Blocked Sweat Gland Armpit Treatment May 2026

This article provides a medical overview of why blockages occur and the full spectrum of treatments, from home care to advanced surgical intervention. To understand treatment, you must understand the mechanism. Unlike the tiny eccrine glands that cool you down, apocrine glands in the armpit secrete a thicker fluid into the hair follicle. In HS, the follicle becomes clogged with keratin (skin protein) and sweat.

A surgeon numbs the armpit, uses a scalpel to remove the "roof" of the tunnel (the skin covering the blocked gland tract), leaving the floor intact. This converts a deep tunnel into a shallow, open wound that heals flat in 4-8 weeks. Recurrence rate: ~15%. blocked sweat gland armpit treatment

HS occurs when sweat glands (specifically apocrine glands) and hair follicles become blocked, leading to inflammation, infection, and scarring. While the armpit is the most common location (followed by the groin and under the breasts), treating this condition is notoriously difficult because it is not a standard infection—it is an auto-inflammatory disorder. This article provides a medical overview of why