Question

What are the causes of Breast Itching

Dr.U.K.Pallavi · Accepted Answer

Itching is also known as pruritus. It is a condition which causes irritating sensation and is usually uncontrollable that makes us scratch it to have some relief from it.

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Itchy breast is quite common and usually occurs due to increase in the size of the breast which directly relates to weight gain. It can also be due to some allergies, skin infection or dry skin. Most commonly this itching will resolve on its own or by some home remedies and doesn't require any prescription from a doctor.

But in some cases there is a possibility of having itchiness followed by problems (symptoms) such as swelling, redness, pain, discharge of nipple etc. These symptoms are the same as the symptoms of cancer, so if any of these symptoms (problem) occurs consult a doctor immediately.

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If breast itching is very intense or is from several weeks or doesn't improve with home remedies, consulting a doctor is important to find out (identify) the reason/cause of the itching so that proper treatment can be given on time and stop the problem from getting severe.

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Breast itching can be caused by several reasons, some of the causes are as follows -

Increase in size of breast - the size of breast can get increased during pregnancy, due to puberty or due to gain in body weight which may cause itching.

Increasing size of breast during the time of pregnancy is very common which occurs due to the formation of hormones that prepares mothers for breastfeeding. ;

Increase in size due to puberty is normal and is caused due to change in hormones. Weight gain results in increased size of breast because of the accumulation of the fat tissues in that area.

Increase in breast size is normal and natural, itching caused by it usually resolves with time without any treatment. But if the cause of itchiness is weight gain, you should start exercising and have to get physically active to prevent the itchiness by preventing further increase in size.

Dryness - dry skin can lead to itchiness which is due to skin growth, exposure to sun, hot baths or from the use of skin products which may cause skin irritation. In this condition it is best to avoid the situation that triggers dry skin. Use of moisturizers helps in stimulating skin regrowth. Use of creams can help in improving the appearance of skin and reduce itchiness.

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Skin diseases - itching is a common and usual symptom of many types of skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema etc. Itching may be accompanied by redness, swelling, scaling wounds, blistering etc. It can also affect other body parts such as arms, knees, legs, back etc. If any of these problems persists, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist for identifying the cause and have a treatment for it.

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Infection- itching beneath and between the breasts is mostly caused due to fungal infection (candida sp. Fungus). This fungus is present in our body which forms naturally, but it overgrows if the immune system of the person is weak. Redness, peeling, burning and wounds can also be noticed on the infected portion of skin.

Women with large breasts are more likely to have itchy breasts due to fungal infections as moisture from sweat can lead to growth and development of fungus. If a breastfeeding baby has oral thrush (fungal infection in mouth) it can be transmitted to the mother's nipple which may cause infection.

Not only fungus causes infection, bacteria too cause infections. Breast itchiness can arise from bacteria which might be present in bra (just an example).

For the treatment of these infections one must consult a doctor. Normally doctors prescribe some creams and ointments to apply which contain antibiotics or antifungals. To be safe from infection caused by bacteria you should change your bra regularly, if not regularly then at least once in 2 day. Special attention to hygiene should be given around breasts because sweat in this area may stimulate the growth of microorganisms.

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Medicine - itchiness can be caused because of the side effects of some medicines such as blood pressure medicine, aspirin etc. If you suspect this, consult your doctor about this who may prescribe you a lower dosage medicine or any substitute for it.

Menopause - during the time of menopause one experiences change in hormones which may lead to thinning of the skin on the boobs, that, in turn can make the area itchy. ;

Paget's disease - occurrence of paget's disease in breasts is not common. In most cases women above the age of 50 suffer from paget's disease in the breast. Its symptoms are itchiness in the breast and nipple, burning, nipple changes etc. In some serious cases skin change around the areola and ulceration of the nipple can be noticed. Diagnosis and treatment for this should be done immediately to avoid any other mild or severe complications.

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Breast cancer - in some cases, itchiness of the breast can be a symptom of cancer, especially if itchiness is accompanied with symptoms such as redness, discharge of nipple, cutaneous rupture etc. If you have these symptoms consult an oncologist as soon as possible because if it is a breast cancer immediate treatment is required or it may create some serious life issues.

Conclusion - if you have itchiness in your breast you must have a treatment for it because itchiness causes irritation and discomfort. All the causes are explained above and treatment can be given accordingly to get rid of it. We hope that this article was helpful to you. Thank you for giving your valuable time. ;

Stay fit stay healthy!

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