Good afternoon, dear readers! I work as a dermatologist and over many years of practice I have seen all kinds of skin pathologies. One of the reasons why women turn to me for help is problems with the skin on their chests.
It would seem that the pimple on the halo is almost invisible, and such rashes are always covered by clothes, so why panic about such formations?!
Dear women, if you do not have the opportunity to consult a specialist in the near future after discovering a rash in the chest area, use my advice to find out the cause of these formations and first aid to eliminate discomfort.
Why do skin rashes appear on the mammary glands?
acne or white, can be found on or around the breast, nipples . Their appearance can be triggered by various factors on which further treatment depends.
Gastrointestinal and hormonal disorders
The inflammatory process of the digestive organs in all cases leads to an overly excited state of the central nervous system and, as a consequence, disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system. As a result, a large number of bacteria accumulate in the sebaceous ducts, which the skin does not have time to fight. They become clogged with fat and form red papules with a purulent top.
Acne on the female breast most often appears during the lactation period, gestation, or a few days before the start of the menstrual cycle.
This is due to changes in hormonal levels. The concentration of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) decreases, and testosterone, a male hormone, leads to the release of large amounts of thick sebum. As a result, the ducts become clogged, causing acne.
Allergic causes of acne
Daily wearing of synthetic or woolen clothing leads to the formation of acne on the female mammary glands. If the cause of this is an allergic reaction, the skin will constantly itch, peel, and the irritation will spread to neighboring areas of the body. If left untreated, small, watery pimples appear on the chest over time.
Causes of acne on nipples in men
Rashes in males are often caused by blockage of the sebaceous and sweat glands. They are distinguished by their small size and white tint.
The most common reasons include:
- an allergic reaction caused by poor-quality perfume, insect bites or food;
- constant wearing of warm or tight-fitting clothes that interfere with the thermoregulation of the skin;
- infectious disease;
- increased blood sugar;
- personal hygiene deficiencies.
According to experts, the most common causes of acne are stress and constant nervous tension. In this case, the rash appears not only on the chest, but also on the back.
Features of formations
Modified sebaceous glands look like tubercles. They cover the nipple halo and secrete a special secretion. Doctors still have not figured out what benefits this liquid has for the body. According to one version, lubricant is necessary to prevent the delicate skin on the nipples from drying out in hot weather. Another version says that the secret has bactericidal properties; it disinfects the areola in case of scratches and other damage. In a pregnant woman, these tubercles may secrete milk.
But doctors are more inclined to believe that the secreted fluid is necessary during lactation . It contains substances that enhance the natural taste and smell of mother's milk. Thanks to them, the child quickly gets used to the mother's scent. Today in medicine, research is being conducted on the artificial synthesis of secretions. It is planned to be used to introduce premature babies to breastfeeding.
In men, such changes in the nipples are isolated cases; the sebaceous glands in the chest area produce much less secretion. And with changes in the body, infections affect other organs.
What is a pimple on the nipple?
Pimples on the nipples of the mammary gland differ in appearance from rashes on other parts of the body. Most women are mistaken when they associate them with acne.
Acne can occur with or without inflammation. It depends on the cause that provokes their appearance. For example, acne, accompanied by swelling and redness, is a consequence of an infectious process on the surface of the skin. With hormonal imbalance, the nipples hurt, the pimples are white. Rashes that occur with constant itching are caused by an allergic reaction to an external irritant.
Symptom manifestation during pregnancy
Montgomery tubercles are special glands located in the areola of a woman’s nipples, which can increase during pregnancy, starting in the first weeks of pregnancy. The formations look like white dots around the nipples and do not require treatment.
The number of glands in women varies individually, but on average it is 10-12 tubercles on one mammary gland. It is believed that a large number of enlarged glands indicates a sufficient amount of milk in the future. Some doctors claim that the formation of white spots on the nipples is one of the initial signs of pregnancy.
However, the appearance of white spots during pregnancy and breastfeeding does not always occur. The formations disappear after stopping feeding, but in some cases they persist for life. This condition is a normal variant and therefore does not require any intervention.
The dangers of chest acne
The structure of the mammary glands contains fatty and glandular tissues, so most often acne rashes are accompanied by swelling. In the absence of proper treatment, ulcers or acne on the surface of the nipple or areola can penetrate into the deep layers of the gland, provoking the development of internal purulent inflammation. Mastitis is most dangerous during the lactation period.
When there is a hormonal imbalance, a rapid blockage of the sebaceous ducts of the breast occurs. This can lead to the formation of atheroma. The formation is benign and represents a subcutaneous capsule.
A lump on the chest can increase in size and become inflamed. Often, atheroma becomes a focus of chronic infection.
In advanced cases, formation can lead to squamous cell skin cancer.
White pimples in children
The problem may not only affect adults. If the baby has small white pimples on the nipples, this is a reason for parents to worry. Since such rashes can be either harmless or indicate quite serious diseases.
Pimples that appear in the first days of a baby’s life are most likely associated with hormonal changes occurring in his body. Formations of this kind are harmless and will soon disappear on their own, without a trace.
Reasons for the appearance of white pimples in babies:
- the hormone estriol, which enters the baby’s blood in excess quantities while still in the womb;
- restructuring the baby’s body and adapting it to the environment;
- the sebaceous glands of the skin have not yet fully formed;
- a nursing mother ate a product that caused an allergic reaction.
What to do if a pimple appears on your nipple or breast?
If you detect a suspicious rash on the mammary glands, you should seek specialist advice. Self-medication, especially squeezing out acne, in this case can lead to serious consequences.
Before visiting a specialist, the use of cosmetic or medicinal, especially hormonal, drugs is strictly prohibited. It is also not recommended to treat the surface of the breast and nipple with any alcohol solutions, salicylic acid-based products or antibacterial ointments. Their use will lead to cracks on the surface of the skin, which will aggravate the disease and complicate treatment.
If acne is accompanied by severe itching and redness, and there is no opportunity to see a dermatologist in the near future, you can use lotions or baths based on chamomile or calendula.
The specialist determines the exact diagnosis and cause of acne on the chest using anamnesis, examination and test results. The first stage of treatment is the elimination of unfavorable factors. These include unhealthy foods, synthetic or tight clothing. In case of an allergic reaction, the doctor prescribes antihistamines.
If the appearance of acne on the mammary glands has led to the appearance of atheroma, then urgent surgical intervention is necessary. Removal of the formation occurs under local anesthesia.
Disease prevention: advice from doctors
To avoid acne around the nipples, follow these rules:
- Carefully monitor your diet: no matter what, you should eat at least 5 times a day, but in small portions. You can develop an individual menu yourself using the Internet and other sources, or contact a nutritionist.
- Once every six months it is necessary to consult a gynecologist and take tests for hormonal levels.
- You need to spend more time in the fresh air and move as much as possible - a lack of oxygen in the body can also cause white pimples to appear on or near the nipples.
- Choosing new shower gels and other cosmetics must be done carefully and carefully.
- You need to buy high-quality underwear from either a domestic or Western manufacturer and give preference to bras made from natural materials, for example, 100% cotton - the price will be almost the same, but much safer and more comfortable.
- You also need to monitor your immunity and periodically take a course of vitamins, which your doctor may recommend to you.
- It is necessary to observe personal hygiene as much as possible and, for prevention, use soap with tar - it should be used to treat the area around the nipples.
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How to reduce the risk of chest acne?
The appearance of rashes on the mammary glands can be prevented. But for this it is necessary to adhere to a number of preventive measures:
- Maintaining personal hygiene rules using high-quality and hypoallergenic shower gels.
- Using only high-quality perfumes.
- Partial avoidance of salty, sweet foods, spices, coffee and fats, which lead to increased secretion of sebum.
- Adding foods rich in minerals and vitamins to your daily diet.
- Try to avoid mechanical damage to the surface of the chest (rubbing with bra straps, seams on underwear, injury from sharp edges of jewelry, etc.).
Pimples on the chest or nipples can appear for many reasons. But in most cases, the patient simply needs to change his lifestyle and get rid of the irritant. Acne itself is not considered a serious disease, but it can lead to complications that only highly qualified specialists can handle.
Prevention of acne formation in the nipple area
To prevent the occurrence of a rash on the halo, preventive measures should be taken that differ little from the prevention of skin formations on other parts of the body.
If you managed to cure your breasts and clear the skin of the rash, do not forget about further precautions that will help protect you from repeated nipple disease. The list of preventive measures can include the following procedures:
- personal hygiene - every day you need to wash your skin with a soft washcloth and shower gel to remove dead cells, bacteria and dust;
- wash your breasts with tar soap - in the morning and evening you should wipe the skin around the nipples with this cleanser;
- moisturizing creams - can only be applied to very dry skin, but the cream should consist of natural ingredients;
- change your diet - add more vegetables and fruits to your diet, remove fatty and fried foods, fast food, soda, coffee and confectionery from your diet, consume less salt;
- the right choice of clothing and bedding - use only natural fabrics, exclude synthetics.
Boro Plus cream, which contains only natural herbs and beneficial substances, is well suited for nourishing and moisturizing the skin.
Inflammation of the Montgomery tubercles
The bumps help kill germs and keep the areola clean. However, in medical practice, inflammation of the Montgomery tubercles occurs. Women can expect inflammation to occur during feeding and menstrual periods, the delay of which also causes the inflammatory process.
The bumps may become red, there is pain, mild fever (milk fever), and the body temperature rises. It is necessary to consult a doctor for examination and treatment. Imaging studies, such as ultrasound, mammography, usually reveal a firm, homogeneous, well-circumscribed mass that is amenable to treatment.
Pimples can also appear on male nipples, but they are less numerous due to the absence of potential factors such as menstruation, menopause.
Inflammation of the mammary glands is caused by a clogged hair follicle with dirt or dead skin cells. Acne breakouts on the nipples are observed during puberty in the male half of the population.
The tubercles become inflamed, swelling of the areola appears, and pressing on the problem area causes pain during feeding; this condition requires treatment. Often women develop a rash on the nipples, blisters with pus - this is evidence of the presence of an infectious disease.
If the discharge contains an admixture of pus or blood, you should immediately seek professional medical help.
What function do tubercles perform in the body?
Secretion from the Montgomery tubercles keeps the skin of the nipples elastic. But for expectant mothers, bumps play a big role, and will become more noticeable as they increase in size.
The changes are due to two main functions that the tubercles perform during natural feeding:
- Montgomery's glands promote breastfeeding. Help babies find the breast and latch onto the breast correctly. The tubercles allow the baby to quickly learn to suck milk.
- The glands keep girls' breasts healthy. The tubercles produce sebaceous secretions and play a primary role in maintaining balance, protecting the secretions with lubricant. The substance is secreted by tiny holes. For mothers, one of the main functions of the Montgomery tubercles is to help protect the body from infection. During natural feeding, children who are teething cause pain, creating conditions for the development of skin infections. The cracks that form during feeding can be very painful; you may need to lubricate the injured nipple with ointment or have the breast treated by a doctor.
Time to heal
Regardless of the financial situation, the weather outside the window and her own well-being, a woman must remember: at the first signs of illness, she must immediately seek help from a medical institution!
Only a doctor, after conducting a full examination, will be able to identify the root of the problem and prescribe effective comprehensive treatment.
It is possible that these will be medications, after drinking which the woman will feel better, and the sign of the disease in the form of white dots will go away.
In addition, the patient may need to take vitamins to saturate the body with useful microelements. It often happens that this approach is more than enough.
However, treatment, even a comprehensive one, will be very little to ensure that the problem never makes itself felt again. A woman should make it a rule to visit a doctor regularly, even if she is not in pain. A basic examination has never harmed anyone, but it has saved many lives.
In addition, do not forget about the rules of personal hygiene, which must be observed at all times!
Timely showering using special products not only ensures a woman’s comfort during the day, but also helps to significantly reduce the likelihood of infection entering the body.
