Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMastitisDry SkinDermatitisYeast InfectionPsoriasisHeat RashHormonesSurgeryRadiationBreast Cancer
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Mastitis
Dry Skin
Dermatitis
Yeast Infection
Psoriasis
Heat Rash
Hormones
Surgery
Radiation
Breast Cancer
Itchy breasts are not uncommon and are usually a symptom of noncancerous conditions like dry skin or minor infections. However, there are some serious causes, includinginflammatory breast cancer(IBC) andPaget’s disease—two rare forms of breast cancer.
If you have itchy breasts, it can be distracting and uncomfortable, and your scratching can lead to bleeding or other complications. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment to relieve your symptoms.
Read on to find out the different causes of itchy breasts, and how to treat them.
Verywell / JR Bee
Mastitis is a breast infection that most commonly affects people who are breastfeeding, but people with breasts who are not nursing can develop it as well. It may cause a fever, breast pain, skin discoloration (a change in skin tone), warmth, and itching. You may also have a generalized feeling of being sick if you have mastitis.
It is treated with antibiotics, and if your symptoms do not begin to improve within a week, further tests may be done to look for a different cause.
Rash on Breast: Stress, Hormones, or Something Else?
Dry skinis very common and can occur if you are dehydrated or as a result of cold weather. You may also just be prone to dry skin. Usually, when dry skin causes itchy breasts, the skin in other areas of the body is dry oritchytoo.
Atopic dermatitis,which is the most common type ofeczema, is a skin condition that usually occurs without a trigger. People with asthma or hay fever may also have atopic dermatitis.
The skin underneath and on the sides of the breasts can become moist, allowing an overgrowth of yeast that can cause itching.
You might find relief with over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal creams, or your healthcare provider can prescribe a prescription-strength antifungal medication.
To prevent yeast growth under the breasts, it helps to wear bras that are made of a breathable fabric, like cotton. Wearing a comfortable and supportive bra, even during sleep, can prevent skinfolds from trapping sweat and moisture.
After showering, make sure that the area under your breasts is completely dry before putting on a bra. If you work out, be sure to select an athletic bra that’s made of fabric that keeps sweat and moisture away from the skin, and change promptly after your session.
Psoriasisis a skin condition that causes flaky scales on the skin. It can occur anywhere on the body, including the breasts. However, the breasts are not the most common location of the psoriasis patches. Psoriasis can be treated with phototherapy (light therapy) or topical medications.
Aheat rashcan result from extreme heat exposure, very heavy or tight clothes, and sweating. Some people develop a heat rash that affects the whole body, and it may resolve on its own, or it can be treated with drying powders.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes that increase the size of the breasts can cause painful or itchy breasts. This includes conditions such as puberty, pregnancy, or premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Pregnancy-induced eczema is the most common reason for itchiness of the breasts and other body partsduring pregnancy. Up to 80% of women who experience eczema while expecting had no symptoms before becoming pregnant.You should be able to treat the itching withemollient-rich moisturizers.
Why Does Menopause Cause Itchy Breasts?
Postsurgical Reaction
If you have had recent breast surgery, itching can be a normal part of the healing process. Also, because it stretches the skin to accommodate implants,breast augmentation surgerycan cause itchiness.
Most people find that the itching goes away within a few months after surgery. If itchiness is persistent and intolerable, you should consult your surgeon or your primary care provider.
Radiation Treatments
If your breasts are being treated with radiation therapy, you may experience itching as a side effect. This usually happens along with other sunburn-like side effects such as skin discoloration, burning, soreness, and peeling.These side effects tend to occur gradually over the course of the treatment. You may only experience some of them and on only certain parts of your breast.
Itchy Breasts and Breast Cancer
Lumpsaren’t the only potential symptom of breast cancer. Itchiness, as well as other skin changes, can signal two rare types of breast cancer: inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and Paget’s disease.
IBC accounts for 2% to 4% of breast cancer cases in the United States. It spreads rapidly and often isn’t recognized until it reaches an advanced stage.
Additional signs and symptoms of IBC include:
Paget’s disease is responsible for 1% to 4% of breast cancer cases. The symptoms are easily confused with eczema or other causes of skin irritation.
Paget’s disease symptoms include:
Summary
Itchy breasts can occur for various reasons and rarely indicate breast cancer. Mastitis, hormonal changes, yeast infections, dermatitis, and nursing are all noncancerous causes of itchy breasts. Cancers that are known to cause itchy breasts include IBC and Paget’s disease.
Taking care of your breasts is important. Talk with your healthcare provider about changes in your breasts or the skin around them. Even if the condition isn’t dangerous, you may need treatment. And getting relief from your discomfort is important.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Laas E, Touboul C, Kerdraon O, Catteau-jonard S.[Inflammatory and infectious breast mastitis outside of pregnancy and lactation: Guidelines].J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 2015;44(10):996-1016. doi:10.1016/j.jgyn.2015.09.055National Institute of Health.Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis).WIC Breastfeeding Support.Plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush.National Institutes of Health.Psoriasis Types.Laageide L, Radke S, Santillan D, Ten Eyck P, Powers J.Postpartum nipple symptoms: Risk factors and dermatologic characterization.Breastfeed Med. 2021;16(3):215-221. doi:10.1089/bfm.2020.0030Himeles JR, Pomeranz MK.Recognizing, diagnosing, and managing pregnancy dermatoses.Obstet Gynecol. 2022;140(4):679-695. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004938Lapen K, King C, Braunstein LZ, et al.A comparison of patient- and clinician-reported acute toxic effects during radiation therapy for primary breast cancer.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2022;114(2):301-309. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.05.041Lim B, Woodward W, Wang X, Reuben JM, Ueno NT.Inflammatory breast cancer biology: the tumor microenvironment is key.Nature Reviews Cancer. 2018;18:485-499. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-018-0010-yWong G, Drost L, Yee C, et al.Are we properly diagnosing and treating Paget’s disease of the breast? A case series.Journal of Pain Management.2019;12(2):169-172.Additional ReadingKontoes P, Gounnaris G.Complications of Fat Transfer for Breast Augmentation.Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2017 Oct;41(5):1078-1082. doi: 10.1007/s00266-017-0911-2. Epub 2017 Jun 22.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Laas E, Touboul C, Kerdraon O, Catteau-jonard S.[Inflammatory and infectious breast mastitis outside of pregnancy and lactation: Guidelines].J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 2015;44(10):996-1016. doi:10.1016/j.jgyn.2015.09.055National Institute of Health.Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis).WIC Breastfeeding Support.Plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush.National Institutes of Health.Psoriasis Types.Laageide L, Radke S, Santillan D, Ten Eyck P, Powers J.Postpartum nipple symptoms: Risk factors and dermatologic characterization.Breastfeed Med. 2021;16(3):215-221. doi:10.1089/bfm.2020.0030Himeles JR, Pomeranz MK.Recognizing, diagnosing, and managing pregnancy dermatoses.Obstet Gynecol. 2022;140(4):679-695. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004938Lapen K, King C, Braunstein LZ, et al.A comparison of patient- and clinician-reported acute toxic effects during radiation therapy for primary breast cancer.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2022;114(2):301-309. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.05.041Lim B, Woodward W, Wang X, Reuben JM, Ueno NT.Inflammatory breast cancer biology: the tumor microenvironment is key.Nature Reviews Cancer. 2018;18:485-499. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-018-0010-yWong G, Drost L, Yee C, et al.Are we properly diagnosing and treating Paget’s disease of the breast? A case series.Journal of Pain Management.2019;12(2):169-172.Additional ReadingKontoes P, Gounnaris G.Complications of Fat Transfer for Breast Augmentation.Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2017 Oct;41(5):1078-1082. doi: 10.1007/s00266-017-0911-2. Epub 2017 Jun 22.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Laas E, Touboul C, Kerdraon O, Catteau-jonard S.[Inflammatory and infectious breast mastitis outside of pregnancy and lactation: Guidelines].J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 2015;44(10):996-1016. doi:10.1016/j.jgyn.2015.09.055National Institute of Health.Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis).WIC Breastfeeding Support.Plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush.National Institutes of Health.Psoriasis Types.Laageide L, Radke S, Santillan D, Ten Eyck P, Powers J.Postpartum nipple symptoms: Risk factors and dermatologic characterization.Breastfeed Med. 2021;16(3):215-221. doi:10.1089/bfm.2020.0030Himeles JR, Pomeranz MK.Recognizing, diagnosing, and managing pregnancy dermatoses.Obstet Gynecol. 2022;140(4):679-695. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004938Lapen K, King C, Braunstein LZ, et al.A comparison of patient- and clinician-reported acute toxic effects during radiation therapy for primary breast cancer.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2022;114(2):301-309. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.05.041Lim B, Woodward W, Wang X, Reuben JM, Ueno NT.Inflammatory breast cancer biology: the tumor microenvironment is key.Nature Reviews Cancer. 2018;18:485-499. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-018-0010-yWong G, Drost L, Yee C, et al.Are we properly diagnosing and treating Paget’s disease of the breast? A case series.Journal of Pain Management.2019;12(2):169-172.
Laas E, Touboul C, Kerdraon O, Catteau-jonard S.[Inflammatory and infectious breast mastitis outside of pregnancy and lactation: Guidelines].J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 2015;44(10):996-1016. doi:10.1016/j.jgyn.2015.09.055
National Institute of Health.Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis).
WIC Breastfeeding Support.Plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush.
National Institutes of Health.Psoriasis Types.
Laageide L, Radke S, Santillan D, Ten Eyck P, Powers J.Postpartum nipple symptoms: Risk factors and dermatologic characterization.Breastfeed Med. 2021;16(3):215-221. doi:10.1089/bfm.2020.0030
Himeles JR, Pomeranz MK.Recognizing, diagnosing, and managing pregnancy dermatoses.Obstet Gynecol. 2022;140(4):679-695. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004938
Lapen K, King C, Braunstein LZ, et al.A comparison of patient- and clinician-reported acute toxic effects during radiation therapy for primary breast cancer.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2022;114(2):301-309. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.05.041
Lim B, Woodward W, Wang X, Reuben JM, Ueno NT.Inflammatory breast cancer biology: the tumor microenvironment is key.Nature Reviews Cancer. 2018;18:485-499. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-018-0010-y
Wong G, Drost L, Yee C, et al.Are we properly diagnosing and treating Paget’s disease of the breast? A case series.Journal of Pain Management.2019;12(2):169-172.
Kontoes P, Gounnaris G.Complications of Fat Transfer for Breast Augmentation.Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2017 Oct;41(5):1078-1082. doi: 10.1007/s00266-017-0911-2. Epub 2017 Jun 22.
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