Definition
A reddish rash under the breast is not unknown to many women. The area under the breast is an ideal place for irritation due to the warm and slightly moist environment of the skin folds. Fungal infections are also possible.
Psoriasis under the breast can also appear. Depending on the cause, the rash is not only reddened, but can also itch, look scaly or show blisters. Also an unpleasant odor can sometimes occur.
Causes
The causes of a rash under the breast can be varied. Firstly, contact allergies should always be excluded. If the rash has occurred in connection with a new cream or a new bra, or if the detergent for the bra was previously changed, an attempt can be made to see whether omitting the new agent or garment will result in the rash healing.
The rash often occurs in summer in combination with heavy sweating. The area under the breast represents a fold of skin which usually has no contact with fresh air. In this environment moisture can accumulate and the skin contact creates a lot of heat.
All these points cause the skin to become irritated, which can result in a rash. Potentially, the irritated skin can also be an entry point for bacteria and fungi. It is therefore also possible that a rash under the breast is caused by a fungal infection.
Another possible cause is psoriasis. Mostly the patients concerned know already since their childhood that they suffer from psoriasis and already had corresponding skin changes in other parts of the body. However, these can also occur under the breast.
If the rash is isolated under the breasts, this usually speaks against a systemic infection as the trigger, since the skin changes would be less localized in this case. Shingles is an exception. This disease, which can occur in all people who have already had chickenpox, is caused by the same virus as chickenpox and is manifested by a belt-shaped rash that may also run under the breast.
Excessive sweating occurs in many women with large breasts below and between the breasts. The constant moisture or loss of moisture through sweating is unfavorable for the skin. The barrier function of the skin is disturbed and irritant rashes can occur more easily.
Furthermore, the warm and moist environment under the breasts is an ideal breeding ground for fungi. A fungal infestation also manifests itself in a characteristic rash. Furthermore, sweating can also lead to inflammation of the hair follicles.
Due to the change in hormones during pregnancy, the skin can become more sensitive. In some cases, creams or washing lotions that were previously well tolerated are suddenly no longer tolerated. This can lead to a reddish rash.
In addition, the breasts are enlarged during pregnancy, which means that there is more friction under the breasts. Increased sweating also occurs due to hormones. Thus, the skin under the breasts can become irritated and react with a rash.
A fungus can also accumulate under the breasts during pregnancy if the skin fold is increasingly warm and moist. The child is not endangered by the described rash types. A skin rash on the abdomen can generally have similar causes as the rash under the breasts.
Many people develop skin folds on the abdomen while sitting, which, like the region under the breast, represent a moist and warm environment that irritates the skin. In addition, shingles can also be so extensive that it also includes the upper abdomen. Furthermore, an allergy can also affect both body regions.
Especially if the allergy relates to a new detergent, for example, the symptoms will occur in several parts of the body that have contact with the washed clothes. Infectious diseases, such as the children’s diseases measles or chickenpox, usually appear on the stomach and also in the chest area. In general, however, they do not appear singularly under the breast.
