertrigo is irritation of touching skin surfaces in body fold regions (armpits, under the breasts, belly, buttocks, groin, and sometimes between fingers or toes). Intertrigo can be worsened by any conditions…
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
Irritant contact dermatitis is an inflammatory rash caused by direct chemical injury to the skin. Unlike allergic contact dermatitis, which appears 48–72 hours after exposure to an allergen, the symptoms…
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a noncontagious, lifelong skin condition that affects about 2–3% of the population of the United States. People with psoriasis have thickened, red, and often scaly patches on their skin.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a skin condition caused by an inflammation of one or more hair follicles in a limited area. It typically occurs in areas of irritation, such as sites of shaving, skin friction, or rubbing from…
Melanoma
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United Sates, and it is the sixth most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Melanoma is the least common of the skin cancers (the other types are squamous…
Mole (Nevus)
A mole (nevus) is a non-cancerous (benign) skin lesion that is made up of the color-producing (pigment-producing) cells of the skin (melanocytes). A mole that is present at birth is referred to as a congenital…
Mole, Atypical (Atypical Nevus)
Atypical moles (atypical nevi) or dysplastic moles (dysplastic nevi), are caused by collections of the color-producing (pigment-producing) cells of the skin (melanocytes) in which the cells grow in an abnormal…
Ringworm (Tinea Corporis)
Tinea infections are commonly called ringworm because some may form a ring-like pattern on affected areas of the body. Tinea corporis, also known as ringworm of the body, tinea circinata, or simply ringworm, is a…
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as seborrhea, is a common non-contagious condition of skin areas rich in oil glands (the face, scalp, and upper trunk). Seborrheic dermatitis is marked by flaking…
Skin Tag (Acrochordon)
A skin tag (acrochordon) is a common, possibly inherited condition that manifests as small, flesh-colored growths on a thin stalk. Skin tags are benign lesions that can sometimes become irritated or traumatized.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a disease where the immune system turns against itself (autoimmune disease) where immune cells of the body attack the color-producing (pigment-producing) cells to cause white patches on the skin…
Yeast Infection (Candidiasis)
Candidiasis, commonly known as a yeast infection, is an infection with the common yeast (or fungus) organism,
Candida albicans, which is commonly found in the environment. Sometimes this yeast lives in…
