Rash Under Breast, Between, Red, Itchy, Pictures, Causes, Treatment & Home Remedies

Rash under or between breasts is an indication of various skin conditions. It is usually red or dark and may be itchy and sometimes smelly. The common conditions that cause such rash include fungal infections, especially yeast infection. Explore facts, pictures, causes, signs and symptoms of rash on breast. Also learn how to get rid of it using medical treatments and home remedies.

Signs and Symptoms

A rash on your breast is one of the things that might attract the attention and even cause worries. In addition, skin rashes can really annoy you when they make your skin to look less attractive. Besides affecting your beauty, they may also threaten your health condition.

Women are more susceptible to develop various skin rashes on their breast specifically on mammary glands. The rashes may often occur during the period of breastfeeding or not. Occasionally, men, children, and teens might also develop skin rashes on their breast.

Rash on breast is a clear indication of a health problem in your body. Breast rash might be signs of either mild skin condition or more serious health problem that need medical treatment from a specialized doctor.

It is quite important for you to learn the common possible signs and symptoms associated with breast rashes. This may help you to detect earlier any breast problem that is likely to advance to a more serious health problem.

According to medical advisors, it is better to detect breast infection at an early stage of infection through signs and symptoms. This can help to manage breast infection easily before it advances into a chronic condition health problem.

breast rashes may appear around the nipple, on the skin surface of mammary gland or under the breast. Breast rash may show up in different colors such as red, pink, grey, yellow, brown or dark depending on your skin color.

Signs and symptoms of breast rash include the following:

Redness, inflamed and tender skin on breast
Irritation, itchiness or burning sensation
Raised pimples like rashes spreading on entire breast skin
Itchy spots, dots or patches under the breast
Flat spots, dots, marks or patches around the breast
Swollen mammary glands in female
Hard painful lumps like tiny stones inside the breast
Open sores or blister that burst, ooze out fluids and crust over
Flattening, inversion, and dimpling of nipple
Strange discharge from nipple like pus with or without bad odor/ stinks
Tiny dots on breast like bug bites or insect bites that are itchy or not itchy
Large bumps like boils on breast

Rash on Breast Pictures

How does a breast with a rash look like? We have included descriptive pictures of a rash on the breast to give you a visual understanding of how they might look like. The provided pictures (images) are only for illustration purpose. You should not use it as a reference for self-diagnosis or treatment without the guidance of your doctor.

Causes of Rash on Breast

A rash on the skin of the breast is a symptom that can show up due to various reason or factors. It is important for you to learn about the possible causes of rashes on the breast. This might help you to evaluate your breast condition before seeking the help of your doctor.

The common possible causes of breast rash include the following:

1. Allergic reaction

Skin rash around the breast can appear as the consequence of an allergic reaction. Direct exposure of your skin to allergens or irritants can lead to stimulation of skin cells to produce a chemical substance called histamine that may lead to skin rashes.

The common allergens that might lead to skin rash include dust particles, poison ivy, caterpillar’s fur, detergents or any other harsh chemical substance. The sensitive skin of the breast can develop itchy rashes when it becomes into direct in contact with these allergens.

Hives are red painful bumps that can appear on the affected area of the skin due to an allergic reaction. These bumps are an acute skin condition that may last few hour or days before going away. You can relieve hives on your breast by taking anti-allergen drugs.

Allergic contact dermatitis is another skin condition that can as well show up on your breast due to the effect of an allergic reaction on your skin. This condition may look similar to a burn. Also, it can show up as red rash and blisters that can ooze and crust over.

Cosmetic procedure on breast like tattoos and nipple piercing may also be the reason behind red rash on your breast.

2. Mastitis infection of the breast

Redness, inflammation and a red rash on breast can appear as a consequence of mastitis infection. This infection is usually characterized by painful, tender or swollen breast with a hard lump like stones inside the mammary glands.

Typically, this infection often occurs in lactating women especially during the first three months after giving birth. Occasionally, this infection may affect women who are not breastfeeding. Mastitis can also show up in women during menopause.

Staphylococcus aureus is a known bacterial that causes mastitis rash. You can get the infection when the bacteria enter your mammary gland through nipple pores or any other open crack on your breast skin.

The lactating mother can develop mastitis infection when they are exposed to the following risk factors that can encourage the infection:

Clogged milk ducts that can lead to milk stasis that might favor the growth of Staphylococcus aureus
Poor skin hygiene practices during the period of lactation
Wearing too tight cloth and bra that can exert a lot of pressure on mammary gland
Presence of open wound, bruises or cracks on skin of mammary gland that can allow the entry of mastitis bacterial into the body
Not attaching your to a nipple well

3. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)

This is the type of cancer that may show up as a red rash on breast like a bug bite. Usually, this condition can lead to redness, tenderness or inflammation of the breast. Also, the inflammatory breast can cancer may lead to other stage symptoms such as inversion, dimpling or flattening of the nipple. Sometimes strange discharge might ooze from the nipple.

Breast cancer is a rare chronic condition that commonly affects women. Occasionally, men can also develop cancer of the breast. Women are more prone to develop inflammatory breast cancer due to the natural structure of the mammary glands of the breast.

Inflammatory breast cancer occurs when there is an overgrowth of malignant tissues that damage the lymphatic system inside the breast. The damaged lymph vessels lead to inflammation and skin rash on the entire skin of the breast.

Breast cancer can spread very fast to the lymph system to affect large parts of the breast. However, inflammatory breast cancer can be treated by a special combination of cancer therapy treatments methods. Earlier detection of breast cancer can increase chances to survive.

4. Fungal or yeast infection on the breast

Candida is a known fungal infection that may lead to red, white or grey itchy rash like patches under the breast and on the other skin folds of the body. Fungal infection can also show up on the skin of breast as sores surrounded by itchy white patches.

Fungal infection is common skin condition in individuals who live in the hot and moist environment. However, you might develop yeast infection when you are exposed to risk factors that include:

Weak immune system
Poor skin hygiene practices
Sweaty skin with accumulate grease and other dirt skin debris
Use of strong antibiotics

Fungal infection can be controlled by the use of appropriate antifungal drugs that can be prescribed by the doctor. Alternatively, you can prevent fungal infection on your skin by avoiding risk factors that might encourage the infection.

5. Paget’s infection of the breast

Paget’s disease is a type of cancerous condition that specifically affects the nipple or areola to develop itchy rashes. This infection affects the skin around the nipple to form red itchy rash like blisters that burst, ooze out thick fluids and crust over. Also, it can cause flattening, dimpling, and inversion of the nipple.

Paget’s infection can damage lymph vessels inside the breast. This can lead to inflammation, tenderness and itchy rash on your breast. This condition might accompany the development of hard tumors inside the tissue of the breast.

6. Mammary duct ectasia

Mammary duct ectasia is a common condition that can cause a red rash on breast of women who are above the age of 45 years. This condition may occur when milk ducts in the mammary glands are aged and thickened to allow collection of fluids that can lead to breast inflammations and rashes.

Aging is the risk factors that can encourage mammary duct ectasia.it can occur naturally in women as they approach menopause. This condition is benign and it cannot advance into serious health condition.

7. Cellulitis on breast

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that can lead to inflammation of the skin in the affected area. Cellulitis can appear anywhere on your skin including the breast. This infection is characterized by red itchy rashes that spread very quickly on the skin surface.

The bacteria that cause cellulitis can enter the breast tissue through cracks in the skin or nipple pores and spread through lymph vessels around the breast to cause inflammation with red sores like rash on the skin of the breast.

8. Heat rash

Heat rash or sweat rash is a common condition that can affect the skin of the breast to develop red itchy spots like bug bites. In women, wearing too tight bra can lead to heat rash on breast and under the breast.

9. Eczema on breast

A skin rash on breast can occur as consequence of eczema. This is a chronic skin condition characterized by itchy red dry rashes on the affected area of the skin. Similar to other parts of the body, the breast can be affected by eczema.

10. Psoriasis on skin of breast

This is a skin condition that shows up as a dry or scaly rash on the affected area. The skin of the breast can also develop psoriasis infection that manifests as itchy scaly patches like a rash.

11 other rare causes

Shingles
Scabies
Insect Bites
Scarlet fever

Rash under Breast

Intertrigo is a known skin condition characterized by a rash under the breast between the skin folds. Intertrigo can occur when the skin folds under the breast or mammary glands rub each other leading to friction or chaffing.

Also, the skin folds under the breast might trap moisture or sweats that may encourage red, pink, brown itchy rash under the breast. Sometimes, Intertrigo can lead to weeping skin that discharges a clear fluid like sweat with or without an odor.

Intertrigo under the breast can be related to heat rash or sweat rash that can occur between the skin fold under the breast. In women, the condition can be encouraged by wearing a too tight bra that does not allow free circulation of air around the breast region.

Other factors that cause a rash on breast that is already been discussed in the post can also be lead to skin rash under your breast. Some of the causal agents include candidiasis, mastitis, allergic reaction, eczema, psoriasis, cancer, and others

Rash between Breast

Similar to any other parts of your skin that can be affected by rashes, the skin area between your breasts might also show up the strange itchy rash. This condition often shows up in large breasted women. However, women with medium or small sized breast might also be affected by a rash between their breasts.

The minimum space between your breasts can encourage the chafing or friction that can cause Intertrigo. Also heat rash or sweat rash might show up between the closed folds of skin between the breast regions.

Fungal infection can also lead to itchy rashes between the breasts especially when the bobs are touching each other. However, any other causes that lead to breast rash that we have already discussed can as well be the reason for a rash to appear between your breasts.

Rash on Breast during Pregnancy

Pregnancy period in women is always associated with hormonal changes that lead to breast enlargement in preparation for breastfeeding. All these changes in the body can encourage skin rash to show up on the skin surface of the breast.

Change of body hormones during pregnancy period may interfere with the biological process in the body. This might lead to overheating of the body and excessive sweating that can encourage various skin rashes on skin folds including under the breast.

Heat rash or sweat rashes are a common skin condition that can spread across the breast during the time of pregnancy in women. Although a rash on breast might appear in pregnant women as a consequence of other factors that causes skin rash such as eczema, allergic reactions, psoriasis, insect bites, fungal infection or any other.

Rash on Breast Breastfeeding

There are several factors that that might lead to a breast rash during the period of lactation in women. During the time of breastfeeding in women, mammary glands are enlarged and filled with milk to feed the baby. This increases the risk for breast rashes.

Mastitis is a known breast infection caused by bacteria that can lead to itchy, tender and inflamed mammary glands. Milk stasis or blocked pores on the nipple is a risk factor that can encourage the infection of mastitis.

Other breast infection like a yeast infection, breast cellulitis, mammary ducts ectasia, and heat rash can also appear on the breast during the time of breastfeeding. It is advisable to seek the help of your doctor in case you notice a strange rash on your breast during the period of lactating.

Home Remedies

You can get rid of the mild rash on your breast by using the following home remedies that include the following:

Aloe Vera

You can use Aloe Vera cream, gel or juice as a home remedy to get rid of the rash on breast. Aloe Vera contains natural antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to relieve and heal itchy rash on the skin of the breast.

How to use:

Use your hands to apply the Aloe Vera cream, gel or juice on the affected area of the skin
Allow it to stay on your skin for more than 30 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water
Repeat this treatment two times in a day for few weeks until skin rash go away

Coconut oil

Coconut oil contains natural ingredients that have antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that can help in the removal of breast rashes. Coconut oil is also a good skin moisturizer that can facilitate the healing of dry or scaly rash on your breast.

How to use:

Use warm water to clean the affected parts of the skin
Apply the coconut oil on the affected parts of the breast with rash
Allow the oil to be absorbed into your skin slowly
Repeat this process twice in a day for few weeks
Alternatively, you can use any other essential oils like lavender oil, castor oil, almond oil and Neem tree oil

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is good for skin rash. it has the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory ingredients that can help to relieve itchy rash on breast skin.

How to use:

Dilute ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar with equal volume of water
Use a cotton ball to apply the solution on your skin
Leave it to stay on your skin for more than 30 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water
For effective results, repeat this treatment three times in a day

Honey and lemon juice

A combination of raw honey and lemon juice has strong healing power for a rash on your breast. Lemon juice has antibacterial and antifungal abilities while raw honey has natural ingredients that can help to moisturize the skin.

How to use:

Mix one teaspoon of raw honey with equal amount of lemon juice
Apply the mixture to the affected area of the breast
Allow it to stay on your skin for more than 30 minutes before rinsing it off
Repeat this treatment two times in a day for few weeks

Baking soda

You can use baking soda at home as a remedy to get rid of skin rash on your breast. The reagent has the ability to clear away sores or fluid-filled blisters.

How to use:

Mix one teaspoon of the baking soda with few drops of water to make a thick paste
Apply the paste to the affected area
After 10 minutes, rinse it off and pat dry it with a washcloth
Repeat the procedure twice in a day for few weeks until skin rash goes

You can apply other home remedies such as cold compress, hot compress, turmeric, chamomile, oatmeal and others

Medical Treatment

You can also use medical treatment as an alternative treat more serious breast rash that fails to respond to home remedies by visiting your doctor. Basing on your breast condition, your doctor will decide the appropriate diagnosis and treatment method that can help you fix the problem.

Some of the treatment methods that your doctor might use include the following:

Prescription of steroids creams, gels or lotions that can help to cure skin rash
Prescription of oral drugs to treat the underlying infection that causes breast rash
Laser treatment that can help to treat chronic rash under the breast
Surgical excision that can help to remove malignant tissue and tumors that causes breast inflammation.

When to See a Doctor

You can see your doctor over a rash on breast when you notice the following conditions:

When breast rash refuse to go away with a period of three weeks
When breast rashes are causing intense itchiness that may make you feel a discomfort
When breast rash has characteristic of hard bumps that cause dimpling, inversion or flattening of the nipple
If breast rash is accompanied by other strange symptoms like a discharge of pus from nipple, fever, headache, body weakness and others.