Some of the causes of itchy breast are eczema, psoriasis, yeast infection, hormone medication, periods, pregnancy and extreme rare case, itchy breasts can be a sign of cancer.
Itchy breasts can sometimes make you so irritated that you can’t control to scratch. Of course, there can be a reason that your breasts are itchy due to some cause that you don’t even want to know and with time it will even go away. But sometimes there can be some other reasons too which you might be ignoring for now that later on that can come out as something serious. It’s usually no big deal, if you have an itch on your hand, you scratch it and same for your legs. But you can’t just scratch your breasts in public.
Breast itchiness is normal and being irritated to the point where you’d have to see a doctor isn’t also unheard. Itchy breasts are not so common that you face the issue each day. It can be a sign that something’s up. Here are the 7 most common reasons why your breasts might be itchy and when should you see a doctor.
7 Causes of Itchy Breast Everyone Should Know
Eczema
Eczema is a type of chronic skin condition that can lead to dry, itchy inflammation which can be seen as a red rash. If you’ve had breast itchiness for quite a time now and you can’t find the reason why, eczema could be one reason then. You can visit a dermatologist as soon as the problem proceeds. He might prescribe you steroid creams which can be applied topically. You should avoid irritating fragrances in your products likes shower gels and lotions.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes skin cells to grow up and your skin can become dry and scaly. Unlike eczema, this problem can grow up or under your breasts. You can try keeping your skin hydrated. You can also treat this condition with a topical steroid. Bath and skin care products with fragrance can sometimes flare-up the problem.
Yeast infection
Yeast infections are probably associated with your vagina, but they’re also quite common under your breasts. Moisture can sometimes get trapped under the folds creating an environment that’s suitable for the yeast to grow and spread, which can make your skin all itchy, red and sometimes have blisters. To treat it, you’ll have to make sure the skin folds, the area under your breasts are dry and clean. You will have to treat them with non steroidal crèmes since steroids in the long run will nourish the problem rather than destroying it from the roots.
Hormone medication
Breast itchiness and tenderness can sometimes be side effects of certain hormone medications, such as oral contraceptives. The Birth control pills contain the hormones estrogens and progesterone which are reproductive hormones which can lead to the problem. Try switching to other birth control methods like IUD’s and condoms.
Periods
Hormone levels for estrogens and progesterone changes throughout the month, creating all sorts of changes in your body and your brain too. Estrogen and progesterone can increase the size and number of ducts and milk glands in your breasts which can lead to swollen breasts. A few days before you get your periods your both breasts can swell and become tender and itchy. You may feel itchy but won’t be able to see any cause like redness or dryness. This should go away as soon as your period ends.
Pregnancy
When you first get pregnant your body goes through a lot of hormonal changes. Hormones prepare your body to sustain a pregnancy. In the first few weeks of pregnancy you might feel swollen and itchy breasts sometimes the skin can become dry too as it stretches out. There’s nothing to worry about it as its common during the early pregnancy. Try applying certain breast creams and stay hydrated to get relief. You can also use breast pads to prevent nipple chaffing.
Extreme rare case, itchy breasts can be a sign of cancer.
If you have itchiness on your breasts, in rarest of rare cases only it can be a primary sign associated with inflammatory breast cancer which is a rare but dangerous form of the disease that invades into your skin’s dermis the layer of skin which comes under your epidermis which is the outer layer of skin. Inflammatory breast cancer also usually has other major symptoms like a red rash, orange-peel textured skin, inflamed skin that feels hot to touch and certain cysts or hard lumps under the skin which can or cannot be painful.
It can sometimes also be Paget disease of the breast which is basically another rare form of breast cancer where cancer cells go through the milk ducts and collect in or around the nipple. Paget’s disease can also make the skin around your nipple scaly or flaky. It may also produce bloody nipple discharge sometimes if the problem exceeds.
If this is the case you should immediately visit your doctor before it’s late.
If you have itchy breasts it’s quite certain that it may be probably due to something harmless. But if it continuous and doesn’t go by treating topically and has other symptoms too it’s better you see a doctor and discuss your problems.
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6907086/
