Why does itchy breasts? What does this symptom signal? Itching of the mammary glands, sometimes turning into a burning sensation of the skin , is an extremely uncomfortable sensation that is very annoying and annoying. The causes of this ailment are many. Very often, a similar problem occurs in women bearing a baby; breastfeeding mothers; as well as in girls during their puberty.
Important! It is not worth it to give in to the desire to scratch the itchy mammary glands. Better to restrain yourself. Otherwise, you risk combing everything, while not getting rid of the source of irritation of the nerve endings.
Possible causes of itching of the mammary glands
Why does breasts itch in women? Possible causes of this ailment:
- Puberty.
- An allergic reaction to something (such as toilet soap, laundry detergent or shower gel).
- Incorrectly selected underwear (for example, its fabric or shape).
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- Mastopathy
- Climax
- Demodecosis
- Diseases of the skin.
- Inflammatory processes of a chronic nature.
- Hormonal disbalance.
- Infectious diseases.
- Paget's disease.
- All kinds of operations related to surgical intervention, including mammoplasty.
- The use of oral contraceptives, which include steroid sex hormones.
In any case, itching in the area of the mammary glands is not the norm. Therefore, it is imperative to contact a medical institution and undergo a thorough examination by a specialist (dermatologist or mammologist).
Itching during puberty
During this period, teenage girls may experience some itching in the area of the mammary glands. This is quite normal and there is nothing to worry about. This symptom is associated with the fact that natural changes in the mammary glands occur. When the mammary glands are fully formed, the symptom will disappear.
It may be an allergic reaction to something.
Why does itchy breasts? Perhaps this is an allergic reaction to something, such as:
- Eating certain foods. In this case, you need to seek help from a specialist who will conduct a thorough diagnosis and determine the cause of the ailment.
- Wearing a synthetic fabric bra over a long period. The irritation from too tight synthetics subsequently leads to inflammation, which is accompanied by burning and itching.
- Use of hygiene products such as deodorant, shampoo, shower gel or toilet soap.
- Wrong detergent. The fact is that with insufficient rinsing, the individual active components of the detergent preparation can remain on the surface of the clothes (including underwear) and cause burning and itching.
- The use of certain medications.
- Increased sweating (hyperhidrosis) against diabetes.
- The presence of liver or kidney disease. The fact is that toxic substances that are not removed from the body in time, and provoke the appearance of symptoms such as itching and burning.
Incorrectly selected underwear
This fact may be the reason that a woman experiences itching in the area of the mammary glands. In some cases, even reddening of the skin is observed, which indicates that the underwear is not the right size or made from the wrong material (that is, the wrong structure). For example, an improper bra can significantly affect the outflow of lymph and the blood circulation in the chest area and cause serious diseases such as breast cancer or mastopathy. Do not allow this and then you will not be tormented by the question of why the chest itches.
Important! When buying underwear, give preference to products made from natural fabrics, and also choose the right size so that the bra does not squeeze the chest.
The period of gestation and lactation
Why is itching in the early stages of pregnancy? The fact is that during the period of carrying a baby in the mother's body, the quantitative composition of hormones changes significantly, as well as an increase in breast volume and its preparation for lactation. All this leads to such a result as itching of the skin. Of course, with the first symptoms, you need to go to a consultation with your doctor. But, only the right size of the bra and its material depends on you.
Why does a nursing mother's breasts itch? The causes of this symptom during lactation:
- The formation of microtraumas and cracks in the nipples during breastfeeding.
- The appearance in a baby of an oral cavity of a disease such as thrush.
Mastopathy
Why does the breast itch with mastopathy? With this disease, such a symptom is quite common. Also characteristic signs of mastopathy are pain in the affected area, severity, burning and elementary discomfort, which is felt when touched. The exacerbation period begins, as a rule, a few days before the menstrual cycle, during it and several days after completion. The pain subsides until the next month.
Important! Do not delay the visit to the mammologist. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting a malignant tumor of the breast.
Climax
Why does a woman's breast itch during this difficult period for her? There may be several reasons:
- A significant decrease in the quantitative composition of hormones such as estrogen.
- Change in body volume.
- A significant increase in dry skin.
Skin infection with scabies mite
A disease called demodicosis can be the reason why the chest is very itchy throughout the day, evening and night. Human infection occurs with a microscopic size parasite, namely, scabies mites. He feeds only on the epithelium, while not invading the human circulatory system. Most often, the parasite is localized in the sternum and abdomen, since it is there that the density of epidermal tissues is the lowest.
On a note! Any person can suffer from scabies mite regardless of their status and financial situation. Moreover, universal remedies against it also do not exist. In each case, everything is individual.
Skin diseases
Diseases such as eczema and dermatitis of various kinds (for example, contact or intertriginous, which is characterized by itching under bulky breasts in full women) can cause itching and burning of the mammary glands. If you find any skin rashes, foci of an itchy nature, ulcers or just redness, contact medical hospitals for help.
Important! Do not abuse sunbathing. This is especially true for women who practice sunbathing "topless" and simply adore visiting tanning salons. Such events can end not only with itching in the chest area, but also with more serious dermatological problems. Take care of yourself.
Chronic inflammatory processes
Why does itchy breasts? Due to all kinds of inflammatory processes of a chronic nature. These, for example, include inflammation of the tissues of the breast, which, as a rule, does not manifest itself clearly and flows sluggishly. Itching, burning and pain occur only during an exacerbation. Subsequently, slight swelling may be observed. Inflammatory processes cannot be started. Otherwise, they can cause serious complications.
Hormonal disbalance
Why is itching the breast before menstruation? Because this is a normal reaction of the organs of the reproductive system of women, including mammary glands, to an increase in the quantitative composition of estrogens in the blood. All symptoms disappear immediately after menstruation.
The worst option may be burning and itching, which arose as a result of disturbances in the activity of the ovaries and endocrine glands.
Infectious diseases
Such diseases include streptococcus, which at an early stage manifests itself in the form of itching of the mammary glands. Then there is an increase in pain and the formation of small combed wounds and other unpleasant changes in breast tissue.
Paget's disease
Why does the breast itch around the nipple? Most likely, this indicates the presence of Paget's disease. It is nothing but an eczema-like breast cancer of the nipple . Experts put forward two main causes of this disease:
- A sharp and completely spontaneous degeneration of normal cells of the skin of the nipple of the breast into cancer.
- Paget's disease is the end result of the formation of malignant neoplasms in the tissues of the mammary glands.
The main manifestations of the disease are small bursting vesicles in the area of the nipples, as well as the formation of crusts and ulcers, which constantly itch and bother. To find out why the breast itches near the nipples, you need to go to an appointment with a specialist. It is he who will direct you to a number of examinations and offer a way to get rid of the disease.
Important! Do not delay the trip to the medical institution: time does not work for you.
Why breasts itch after mammoplasty
Or maybe the reason is in the transferred operations? Quite possible. Statistics say that in 70% of cases, as a result of breast plastic surgery and other similar surgical interventions, scars form on the skin, which subsequently itch and itch.
Your actions for itching the mammary glands
Naturally, the best option is to contact a specialist, namely, a mammologist. If there are objective reasons why you cannot contact a medical institution in a timely manner, then there are several recommendations that can help you slightly reduce itching or even completely eliminate it:
- To completely abandon the use of washcloths having a rough structure.
- Use the juice of a scarlet plant or a gel based on this plant (it can be purchased at any pharmacy) to reduce itching.
- Do not use hygiene products that can provoke an allergic reaction.
- Treat itchy areas of the skin (twice a day) with ointments and lotions based on analgesics (you get them in a pharmacy).
- If an allergy occurs, you should immediately use activated charcoal (that is, a sorbent), which cleanses the body of the source of an allergic reaction; then take "Desloratadine" or "Cetirizine" (that is, an antihistamine) that reduce itching and burning.
- Correctly choose underwear, namely a bra. Preference should be given to products made from natural materials.
- More often take water procedures, especially in hot weather.
- We do not recommend using too hot water, causing an “itchy flush”. You don’t need it at all. In addition, such actions contribute to the fact that hot water flushes the upper fat protective layer from the skin surface and overdries it.
- After taking a shower, you can use cosmetics or natural preparations (for example, cocoa butter) to moisturize and soften the skin.
- Make cooling compresses that can reduce burning sensation for at least some time.
- Exclude being in the sun for a long time.
If the measures taken do not improve the situation, but only exacerbate it, then self-medication should not be continued. It is urgent to seek help from doctors.
Important! Women who have a baby, or nursing at the first sign of itching and burning in the mammary gland should immediately go to a mammologist. Do not experiment and self-medicate. Remember: the health of your baby depends on your well-being.