Rash under the breast: causes and how to deal with it

Some women complain of itching underneath the breasts because of the rash. He said this was caused by wearing a tight bra which rubbed the skin under the breast, causing a rash. What else causes rashes under the breasts, and how can they be treated? Check out the following information.

What are the causes of the rash under the breasts?

In the medical world, a rash that appears on the breast is called intertrigo. This condition occurs because the skin under the breasts catch sweat and moisture, then it is exposed to friction from the bra or the skin underneath. This combination is what triggers an itchy rash.

The various causes of a rash under the breast include:

1. Prickly heat

Prickly heat (miliaria) is a skin rash that occurs when skin pores become clogged with sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells. Although they appear more frequently in the folds of the body and in the neck and shoulders, the skin under your breasts can also get prickly heat.

2. Infection

Skin that is kept moisturised due to sweat is a favorite place for bacteria and fungi to breed. This can lead to various infectious diseases, including candidiasis and ringworm.

Candidiasis occurs when the Candida fungus thrives on the skin under the breast which is moist. While ringworm is caused by the growth of Tinea fungi under the breasts. Both infections are characterized by a rash that is round, red, and often causes itching.

3. Allergies

For those of you who have a rash on the lower part of the breast, try to remember the types of food and medicines that you recently consumed. The reason is, the rash under the breast can also be caused by allergies, either from food, medicine, or insect bites.

An allergy rash usually appears as red, itchy hives. If the itching is quite bothersome, immediately compress with cold water or apply with hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to inhibit the production of histamine that causes itching.

4. Autoimmune disease

There are several autoimmune diseases that can trigger a rash under the breasts. These autoimmune diseases include eczema, psoriasis, or hyperhidrosis, aka excessive sweating.

The shape of the rash under the breast due to each autoimmune disease is different. The signs of eczema include a red rash that is inflamed and feels itchy. However, there are also small lumps filled with fluid which, if broken, will be very itchy.

If it is caused by psoriasis, the rash that appears under your breasts will appear as red, dry, scaly, and cracked patches. However, if it is caused by excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis, then the rash appears red and itchy.

5. Breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is one of the rare types of cancer that can spread quickly. Symptoms include:

• Changes in breast skin color to redness.
• The skin texture looks like an orange peel.
• Pimple-like pimples appear.
• Inward nipple (inverted nipple).

Although a rash under the breast is very rarely caused by cancer, it never hurts to consult a doctor if you experience these symptoms.

How to treat rashes under the breasts?

Itching from the rash under the breasts is generally easy to treat. The reason is, the rash that appears is mostly caused by a fungal infection and is not dangerous. Well, you can treat the rash under the breast by:

1. Compress with cold water
2. Use unscented soap to reduce the risk of further skin irritation
3. Avoid wearing a bra for a while until the rash and itching subsides
4. Use a bra that is the right size and made of cotton
5. Put pads or bra liner under the breasts to help absorb excess sweat
6. Apply calamine lotion to help relieve itching

If the rash under the breast gets worse in 5 to 7 days, immediately consult the nearest doctor. Especially if you experience:

• Fever, nausea, and vomiting
• The rash is painful and itchy
• Blisters develop under the breasts that won't heal
• Have a chronic disease or immune system disorder

If these symptoms are accompanied by an ingrown nipple, this could be a sign of breast cancer. Immediately consult a doctor for further treatment.

x