Dry skin on breast, nipple or areola may result in peeling, scaly and flaky patches, which may be itchy. It tends to appear in early pregnancy but can occur any time due to various health conditions. This post presents facts, pictures, causes, signs and symptoms of dry skin on breast or nipples or areola. Also, it highlights how to get rid f and prevent this condition, treatments and home remedies.
Signs and Symptoms
Does your breast have a dry skin? This is a common skin condition that often occurs during your pregnancy period. However, you can develop dry skin on breast anytime due to various skin infections or any other underlying condition.
The skin of your breast can develop a dry skin on various parts depending on the causal agents. For you women, it can show up under the mammary glands, on nipple or areola, on the upper surface of the mammary glands and in between the mammary glands.
For the case of men, dry skin can show anywhere on your breast. Infants, babies, toddlers, children, and teens might also develop dry skin or patches on the breast region as a consequence of various skin condition or infection.
The dry skin on your breast can show up in several signs and symptoms based on the causes. These symptoms may range from mild to severe. The mild dry skin could be an indication of minor skin condition while severe or chronic dry skin could indicate a serious health problem.
Some of the signs and symptoms that may characterize dry skin on breast include the following:
- White or gray patches on the skin of the breast
- Dry whitish scales on the skin around the breast
- Itchy rash, bumps, or pimples on the skin breast
- Cracked skin on the nipple or areola
- Redness, tenderness and inflamed breast
- A feeling of tightness and stretches skin around the breast region
- Skin peeling on the breast region
- Rough skin texture on mammary glands
Occasionally, dry skin on breast might accompany other strange symptoms such as abnormal discharge from nipple, sores, and blisters on breast, fever and other. In case you notice the above symptoms, it is advisable to seek the help your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Causes of Dry Skin on Breast and Nipples
Your breast can develop dry skin due to various causal agents. These causes can lead to either benign or more serious skin condition. It is important for you to learn the possible causes of dry skin of the breast. This may help you and your doctor to reach the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Some of the causes of dry skin on the breast include the following:
1. Environmental factors
A dry skin on your breast can develop a consequence of exposure to harsh environmental factors. A dry environmental condition such as winter weather is a common factor that can encourage dry skin on your breast or any other parts of your body.
The dry hot climatic condition is a risk factor that encourages a high rate of evaporation of skin moisture. This can leave you with flaky or dried skin. Your skin can also become dry during the windy day. The blowing air may carry away the skin moisture hence encourage dry skin.
You can manage dry skin on breast caused by environmental factors through simple treatment. Apply the appropriate skin moisturizer creams and gel. Alternatively, take about 10 glass of water as a home remedy to keep your skin hydrated.
2. Allergic reactions
The dryness of skin on your breast can occur when your skin becomes into direct in contact with harmful substances or chemicals. This condition is known as contact dermatitis, allergic eczema or contact allergic eczema.
The common allergens or irritants that can lead to dry skin on your breast include harsh detergents, certain cosmetic products, poison ivy, and other household chemicals. These irritants usually burn and corrode the skin.
You can treat dry skin caused by the allergic reaction by applying suitable skin moisturizers such as Aloe Vera, coconut oils, Neem tree oil, almond oil, olive oil. For the chronic dry skin after exposure to irritants, you can seek the help of the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
3. Sun damage
Your breast can develop dry skin after exposure to sunlight. Sunbathing topless might allow sunlight to hit you breast directly. This can lead to sunburns on the skin of your breast that is usually associated with symptoms of dry skin.
Sunlight contains powerful and harmful UV rays that may damage your skin. Long and direct exposure of your breast to sun’s rays can allow the harmful UV rays to burn your skin. Sunburns on the breast can result in dark spots, freckles, wrinkles and dry patches.
The treatment of sun damage and dry skin on breast depends on your skin condition. You can treat mild sunburns on the breast by applying soothing creams such as Aloe Vera. In case of severe sunburnt skin on the breast, visit your doctor to help in diagnosis and treatment.
4. Ringworms on breast
Ringworms are dry itchy white ringed-shaped patches that may appear anywhere on your body. The skin of your breast can also be attacked by ringworm typically under the breast, in between mammary glands, on areola and nipple.
This skin condition is caused by the overgrowth of skin fungus. It often affects infants, babies, toddlers, and children. Teens and adults, you can also develop a dry skin on breast caused by ringworms when you have weakened the immune system or practice poor skin hygiene.
You can treat dry patches of ringworm on your breast by using anti-fungal ointment creams that are prescribed to you by the doctor. Alternatively, go for natural home remedies that include the application of apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and essential oils.
5. Hot shower or bath
Your breast can develop dry skin after taking hot shower or bath. The hot water and soap can wash away all the skin oil and leave you with dry skin on the breast, nipple, areola or any other parts of your skin.
The dry skin on breasts can also appear after bathing or swimming in a pool that ha heavily chlorinated water. The chlorine has burning properties that can damage your skin to become flaky or dry to the affected area.
You can treat dry skin on your breast caused by a hot shower, bath or highly chlorinated water with the application of skin moisturizer and soothing cream such as Aloe Vera.
6. Change of hormones
The sudden change of hormone can lead to dry skin on your breast. This often occurs during pregnancy, menstruation and menopause period in women. You can manage skin flaking in pregnancy by applying a skin moisturizer.
7. A side effect of certain medication
According to Mayo Clinic, they attribute that the skin of your breast can develop dry skin due to a side effect of using certain medication. These medications include drugs that treat the underlying infection in your body.
Dry skin on the breast after using certain medication can go away after few days. If the dryness on your breast has persisted, you can visit your doctor for more help and treatment.
8. Rosacea on breast
The skin of your breast can develop chronic dry red patches as a result of rosacea. This condition can result in red itchy bumps on the skin and make the blood vessels under the skin to be more visible. The main cause of this skin condition is unknown but it is associated with the autoimmune disorder.
9. Psoriasis on breast
Psoriasis is a skin condition that is usually characterized by chronic silvery whitish patches. Occasionally, these patches can appear as pink, brown, dark depending on your skin tone. This condition can appear anywhere on your body including your breast.
The condition of psoriasis is caused by autoimmune disorders. You can treat dry skin on breast caused by psoriasis with the help of prescribed ointments or creams. Visit your doctor in case your breast has chronic dry patches of psoriasis for diagnosis and treatment.
10. Eczema on breast
Eczema is an autoimmune disorder that can lead to dry skin on breast and other parts of your body. It can also show up red itchy bumps that ooze out and crust over to the affected area. This condition might affect anybody including babies, infants, toddlers, teens, and adults.
The condition of eczema can be treated with the help of your doctor. Your doctor can help to prescribe for you topical creams that can help to improve your skin condition.
11. Breast cancer
Breast cancer is usually accompanied by symptoms of dry skin. Other symptoms of breast cancer that you may notice include:
- Severe itchy breast
- Lump inside the breast
- Inverted nipple or dimpling of nipple
- Abnormal discharge from the nipple
- Plague of scales on breast
The condition of breast cancer is life-threatening and you need to seek the help of your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
12. Other causes
The skin of your breast may become dry because of other rare causes. These include the underlying conditions in your body. They include:
- Diabetes
- Kawasaki’s disorder
- Liver infection
- Kidney disorder
- Vitamin A toxicity
- Nutrient deficiency
Itchy Dry Skin on Breast or Nipples
Why are my nipples dry and flaky with itchy skin? This is a common question that might come to your mind when your breast develops an itchy dry skin on nipples and areola. You are in the appropriate section of the post that will explain to you why you may develop an itchy dry skin on the breast or nipple.
The possible factors that can result in the itchy dry skin on your breast or nipples include ringworms, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, and skin cancer.
If your breast has severe itchy dry skin on nipples and areola, this could be symptoms of a serious skin condition such as cancer. It is advisable to visit your physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Dry Nipples in Early Pregnancy
Is it normal to have dry skin on nipples during early pregnancy? The answer is “yes” it is quite normal to develop a dry skin on breast typically on nipples and areola during the early stage of pregnancy. You may also develop a dry skin on other parts of your body.
According to the information of Mayo Clinic, they suggest that you may develop dry nipples in early pregnancy as a consequence of the change of body hormones. The hormones that maintain pregnancy has a direct influence on the skin of your breast to become flaky.
Home Remedies for Dry Skin on Breast and Nipples
There are several natural home remedies that you can use to treat dry skin on your breast. Home remedies may work effectively to cure minor conditions that cause dry skin on the breast such as contact dermatitis, environmental factor, ringworms, hot shower (bath), and mild sunburns.
Try the following home remedies that include:
1. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is an excellent skin moisturizer that can help to treat a dry skin on your breast and nipples. The oil has antibacterial, antifungal and soothing properties that can help to cure itchy dry skin on your breast.
How to use:
- Wash the skin of the breast with warm water and pat dry it with a towel
- Apply the coconut oil to the affected skin area
- Leave the oil to stay on your skin for the whole day or night before you rinse it off
- Repeat to apply it twice daily until your skin improves
- Instead of coconut oil, you can alternatively use any other essential oil such castor oil, Neem tree oil, olive oil and others
2. Lemon juice
You can use lemon juice as a home remedy that can help to treat dry skin on your breast. The lemon juice contains citric acid that has antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help to cure flaky skin on your breast.
How to use:
- Extract fresh lemon juice from the fruit
- Apply the juice directly to the affected parts of your skin
- Rinse it after 20 minutes with warm water
- Repeat this procedure three times daily until the dry skin on your breast soften to normal
3. Aloe Vera
The medicinal properties of Aloe Vera can help to treat a dry skin on breast and nipples. The Aloe Vera cream or gel has antibacterial and antifungal abilities that can help to kill harmful disease-causing agent on your skin.
In addition, Aloe Vera is an effective skin moisturizer and a soothing cream that can help to treat itchy dry skin on your breast.
How to use:
- Wash the affected area of your breast with warm water and pat dry it
- Apply the Aloe Vera cream or gel to the affected skin area
- Allow it to stay on your for more than 30 minutes before you rinse it off
- Repeat this treatment three times daily until your skin restore to normal
4. Apple cider vinegar
You can try to use apple cider vinegar. This is an effective home remedy that can help to treat various skin problems including the dry skin on the breast.
How to use:
- Get a ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
- Soak a cotton ball in the solution
- Apply it to the affected skin area
- Rinse it after 20 minutes with warm water
- Repeat to apply it three times daily until your skin improves
5. Raw honey
Raw honey contains natural ingredients that can help to treat dry skin on your breast and other parts of your body.
How to use:
- mix one teaspoon of raw honey with one teaspoon of lemon juice
- apply the mixture to the affected area of your breast that has dry skin
- rinse it after 30 minutes with warm water
- repeat this steps three times daily until your skin improves
Medical Treatment for Dry Skin on Breast and Nipples
You can go for medical treatment in case your breast has dry skin that is caused by a serious condition such as cancer, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. Visit your doctor to help in diagnosis and treatment of your skin condition.
The common treatment method that your doctor might use to fix your skin condition the following:
- Prescription of medicated creams or ointments that can help to cure chronic skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, and
- Prescription of oral medication that includes antibiotics, antivirus and antifungal drugs that can help to cure the underlying condition such as diabetes that causes dry on your body.
- Use of laser treatment procedure that can help to kill cancerous cells that cause dry skin on your breast.
When to see a Doctor
It is advisable to see your doctor over a dry skin on breast and nipples if your notice the following complications that include:
- If your breast develop dry skin that persisted for more than three weeks without any improvement
- If the dry skin on your breast is too itchy or painful that you cannot withstand any more
- When the dry skin on your breast is accompanied by other strange symptoms such a discharge from the nipple, blisters, lump inside the breast, dimpling on nipples and others
- When the dry skin on your breast is spreading to other parts of your body such as the neck, face, back, belly, arms, and
Sources and References
- Dry skin on the breast: https://www.livestrong.com/article/387966-breast-dryness/
- Signs and symptoms of dry skin on the breast: https://www.medicinenet.com/changes_in_skin_of_the_breast/symptoms.htm
- Causes of dry skin on the breast, nipple, and areola: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pagets-disease-of-the-breast/symptoms-causes/syc-20351079
- How to get rid of dry skin of the breast: https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Itchy-Breasts
- Treatment of dry skin on the breast: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/dry_skin
- Home remedies for dry skin on the breast: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/dry-skin-natural-remedies#1
