On the Coast – Families Issue 104 I February/March 2020 | Page 6

breast
rashes
Deciphering
With Dr Mary Ling, Central Coast Breast and General Surgeon
T
he causes of a breast rash range
from the harmless and annoying
to the seriously sinister. Dr Mary
Ling deciphers them.
1
Intertrigo
Intertrigo is a fancy name for a rash
under your breasts. It is caused by a
combination of moisture, heat, lack of air
circulation and friction between skin
folds, and often accompanied by a fungal
or bacterial infection. Common symptoms
include a reddish-brown rash, raw, itchy
or oozing skin and unpleasant odour.
Untreated mastitis
can result in a
breast abscess, which
is a walled-off area of pus and
bacteria in the breast. Common
symptoms include pain,
swelling, redness, warmth and
fevers.
3
Other Rashes 
The skin on the breast is prone to
many common non-cancerous rashes,
including:
ƒ Allergic reactions
ƒ Skin conditions such as eczema,
dermatitis or psoriasis
ƒ Shingles, which causes a painful rash
that appears as a stripe of blisters.
4
Breast Cancer 
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a
rare and aggressive form of breast cancer
more common in younger women. Unlike
other breast cancers that form a lump, IBC
spreads along and blocks the lymphatic
vessels in the skin of the breast causing
Self-care tips to prevent intertrigo
the breast to become red, swollen and
include: 
tender (similar to an infection). The skin
ƒ Wash under your breasts morning
on the breast can also appear
and night with a gentle soap
dimpled, like an orange peel.
or soap substitute.
ƒ Dry the skin under your
Paget’s disease of the
breasts thoroughly – try using
nipple is another rare form
hairdryer on a cool setting. 
of breast cancer that affects
ƒ Wear a supportive bra made
the nipple-areolar complex.
from natural material such as
Most people with Paget's
cotton.
disease also have a breast
ƒ Lose weight to limit skin
cancer somewhere else in the
against skin rubbing.
same breast, either an
invasive cancer or pre-
invasive cancer known as
Breast Infection 
ductal carcinoma in situ
Mastitis is inflammation of
(DCIS). The main sign of
the breast that occurs most often
Paget's disease is a change in
in breastfeeding mums, but
Make an appointment with your doctor if your breast
the nipple and/or areola.
can also occur in older women.
rash is persistent or accompanied by any of these signs.
2
Dr Mary Ling is a Breast and General Surgeon who consults at
Gosford, Woy Woy and Kanwal.
& 02 4321 0302
www.drmaryling.com.au
@drmaryling
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ON TH E C OA S T – FA MILIES