Brown spot on breast skin

Bug bite, rash, cancer, or something else?

Red spots and dark brown or purple spots on the breast are usually symptoms of a rash or other skin condition. Less commonly, they can also be a visual sign of breast cancer. They may be red on light skin and purple or dark brown on dark skin.

Being able to recognize the early signs of breast cancer can allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment and improve a person’s outlook.

This article looks at whether spots or a rash on the breast can be a sign of breast cancer.

It also examines other possible causes of spots on the breasts, and when to contact a doctor.

Although spots or a rash on the breast are usually symptoms of a noncancerous condition, they can sometimes be an early sign of breast cancer, and a person should monitor them closely.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, a rash or small irritation that appears similar to a bug bite can be an early symptom of IBC. This is a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer.

A 2018 study notes that IBC accounts for around 2−4% of all breast cancer cases, yet it contributes to 7–10% of breast-cancer-related deaths.

People with IBC typically do not have breast lumps, which are a common symptom in other types of breast cancer.

Other symptoms of IBC include:

persistent itching
breast swelling and warmth
skin inflammation that affects more than one-third of the breast
an inverted or retracted nipple
a change in breast size as a result of the swelling
thickening of the breast skin
enlargement or heaviness of the affected breast
breast skin that feels and appears thick and pitted, similar to an orange peel
swollen lymph nodes under the arms or collarbone

Symptoms typically develop quickly, within 3–6 months.

Paget’s disease of the breast

Spots or a rash on the breast can also be a sign of another rare type of breast cancer known as Paget’s disease of the breast or Paget’s disease of the nipple.

It accounts for around 1–4% of all cases of breast cancer.

Typically, Paget’s disease affects only one nipple, and it can resemble other noncancerous skin conditions, such as eczema and dermatitis.

Signs and symptoms that affect the nipple and areola may include:

scaly, inflamed, thickened, and crusted skin
very dry skin
color changes on the breast
pain or itching

Other symptoms of Paget’s disease include:

inversion or deformation of the nipple
yellowish fluid or blood coming out of the nipple
a noticeable mass in the breast, which occurs in around 50% of people

The Breast Cancer Healthline app provides people with access to an online breast cancer community, where users can connect with others and gain advice and support through group discussions.

According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), bug bites usually cause a lump on the skin that can be small, inflamed, painful, and itchy. They usually resolve within a few hours or days.

However, in some cases, people may develop a mild allergic reaction. This can cause a larger area of skin around the bite to become swollen, inflamed, and painful. This usually resolves within a week.

People should contact a doctor if they develop any symptoms of breast cancer or their current symptoms do not resolve and occur alongside other symptoms of breast cancer.

Learn more
Learn more about how to identify bug bites:
Identifying bug bites: Signs and symptoms
Insect and spider bites and how to deal with them

Although pimples can be painful and cause localized inflammation and swelling, they do not cause the other symptoms of cancer.

There are different kinds of pimples, including:

Whiteheads: These produce a white bump.
Blackheads: These appear black on the skin surface.
Papules: These are inflamed lesions that appear as small, inflamed bumps. They may also be tender to touch.
Pustules: These are inflamed at the base and have pus-filled lesions at the top. The lesions may be white or yellow.
Nodules: These are large lesions that can be solid and painful. They are usually deep within the skin.
Cystic acne: These are painful lesions filled with pus. They are also deep within the skin.

Bug bites are usually itchy, whereas pimples are not. A bug bite may also appear similar to a pimple if it becomes infected. Infected bug bites may lead to a buildup of pus.

An infected bug bite may also cause symptoms that appear similar to those of breast cancer. These symptoms can include:

warmth around the bite
swelling and discoloration around the bite
swollen lymph nodes
pain

If people are concerned about their symptoms, they should contact a doctor.

Learn more about infected insect bites here.

There are many other possible causes of spots or rashes on the breast, including:

Nipple dermatitis

Nipple dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin on the nipple and areola. It usually causes pain.

Causes of nipple dermatitis include:

skin irritation due to infant attachment
atopic dermatitis and other allergic reactions
bacterial, viral, and yeast infections

Learn more about nipple dermatitis here.

Breast abscess

A breast abscess is a buildup of pus in the breast that results from a bacterial infection. The bacteria get inside the breast through the nipple. Breast abscesses can be painful and most commonly affect people who are nursing.

Doctors usually treat abscesses with antibiotics, drainage, or needle aspiration.

Learn more about a breast abscess here.

Mammary duct ectasia

Mammary duct ectasia is a noncancerous, or benign, condition that affects the milk ducts in the breast. The ducts become wider, and their walls get thicker, which can lead to a blockage and buildup of fluid.

It usually causes bloody nipple discharge and redness or tenderness of the nipple and areola. Sometimes, a mass may be present under the areola.

Learn more about mammary duct ectasia here.

Mastitis

Mastitis is a painful inflammation of the breast and is more common in people who are nursing. It results from milk becoming trapped in the breast. This can cause bacteria to multiply, leading to an infection.

It typically causes inflammation, warmth, and tenderness of the affected breast. However, more serious symptoms can include fever, breast abscess, and the serious blood infection septicemia.

Learn more about mastitis here.

Other rashes

Other types of rash that can affect the breast include:

Candidiasis: A fungal infection that typically occurs in the skin folds, including under the breasts.
Atopic dermatitis: Also known as eczema, atopic dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that causes redness and itching and may cause the skin to scale, crust over, or ooze fluid.
Psoriasis: An inflammatory, chronic skin condition that causes reddish patches of skin covered with silvery scales.
Hives: Hives, or urticaria, is an allergic reaction to certain foods, medications, or other substances. It causes inflamed, raised, and itchy skin rashes.
Shingles: A nerve infection that causes a painful rash along a nerve that can occur anywhere on the body, including on or near the breast area.
Scabies: An itchy skin condition that occurs when small mites burrow into the skin. Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close physical contact with infected people.
Seborrheic dermatitis: This condition is a common inflammatory skin condition that mainly affects the scalp and causes red and scaly patches. These patches can also appear on the face and upper part of the body, including the breasts.
Cellulitis: A potentially serious skin condition, it occurs when bacteria enter the skin through a break or crack and cause swelling, inflammation, warmth, and pain in the affected area. Cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body and spread to other parts.

A spot or rash on the breast is usually not a cause for concern but can sometimes be a sign of a more serious condition, including breast cancer.

People should contact a doctor as soon as possible if the rash occurs alongside any of the following symptoms:

changes in the breast skin
new spots or rashes on the breast
persistent pain that does not improve or resolve
swelling, warmth, and inflammation of the breast
fever
wounds that do not heal
fluid leaking from the rash
streaks coming from the rash

A person should also contact a doctor for any rash that does not go away after a while or any rash that appears severe or causes other symptoms that raise concerns.

In most cases, a spot or rash on the breast is not a major cause of concern. There are a number of benign conditions that can cause these symptoms.

However, a person should consider speaking with a doctor if they are concerned about their symptoms, such as pain, swelling of the breast, or changes in the nipple.

Read the article in Spanish here.

The Reasons Behind Brown Spots Around Breasts

Breasts are one of the important body parts and need to take care of carefully. Moms should know some facts about this special body part. Moreover, it's a must to take care of your breast and pay more attention to it.

Paying attention to the breasts is a must because there are many symptoms of the disease that appear in the surrounding area, for example, such as brown spots that appear around the breasts. Is it dangerous for brown spots that appear on the breast? What is the cause and how to solve it? Read the explanation in here Moms!

Ｗhat Causes Brown Spots on Breasts

1. Pregnancy and Pregnancy Hormones

Signs of pregnancy can be seen from the changes in the nipples. As reported on the Healthline page, the size of the areola glands in the body of pregnant women will enlarge due to hormones during pregnancy. Enlargement of the size of the areola glands will look like brown spots resembling pimples.

These enlarged brown spots are actually harmless because they are hormonal in nature. The size of the enlarged areola gland does not need special treatment because it will return to normal after the hormone stabilizes. Be aware not to press the brown spots as this will cause infection. If you are worried about the state of brown spots, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

2. Congested Nipples

According to the Healthline page, brown spots can also be caused by blocked nipples. The blockage can occur due to milk clots and skin formed from milk blisters. This milk blister is what causes the appearance of spots around the areola. Pressure from a nursing baby can clear any blockages. If the blockage does not go away, you will be at risk of a breast infection called mastitis.

3. Fungal Infection

One of the causes of brown spots around the breasts is caused by a fungal infection. As a result of this fungal infection itself can cause other symptoms, such as red nipples and excessive pain.

If you have a yeast infection, contact your doctor immediately to get the right treatment. Fungal infections can be said to be dangerous because they can be transmitted to babies.

4. Pressure on the Breasts

The cause of brown spots on the breast can occur due to pressure. The use of a bra that is too tight and a sling that is too tight can cause brown spots to appear around the breasts. This can lead to blockage of the flow of breast milk (ASI).

5. Paget's Disease and Breast Cancer

Basically, brown spots on the breasts are hormonal and can disappear on their own. However, this cannot be taken lightly and needs to be watched out for because the spots that appear are symptoms of Paget's disease. The cells present in Paget's disease can form breast cancer.

How to Overcome Brown Spots on Breasts

After knowing the cause of brown spots that appear around the breasts, Moms also need to know how to deal with them safely. Here are some method that can be applied:

1. Warm Water

Brown spots caused by blockages can go away on their own, but you can do things to relieve them, such as compressing your breasts or taking a warm bath.

2. Massage

Gentle breast massage can remove blockages that cause brown spots around the breasts.

3. Comfortable Bra

Brown spots around the breasts can also be caused by pressure from wearing a bra that is too tight. Moms need to pay attention to the size and material of the bra used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. During the breastfeeding period, Moms definitely need a comfortable nursing bra to support daily activities. A maternity nursing bra from MOOIMOM can provide complete comfort for Moms. The super-soft and seamless design supports Moms to breastfeed easier. Moms can directly get this MOOIMOM Super Soft Seamless Maternity & Nursing Bra on the MOOIMOM official website.

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4. Healthy Lifestyle

During pregnancy, mothers are encouraged to have a healthy lifestyle. Doing sports and consuming healthy foods and the right supplements can increase the body's immunity.

5. Consultation with a Doctor

If the condition caused by brown spots gets worse, you are advised to consult a trusted doctor.

Age spots on the body: treatment, causes, symptoms

Age spots are harmless and do not cause any particular inconvenience, except that they spoil the appearance and contribute to the development of complexes and self-doubt. To understand how to deal with them, in this article we will first find out the reasons for their appearance, and then we will figure out how to get rid of unnecessary pigmentation.

What are age spots?

Age spots are flat, often rounded, areas of the skin that differ in color from the rest of the skin and stand out on it. If you find a spot on your body that differs in color from the rest of the skin, then this is a pigment spot. There may be several such spots.

So why do these spots appear? First of all, this is due to the fact that skin pigmentation is impaired.

Causes of hyperpigmentation.

In men and women, pigmented formations appear for several reasons.

Exposure to UV rays in a solarium or outdoors. Due to the fact that when exposed to ultraviolet rays, the skin synthesizes melanin, just a tan appears. But, if you abuse the stay in the sun or in the solarium, then there is excessive pigmentation.
Pigmentation may be caused by hormonal changes. The point is again in melanin, for the production of which, last but not least, the endocrine glands responsible for the synthesis of hormones are responsible.
Pregnancy can provoke the appearance of spots, in which powerful hormonal changes occur.
Pigmentation may appear after injury. The integrity of the skin is broken, and post-traumatic hyperpigmentation occurs.
Some medications cause the side effect of excessive skin pigmentation.
Liver diseases very often affect the appearance, including the appearance of age spots.
Poor-quality and incorrectly selected cosmetics contribute to changes in the skin.
Various inflammations are a concomitant factor for pigmentation.
Hormonal contraceptive pills provoke unnecessary pigmentation.
Sometimes there is a hereditary factor.

These are the main reasons, there are others, for example, the performance of cosmetic procedures by people who do not have the appropriate professional skills and specialization.

What are age spots?

Lenitigo is a benign skin growth that is black or dark brown in color.

Freckles are a congenital hyperpigmentation most commonly seen in fair-skinned and red-haired people. The color of the freckles is light.

Melasma appears on the face, shoulders, neck under the influence of hormones and ultraviolet radiation. May occur with the use of certain oils, especially citrus and mineral oils. In winter, melasma brighten, and darken in summer, as they are very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation.

Chloasma - brown or light brown patches of uneven shape. They are in the nature of focal hyperpigmentation of different sizes with clear boundaries. For the most part, such spots appear in diseases of the internal organs.

How to treat age spots?

Today there are several ways to treat hyperpigmentation.

Laser treatment. The doctor uses a laser to directly affect the pigment of the spot, due to which it is destroyed, and the spot brightens and gradually disappears.

Phototherapy works in a similar way to laser treatment. Only the IPL machine works by flashing light of a wide length, and does not generate a beam of a certain length, like a laser.

Peeling. Exfoliate dead skin cells. This cosmetic procedure is known to everyone and is very simple, it also helps with hyperpigmentation.

Skin whitening and exfoliating cosmetics: lotions, scrubs, creams, peels. After their application, the skin brightens and the spots become invisible.

There are also folk remedies, but not only do they not give a guaranteed result, but they can also harm the skin.

The best and most reliable way is laser treatment or phototherapy. It's fast and efficient. In
our clinic of laser cosmetology "Laser Estctic" we use modern laser devices Candela and Lumenis IPL QUANTUM, which are
recognized as the safest in the world, to remove age spots! Call us or leave a request on the website to sign up for
procedure.

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Age spots are one of the most common cosmetic defects. Violations are associated with an increased content of melanin in the cells of the dermis, which form the pigment spot.

Depending on its amount in the skin, there are two main types of pigment spots (melanosis):

hypermelanosis - dark spots are observed on the skin due to excess melanin;
hypomelanosis - associated with the lack of pigment under the skin, and, as a result, the appearance of light spots is observed.

Such deficiencies can be a signal of serious disturbances in the functioning of the body.

The most common types of age spots:

Lentigo - small dark spots, usually located on the upper body. They arise due to age-related changes and abundant solar radiation.
Freckles - small spots localized on the face, back and décolleté. With age, they often disappear, while such age spots are not pathological and do not require mandatory treatment.
Chloasma - spots of dark yellow or brown color with irregular outlines. They appear due to excessive solar radiation, as well as against the background of hormonal changes in the second half of pregnancy, pathological changes in the uterus and ovarian tumors.

Why do pigment spots occur?

Melanin is one of the main pigments that determine skin tone. It is of two types, the proportions between them determine the color of the dermis:

eumelanin is an insoluble pigment that gives a black or brown color;
pheomelanin is a soluble pigment responsible for giving the epidermal layer of the skin a yellow or light brown hue.

Melanin is produced and stored in special cells - melanocytes, which are located in the epidermis. The main substance of which it consists is the amino acid tyrosine. It is it that, under the action of sunlight, copper and oxygen ions, is oxidized and turns into a pigment. Then the substance is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the skin, staining it.

In case of disorders in the functioning of the endocrine and nervous systems, liver, spleen, uneven distribution of pigment in skin cells and the appearance of spots of different staining intensity are possible.

Is it possible to remove age spots and how to do it?

Depending on the cause of pigment spots, they can be divided into two more groups:

Primary - appear directly against the background of a violation of the production and distribution of melanin. There are acquired, congenital and hereditary.
Secondary - appear after various dermatological diseases. They do not carry any danger and are easily removed by any cosmetics.

Part of primary hypermelanoses cannot be removed by cosmetic methods. In this case, it is necessary to act on the root cause.