The term breast eczema refers to benign
dermatitis
Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened. The area of skin involved can v ...
seen in the
skin
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.
Other cuticle, animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have diffe ...
of the
breast
The breast is one of two prominences located on the upper ventral region of a primate's torso. Both females and males develop breasts from the same embryological tissues.
In females, it serves as the mammary gland, which produces and secret ...
. It can affect the
nipples
The nipple is a raised region of tissue on the surface of the breast from which, in females, milk leaves the breast through the lactiferous ducts to feed an infant. The milk can flow through the nipple passively or it can be ejected by smooth mu ...
,
areolae
The human areola (''areola mammae'', or ) is the pigmented area on the breast around the nipple. Areola, more generally, is a small circular area on the body with a different histology from the surrounding tissue, or other small circular ar ...
, and surrounding areas.
Eczema of the nipples is the moist type, with oozing and crusting. Painful
fissuring is frequently seen, especially in
nursing
Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...
mothers.
It will often occur in pregnancy, even without breastfeeding.
Persistent eczema of the nipple, especially in the middle-aged and elderly, should be discussed with a doctor, as a rare type of
breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a re ...
called
Paget's disease can cause similar symptoms.
Treatment
As with other types of eczema, treatment of breast eczema is generally focused on alleviating the symptoms.
A doctor may prescribe
topical steroids – specifically
glucocorticoids
Glucocorticoids (or, less commonly, glucocorticosteroids) are a class of corticosteroids, which are a class of steroid hormones. Glucocorticoids are corticosteroids that bind to the glucocorticoid receptor that is present in almost every vertebr ...
such as
mometasone
Mometasone, also known as mometasone y 3 s, is a steroid medication used to treat certain skin conditions, hay fever, and asthma. Specifically it is used to prevent rather than treat asthma attacks. It can be applied to the skin, inhaled, or use ...
or
methylprednisolone aceponate
Methylprednisolone aceponate, or methylprednisolone acetate propionate, sold under the brand names Advantan and Avancort, is a glucocorticoid and a corticosteroid ester—specifically the C17α propionate and C21 acetate diester of methylpredniso ...
– to be applied to the affected area.
See also
*
Breast disease
Breast diseases make up a number of conditions. The most common symptoms are a breast mass, breast pain, and nipple discharge.
A majority of breast diseases are noncancerous.
Tumor
A breast tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue in the breast as a ...
*
Complications of pregnancy
Complications of pregnancy are health problems that are related to pregnancy. Complications that occur primarily during childbirth are termed obstetric labor complications, and problems that occur primarily after childbirth are termed puerperal di ...
*
Dermatoses of pregnancy
Dermatoses of pregnancy are the inflammatory skin diseases that are specific to women while they are pregnant. While some use the term 'polymorphic eruption of pregnancy' to cover these,James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). ''Andrew ...
*
Skin lesion
A skin condition, also known as cutaneous condition, is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system—the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this s ...
References
External links
Eczema
Breast diseases
Pregnancy-related cutaneous conditions
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