Itchy Breasts Before Period

Itchy Breasts Before Period
In most cases, itching around nipples is not a serious issue but such may make a you quite uncomfortable. It’s never easy to deal with irritation in the breast area especially when you are in a public place.
Most women with itchy nipples tend to assume its breast cancer. Sudden nipple inversion should raise the alarm, so anything else you feel such as a random itch, tingle or drip is most likely nothing to worry about.
Sometimes irritation is as a result of a skin condition. It can also be as a result of pregnancy. There are several reasons why your nipple could be itchy.
There are many causes of skin itching around your nipples. Here are some of the most common causes:
One of the causes of nipple itch is dryness or a dry skin condition called eczema. Eczema varies between individuals, ranging from skin that is dry, scaly, red and itchy in some people, to crusting and bleeding in others.
This skin condition is often caused by a bacterium called staphylococcus aureus, which worsens it and makes it resistant to treatment. However, topical steroids and other prescribed ointments and creams will help relieve the itchy dry nipple.
During pregnancy, itching is often a common occurrence. The primary cause of this during early pregnancy is the stretching skin on the breasts due to the increasing size of the breasts. This happens as the breasts prepare to meet the demand of the baby after birth.
Breast increase in size often leads to a formation of stretch marks as well. Nipple itchiness becomes worse in the third trimester as the breasts become very big by this stage. The sensitivity of the nipples may also increase causing the breasts to become sore even as the hormones build up in the body.
This is a common condition experienced by athletics or those who do heavy exercises and workouts. The nipple often chafes against the clothing during physical activity. The symptoms of the jogger’s nipple include irritation, soreness, redness of the skin and excessive dryness.
If proper moisturizing is not done, the nipples might crack and bleed. Consider using a petroleum jelly on the nipple or a surgical tape to prevent frictional harm during your workouts.
This is a rare type of breast cancer, affecting one or two women out of every 100 with breast cancer. It presents with eczema-like symptoms and appears as a red rash on the nipple or the surrounding areolar. It is sometimes combined with an itchy or burning sensation.
There may be bleeding and discharge from the nipple. The symptoms are sometimes not conclusive proof of Paget’s disease and can be confused with eczema. It is therefore important to seek medical advice.
Mastitis is the infection of the breast tissue that results in swelling and redness. It may lead to an abscess when not treated. Mastitis is common with breastfeeding women, simply occurring when the bacteria from the baby’s mouth get into the breast.
Mastitis can also occur when the milk-carrying ducts become blocked. Milk then builds up within the breast tissue and may result in infection. If not treated, it might lead to the formation of breast abscess.
An abscess is a localized collection of pus within the breast tissue. Severe cases of mastitis can be fatal when not treated promptly. Symptoms include:
Is it normal to have your breast and nipples itchy before your period? This is one of the most common premenstrual symptoms occurring 1 to 2 weeks before your period starts. Usually, at this time the hormones are fluctuating and leading to several changes in the body.
The symptom usually clears on its own after you start bleeding. Having nipple itchy after menstruation is not normal. It might be a sign of a serious underlying problem. It is advisable that you seek medical attention.
Pregnancy comes with both physical and hormonal changes to the body. Can itchy nipple be an early sign of pregnancy? Tender or itchiness in the breast is expected a week after implantation has taken place.
Hormonal changes are intense in the first trimester and also as the woman adds weight in pregnancy, the accumulation of fat in the breast may also be a cause.
During the first and second trimester, there is a lot of milk-formation producing cells and milk ducts, a second reason why you are experiencing persistent nipple itch.
If you experience sore nipples and not pregnant, chances are you are ovulating. During the egg release from the ovary, the pregnancy hormones increase in levels in preparation for implantation.
Other causes of nipple soreness after a negative pregnancy test could be a sign of underlying health problem. In such an instance you should visit your doctor for detailed examinations.
Majority of the women feed their infants through breastfeeding. There are so many good benefits of breast milk compared to formulas. Thus it becomes hectic when one cannot breastfeed their baby due to the pain and itchiness in the breast.
The main cause of itching during breastfeeding is yeast infection caused by the baby’s oral thrush. To diagnose a yeast infection on the nipple, check your baby for white coating in the mouth and tongue. You can also look for white raised bumps inside the mouth.
A thrush infection is caused by a fungus called candida albican. The infection is more common in children than adults. Your pediatrician may prescribe anti-fungal medications for your baby. To reduce your pain and inflammation, medications may also be prescribed.
Itching could be a sign of a rare breast cancer known as inflammatory breast cancer. In this type of cancer, the skin that covers the tumors becomes red and inflamed, painful and itchy. When the causes of breast itchiness are breast cancer, the signs include the following:
Irritated breasts can cause you to go through embarrassing moments. Using chemicals over delicate breast tissue might result in serious effects. Natural treatments are most effective to manage your nipple itch. Here are the top five remedies you can try at home to get rid of itchy nipples:
One of the best remedies used to treat skin itching and dryness is coconut oil. It contains specific anti-acids that are easily absorbed to moisturize the skin.
Coconut oil is both anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. For this reason, it can be used to get rid of nipple itch and painful bumps on the breast skin.
Baking soda is crystalline although it appears as a fine powder. It is alkaline and contains anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory benefits. This natural treatment is effective when used for short periods because it has the potential to damage your skin when used for long.
Vinegar is another natural treatment for itchy nipples. It is also a good cleansing compound because of its antiseptic properties.
To prevent your skin from drying, always make sure it is moisturized. Oatmeal contains one of the best natural treatments for dry skin.
Avoid bathing in hot showers for a longer time. This will make your skin drier, thereby increasing itchiness. If you prefer bathing in warm showers, then avoid the continuous flow of water over the nipples. You are advised to just wipe your breast using a cloth soaked in cold water.
Medical Disclaimer: This website is intended for informational purposes only. We do not diagnose, treat or prescribe. See your physician or ObGyn for proper diagnosis and treatment of your ailments.

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Why Does Menopause Cause Itchy Breasts?

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Sherry Christiansen is a medical writer with a healthcare background. She has worked in the hospital setting and collaborated on Alzheimer's research.

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Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved

Verywell Health is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Lauren Schlanger, MD, is a board-certified primary care physician with a focus on women's and transgender health.

Menopause causes many changes and can include some discomforts, like hot flashes and night sweats. But other, more subtle symptoms are not commonly linked with menopause, such as itchy breasts.

Itchy breasts related to menopause are caused by hormonal changes. The breasts are quite responsive to estrogen levels because breast tissue has many estrogen-receptor sites. During menopause, the level of these hormones begins to change, and this can have an impact throughout the body—as well as in the breasts—causing breast tenderness, discomfort, and even itchiness.

This article provides more information on the causes and treatment of itchy breasts during menopause.

By the time a person with a uterus and ovaries reaches their late 40s to early 50s, perimenopause has likely started. 1 Perimenopause (literally meaning "around menopause") is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, the time when monthly periods have stopped for 12 months. During perimenopause, a person often starts noticing some changes in their breasts .

During perimenopause, breast changes often occur cyclically due to fluctuating hormonal levels. These breast symptoms start when the monthly cycle begins and then subside a few days later. When menopause occurs, hormonal levels continue to decrease, causing more changes in the breasts. These changes include:

Breast tenderness and discomfort are common symptoms during perimenopause and menopause. Breast itchiness may be caused by different underlying factors, including thinning of the skin on the breasts from a decrease in hormone levels. 2

A drop in estrogen levels can cause the skin to become thin and dry and result in skin atrophy (shrinkage). Thinning of the skin can cause it to be more sensitive to:

There are many benign reasons for itchy breasts that do not require a visit with a healthcare provider. Breast changes that indicate you should consult with a healthcare provider include: 3
Itching or changes in the skin also can sometimes be a sign of cancer—such as Paget's disease or inflammatory breast cancer .

At-home treatment for itchy breasts may include:

After consulting with your healthcare provider for itchy breasts that don’t respond to home remedies, medications may be ordered to help alleviate itching, such as topical (on the skin) estrogen cream or topical hydrocortisone.

Replacing hormone levels that are dwindling due to menopause is popular for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. According to a study, in people with a uterus and ovaries with declining estrogen levels who have various skin changes (such as thinning skin), HRT with estrogen supplementation may help improve or reverse skin changes. However, HRT is never recommended solely as a treatment for menopausal skin changes. 4

It’s important to note that HRT may cause some side effects as well as some health risks, including:

Prevention of breast itchiness may include:

According to the North American Menopause Society, most people with a uterus and ovaries in North America will likely experience natural menopause between the ages of 40 and 58, averaging around age 51. Some, however, reach this phase in their 30s, others not until their 60s. Typically, people with a uterus and ovaries reach menopause around the same age as their mothers and sisters. 5

One study showed that symptoms of menopause—such as hot flashes and night sweats—persisted for a median duration of about seven years, with symptoms lasting for an average of four and a half years after the last menstrual period.

Menopause is a natural process caused by a change in the body’s reproductive hormones. This change causes your ovaries to stop producing eggs. Menopause can also be caused by surgical removal of the ovaries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and, although rare, a failure of your ovaries to produce normal levels of hormones. 6

Verywell Health realizes that symptoms of perimenopause—such as itchy breasts—can be very frustrating and may even be embarrassing. Keep in mind that you are not alone.

Perimenopause and menopause are natural parts of life, but they bring their challenges. When you see your healthcare provider, mentioning your perimenopausal symptoms—including those that are more subtle—may give you the advice, encouragement, and symptom relief you need.

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Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Breast cancer symptoms .
Hall G, et al. Estrogen and skin: The effects of estrogen, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy on the skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2005;53(4):569-571.DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2004.08.039
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