The Common Treatments of Underarm Warts

Soft fibroids, known as underarm warts, are benign, non-contagious growths, and treatment is mainly for cosmetic reasons. Find out more about the available therapeutic options in this article.

Written and verified by the dermatologist Maria del Carmen Hernandez.

Last update: 26 May, 2022

Soft fibroids in the underarm are often confused with warts. However, the latter are actually caused by papillomavirus and thus, are contagious. You must take this into account when you have warts in your armpits as they’ll quickly spread if you happen to cut and touch them.

The aforementioned soft fibroids aren’t serious but many people want to remove them anyway. There are different ways to do so. Continue reading to find out more about them as we’re about to discuss various forms of treatment for these lesions.

How do fibroids appear on the skin?

Fibroids are common benign skin protuberances and they usually appear in the groin, armpits, inframammary folds, eyelids, and neck areas. They’re usually asymptomatic but may cause discomfort when caught in the collar of a shirt or a necklace.

We refer to soft fibroids as filiform when there are many small ones. These lesions have a pedicle of the same color as the skin and tend to be hyperpigmented — darker.

Single ones are large and can measure up to two inches or more. They have many folds and appear on the trunk of the body. They sometimes swell after trauma and may cause discomfort and bleed, which is sufficient reason to remove them.

Some people are prone to underarm warts

We don’t know the cause of these skin manifestations as of yet. However, they’re more frequent in people with a genetic predisposition. For instance, in those over the age of 30 and/or with a high body mass index (BMI).
Hormonal factors are important because they often arise or grow in pregnant women and people with acromegaly. This is a systemic disorder linked to gigantism. Furthermore, underarm warts are more common in men than in women.

There are times when they’re a sign of some underlying condition such as insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Thus, a doctor must do a thorough check-up so as to rule out possible causes after removing them.

Diagnosis

Proper diagnosis by a dermatologist is important because other skin lesions are similar. These professionals should be able to distinguish between soft tissue tumors, intradermal nevi, neurofibromas, and basal cell carcinomas.

As you can see, underarm soft fibromas or warts are easy to diagnose at the health center. A medical professional can easily classify them by examining the lesion and asking the right questions.

These lesions will turn blackish if you compress their base, as the irrigating artery is there. Any color change requires a more detailed analysis with a biopsy.

What do we do with warts in the armpits?

A specialist can treat fibroids with various methods. As mentioned above, these aren’t true warts caused by HPV, so you shouldn’t try to remove them at home. Also, don’t use the anti-wart liquids sold in pharmacies or other popular medications such as caustics or irritants.

These methods can cause infection, bleeding, and leave unwanted scars. This is why it’s important to have a physician check the lesions prior to removal. A wart removed by a doctor should form a crust and then spontaneously fall off, leaving a reddish discoloration that’ll fade over time.

Find out how to Treat and Prevent Warts Through Your Diet

Treatment alternatives for underarm warts

Some treatments that’ll quickly eliminate this kind of lesion are:

• Cutting them with surgical scissors or a scalpel. The cut is flush with the skin. Also, it may or may not require stitches, depending on the size of the pedicle.
• Electrocoagulation by means of an electric current burns the most superficial layers of the skin. This heating method helps prevent bleeding.
• Also, cryotherapy is a liquid freezing method by means of an aerosol placed on the lesion that forms a blister that’ll fall off by itself after it turns into a scab.
• Emitted high-energy light, a laser, helps the blood vessels coagulate, without causing damage to the surrounding tissue.

Always consult a specialist if you have underarm warts

Finally, the presence of underarm warts is always a cosmetic nuisance. The lesion isn’t malignant and so many people think they can remove them at home. Thus, always consult a dermatologist for appropriate treatment. This is because this kind of medical professional should know the best method for your skin and the condition of the lesion in the armpit.