Itching on one breast, when to worry?

[Unicorn1985]

Hi.

Last 4-5 days my breast has been itching. It’s my left breast on the side closest to my armpit. Basically the whole side itches. I’ve scratched it a lot and I’ve now got lots of red little marks all over the side. It’s become progressively worse over the past few days. It’s now also sore but I think that’s from the scratching. Wearing a bra or any clothing on it seems to irritate that section but nowhere else. I don’t think there is a rash but as I’ve scratched it a lot it’s hard to tell, if there is it’s very light red. I’m applying aveeno cream which seems to be helping a lot but still itching on and off. Feels sore and I’m very aware that it doesn’t feel right.

when should I be concerned? I’ve had two manual breast examinations for something different. One end of September by gp and one by a breast cancer specialists beginning of October. Neither were concerned but no scans. I’m staying of google as I know it will tell me I’ve got cancer.

[Carys]

Ok, so lets try the logic approach. Clearly there is nothing sinister - we know this because you have VERY recently had two manual examinations. So, casting that out of the window - what can cause skin to itch ? Something rubbing/friction/irritating fabric/bra wire (as this is the area right where the wire meets the band section)/bra too tight/overly checking your breasts yourself and causing irritation, soreness and dry skin ?

When to 'worry' - never and not at all, certainly not about this lol The worst scenario is that you have some dermatitis or similar and need some cream. Stop scratching, stop checking the area, moisturise (as you are which you say helps, so therefore that also proves its nothing major to be concerned about), change your bra, and monitor without obsessing.

[Unicorn1985]

I thought maybe my bra was causing it, but I changed bras and it’s till happening. I really don’t know. I do suffer with dry skin and I’m thinking if it was something sinister aveeno cream wouldn’t help in any way would it? I’ve not been poking my breasts or even focusing on them since the breast consultant gave me the all clear so it’s not that. Maybe it’s worse because I’m focusing on it and worrying about it?

[Unicorn1985]

Sorry carys I responded but half your reply wasn’t there when I wrote out my reply which is odd!

Thanks for the wise words. I’ll stop scratching and keep regularly applying the cream. Think I’ll also sleep topless too so it’s not constantly got fabric on it x

[Carys]

I do suffer with dry skin and I’m thinking if it was something sinister aveeno cream wouldn’t help in any way would it ?

Absolutely Correct. There we go, so now we get there....you do have dry skin, so why should it be anything more concerning than that ?

Try switching to a non wired standard supportive (non seamed) vest type cropped top for a while if you have one.....I'm trying to describe something, you know what I mean ? LOL


Sorry carys I responded but half your reply wasn’t there when I wrote out my reply which is odd!

Could be my fault, I was editing as you were writing.

[Unicorn1985]

Ha ha I understand what you mean. I shall get some ordered today and give it a go. Thank you carys x

[Carys]

Cotton rich, lace-free, seam free blah blah ! :D Don't go crazy with the ordering, try one and see.....lol

If there are times you can go without a bra then do it, I know those times might be few and far between. If you need to wear your usual bra then you can also trying putting two or three sheets of nice soft tissue round the area (not too thick!). I don't mean loo roll or kitchen roll, but those lovely soft ones that you get in tiny handbag plastic packs. Put the bra on, lift the fabric in the area where its itching, slot in tissues (halved if needed) and keep the sheets nice and flat so that they cover the part of your itching skin. I found, that this seemed to help somehow as the bra rubbed on the slidey tissue not the skin ?! Worth a try ?

[Unicorn1985]

Cotton rich, lace-free, seam free blah blah ! :D Don't go crazy with the ordering, try one and see.....lol

If there are times you can go without a bra then do it, I know those times might be few and far between. If you need to wear your usual bra then you can also trying putting two or three sheets of nice soft tissue round the area (not too thick!). I don't mean loo roll or kitchen roll, but those lovely soft ones that you get in tiny handbag plastic packs. Put the bra on, lift the fabric in the area where its itching, slot in tissues (halved if needed) and keep the sheets nice and flat so that they cover the part of your itching skin. I found, that this seemed to help somehow as the bra rubbed on the slidey tissue not the skin ?! Worth a try ?

Thats a good idea deal that I will try. I’ve just been out for a couple of hours to my friends, put my aveeno on before going. No itching whilst out, still sore but to be expected from all the scrstching. Come home and it’s starting to itch a little, the anxiety must be making it much worse! Too coincidental!

[Unicorn1985]

The itching was a lot better yesterday, still itching at times (when I got out the bath mainly in the evening) and tingly but not as bad as the day before. So far today not any real itching, just a tiny bit. Feels more tender and tingly than anything else and that’s mainly on the edge of the breast where it meets the armpit and chest. Keeping moisturising, increased my water in take and cutting back on sugar too. My little girl came downstairs this morning saying her elbow bend was really itchy but only on one side. It was quite red but she said that the redness was from scratching and it wasn’t red when it first started itching. I guess we are the dry skin family lol x

[Unicorn1985]

Also the temp has dropped, we have the heating on too so I guesss that’s all contributing x

[Carys]

It affects me badly too, once winter comes - my left wrist arm area was itching so badly yesterday and I had to resort to hydrocortisone cream. The rubbing of clothing and rubber gloves and the cold temps just makes me go crispy. lol

[Unicorn1985]

It affects me badly too, once winter comes - my left wrist arm area was itching so badly yesterday and I had to resort to hydrocortisone cream. The rubbing of clothing and rubber gloves and the cold temps just makes me go crispy. lol

Oh the itch is just horrible isn’t it!

I think it’s safe to say I’ve made this worse today. Wearing a non wired bra as you suggested that I found in my draw (waiting for my new ones to be delivered) and the itching has become really bad again today. I’ve ended up putting loads of aveeno on throughout the day and still itching. Ive got loads of red flat spots now from scratching as it was unbearable. I’ve just realised the bra is 95% nylon and 5% elastane! Not great for irritated skin I’d say!

[Carys]

Have you tried the slippery tissue inside the bra thing, the sheets laid flat. That really works, I had to do this for ages a very irritated area of skin near where yours is.

[Unicorn1985]

Yes I did it just after I posted as not able to take my bra off at the moment. It’s making a huge difference. It Obviously still aches from th scratching but as it’s so much softer I’m not feeling the need to itch x

[Carys]

Ahhhah, that is my tried and very well tested method, goodo. I used that in two major places after surgery dressings were removed and there was rubbing and itching scar tissue.

[Unicorn1985]

I honestly can’t believe the difference! Like I say part from feeling sore from the scratching earlier and the last few days I feel. I feel no desire at present to scratch! Thank you x

[Carys]

Tee hee, the silkier the tissue the better it works, Kleenex pocket tissues are the best lol....and the other lesson , BIG lesson, to take from this.....is that it is clearly dry itching skin and nothing more.

[Unicorn1985]

Thanks carys, I can’t lie I’ve been teetering on spiralling with this one. However I’m keeping calm, I’ve just picked up some e45 cream as that’s really good and I’m staying off google. I know the more I focus and worry the more symptoms I’ll have! Our brains can create so much! I do really appreciate you taking the time to calm me down and keep me logical.

[Carys]

Look, the least it is is dry itching skin that you've irritated, the most that it is is a skin/fungal infection caused by scratching. There is nothing more that it can be than a dermatological issue, so it could be happening anywhere on your body but it so happens its the breast skin that is causing issues. Monitor it.....go to doc and request assessement of the skin and cream (either steroid based or for fungal or whatever they think ) if it doesn't clear up with self-help measures. Look no further than that though !

[Unicorn1985]

Thank you. I’m hoping it will just get better if I keep up with the cream and tissue trick. I know I suffer from dry skin, so this isn’t out of the blue for me to have eczema or dry skin in general. My breasts are quite large too and I sweat like everyone else. I also know I’ve made it worse by scratching and leaving it several days before moisturising etc. I’ll give it a week and if no improvement I’ll go to the Drs.

[Dying_Swan]

I'm going to try out the tissue trick! Unicorn, I get this too if I don't moisturise there every day. When it first started I panicked but spoke to my GP on the phone who advised me to use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for a week and then just moisturise. A tip with emollients like aveeno and e45 is to apply them in the direction of hair growth, rather than rubbing them in in all directions. It helps to avoid irritating the hair follicles. I think your plan to moisturise and see your GP if it doesn't improve is sound. Hope it eases off soon. Itchy boobs are not fun!

[Carys]

Yep, you can get that cream in any pharmacist, but you have to use it very sparingly and only if you really need it. Its great for dermatitis patches (I used this too on my chesticle and still do for a patch that comes up periodically on my face).

[Unicorn1985]

Thanks dying swan it’s such a delicate area to have itching so much.

Sorry to bore everyone bur I always like to go back and update my threads for anyone who is searching in future.

Today its barely itched, mainly when taking my bra off and getting into the bath and that’s about it. Few times it’s felt a bit sore but to be expected as period has just started and I’ve scratched it a lot over the week. I’ve been using the “e45 itch” cream which can be used twice a day and the tissue trick. Both have helped massively. X