Why do the nipples itch?

Dehydration of the skin

Dry skin affects any location, but due to its characteristics, the nipple and areola can suffer it especially. During the menopause women notice the skin and mucous membranes in general much drier, so we can find this problem more often. The nipple and areola can also experience dryness in periods of more solar exposition or as a consequence of some medical treatments.

In these cases simply recommending a moisturizer or oil to maintain good skin hydration it will be enough.

Cutaneous pathologies

The chest, like any other part of the body, can be affected by various skin conditions that cause itching, such as a eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis… And it must be taken into account that many of these pathologies are self-perpetuating and get worse as we scratch more. If we itch and scratch, we modify the skin so that it itches even more and we enter a circle that feeds itself.

May need a topical treatment in some cases with a corticosteroid cream or ointment to soothe the itch and, above all, stop scratching so that the skin normalizes.

Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes affect the sensitivity of the nipples in different ways throughout the sexual cycle of women in its various stages. During the adolescence You may notice itching in the chest and especially in the areola. Along the menstrual cycle women experience many changes that can cause itching, tenderness and even bilateral pain, especially in the premenstrual period. During pregnancy (especially the first weeks) one of the most common symptoms in pregnant women is increased sensitivity and size of the breasts and sometimes itchy nipples. And from 40-45 years old until menopause, some women may experience premenstrual discomfort in a more pronounced way.

The recommendation in these cases is a good hydration and try not to scratch.

Inflammatory breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is another type infrequent of breast cancer that manifests as if it were a breast infection or mastitis, with reddening of the skin over the entire breast, which is hot and edematous, like orange peel skin and which can cause itching all over the breast and especially the nipple and constitutes an aggressive and advanced variant of.

Both one and the other entity are very rare and affect unilaterally, therefore, malignant pathologies should not be suspected when faced with a nonspecific symptom such as itchy nipples. Yes indeed, if the itch is persistent and is not resolved With the first hydration measures, and especially if it is unilateral, it is recommended at the bedside to determine its cause.

Paget's disease

That of the breast or the nipple is a rare type of cancer that primarily affects the nipple or is secondary to a tumor inside the breast from which its cells have migrated through the interior of the mammary ducts to the nipple, manifesting at that level with inflammatory signs: redness, scaling, thickening of the skin and itching.

Yeast infection

Especially in periods of lactation due to humidity constant. In this case, the treatment must be specific to combat the usual fungal or eventually bacterial infection.

Systemic diseases

What pathologies of the liver, gallbladder, diabetes They can present with generalized itching of the skin, and this can manifest itself especially in the nipple because it is a particularly sensitive area.

• Most of the times when nipples are itchy, it is from an absolutely benign cause.
• In certain cases it can be a symptom of a generalized disease or rarely a breast cancer, especially if the itch is only in one of the nipples.
• For this reason, it is advisable for a persistent itch to be evaluated by the doctor.

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Gynecology and Nutrition Specialist Advance Medical collaborating physician