Acne on the breast: causes, treatment and how to prevent it

Apart from the face, pimples can appear on other areas of the body, including the breasts and around the nipples. Does the appearance of pimples in the area make you anxious? Find out whether the acne in the area is dangerous or not in the following explanation.

Is acne on the breast dangerous?

Even if you try to keep your skin clean, pimples can appear in unexpected areas, including around the nipples. This condition certainly raises questions because it is feared that acne is a sign of a serious illness.

Even so, the appearance of these small reddish bumps can happen to anyone and is considered normal, so you don't need to worry. However, of course this skin problem should not be underestimated.

If this skin disease is painful to the touch, itching, looks reddish, to discharge like pus, there may be other underlying conditions. This is even more so if the onset of acne is accompanied by other lumps.

If you experience some of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately to get a proper diagnosis.

Causes of acne on the breast

Not much different from other types of acne, acne on the breasts is also caused by clogged pores. The pores, which should be the outlet for sebum (oil) and sweat, are closed due to a buildup of dead skin cells.

As a result, excess oil and dead skin cells get trapped in the pores. This condition also triggers acne-causing bacteria to breed more easily. If allowed, bacteria will grow and trigger infection.

This will cause the body to form resistance by releasing inflammatory substances. As a result, this inflammation causes the walls of the pores to be damaged and pimples appear and sometimes fill with pus (pustules).

Clogged pores around the nipples can actually be caused by various factors as follows.

• Not keeping the breast area clean invites bacterial infection.
• The follicles around the nipple and areola (the dark area around the nipple) grow inward and cause a lump.
• The nipple is chafed due to friction from clothing which causes infection and irritation.
• Swelling of the montgomery glands (skin glands that look like lumps).

It's natural to worry about the appearance and health of your breasts. If you are worried about the appearance of pimples on the breasts, you should consult a doctor. That way, you can find out what causes acne to appear in the area.

How to get rid of acne on the breast

Acne treatment around the nipples may not be much different from other forms of acne. It's just that you need to determine what causes the acne to appear so that the treatment can be adjusted.

Generally, regular acne will go away on its own within a few days. However, not a few also need treatment from a doctor to treat this acne problem.

Keep in mind that you are not allowed to squeeze pimples around the nipples. Squeezing these tiny bumps can cause inflammation that can lead to new acne breakouts and bacterial infections.

In addition, there are several other ways you can treat acne in this sensitive area, such as:

• use warm water and a gentle cleansing soap when showering, as well
• choose a treatment product that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

If home remedies do not show results, consult a doctor. It is intended that your doctor can diagnose whether this condition includes regular acne or is caused by other health problems.

If this type of non-contagious skin disease is caused by regular acne, the doctor will usually prescribe a low dose of antibiotics, such as doxycycline. Always use medications, both doctor's and over-the-counter, according to the instructions.

Tips to prevent nipple acne

If you don't want pimples to appear on your breasts or don't want this condition to recur, take some steps to prevent acne. Here are some preventative steps you can take.

Shower twice a day

Bathing is one way to keep your skin clean. If your skin is prone to acne, especially in the breast area, use a mild soap.

In addition, it is recommended that you shower immediately after strenuous exercise and should avoid strong soaps and scrubbing the skin too vigorously. Rubbing the skin too hard can actually increase the friction on the skin.

For breastfeeding mothers, acne on the nipples is certainly quite annoying. So that this condition does not reappear, always wash your hands before and after breastfeeding. Do the same with both your breasts.

Wear clean underwear

Bacterial infection from dirty underwear, such as bras, may be one of the causes of the appearance of pimples on your nipples. The reason is, using the same underwear for days can accumulate dead skin cells and dirt.

If your bra or underwear gets wet, it's best to replace it immediately with a clean, dry one. This is especially true after exercise. That way the skin around the breasts is still clean.

Not only changing dirty underwear, you also need to wash your bra properly so as not to invite bacteria to stick to the breast.

If you have further questions about this condition, consult a dermatologist to get the right treatment.