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Breast rash
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-rash/MY00588
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Definition
Breast rash describes redness and irritation of the skin on your breast. Besides being itchy or scaly, a breast rash can sometimes be painful or blistered. Rarely, a breast rash may not cause any symptoms.
Other terms used to describe a breast rash include dermatitis and hives.
Causes
Most breast rashes have the same causes as rashes occurring elsewhere on the body. However, there are some potentially more serious conditions that are specific to the breast.
Causes of rash that occur only on the breast may include:
General causes of rash that can affect any part of the body, including the breast, include:
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Cutaneous candidiasis (especially under the breasts)
- Dermatitis
- Hives and angioedema
- Psoriasis
- Scabies
- Seborrheic dermatitis
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment
Breast rash is rarely an emergency. Make an appointment with your doctor if your breast rash is accompanied by:
- Fever
- Severe pain
- Sores that won't heal
- Signs and symptoms that are getting worse or last longer than a week
Self-care for breast rash
In the meantime, you may find some relief with self-care measures for your breast rash, such as:
- Take a warm bath or place a warm washcloth over the rash for a few minutes.
- Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer to the area.
- Take care of your skin. Don't scratch the rash.
- Avoid extra stress, since stress can make a rash itchier or make you more likely to scratch.
- Investigate common rash causes, such as new soap or scratchy clothing. Stop using any new products that may have caused your rash.
- Paget's disease of the breast. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00025-1--sc0015&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&sid=1118244796&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00025-1--sc0015&uniqId=235538941-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00025-1--sc0015. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
- Contact dermatitis. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1118245558&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00012-3--s24245&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00012-3--s24245&uniqId=235538941-4#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00012-3--s24245. Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
- Neuhaus IM, et al. Mammary and extramammary Paget disease. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2975806. Accessed Feb. 15, 2011.
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