05 November 2023 , 17:56
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Have you ever felt an irritable urge to scratch your boob? It's very normal to feel like you need to scratch your breast, and while most of the time it's completely harmless, there are certain times you might be best seeing a doctor.
There are many different reasons this might be happening - and most of the time you don't need to worry. Kathryn Basford, Asda Online Doctor told the Mirror: "Most commonly itchy nipples are caused by itchy skin including sensitivity to certain products, cold weather, or perhaps a condition such as eczema or dermatitis. Sometimes hormonal changes may be behind itchy nipples, such as pregnancy or menopause, or a side effect of mastitis, a tissue infection in breastfeeding women."
According to Paul Harris, Amir Sadri and Aadil Khan, plastic surgeons and founders of Implant Health, there are also other harmless, but surprising reasons your breasts are itchy. For example, it could be that your bra needs washing, or that it doesn't fit properly. According to the experts, the bacteria as well as dead skin cells, oils and sweats trapped inside the fabric can irritate the skin.
Another reason is the stretching of skin, which can happen during puberty, if you've recently gained weight, or if you're pregnant. It's natural that when the skin stretches it can cause itchiness and skin inflammation, they told The Sun.
While most of these reasons are harmless, it's important to know when you need to see a doctor, as itchy breasts is also a symptom of breast cancer. Kathryn told The Mirror: "In more severe cases, an itchy nipple may cause concern for breast cancer. If itching is unexplained and persistent, and accompanied by symptoms such as an inverted or flat nipples, discharge, a lump or hardening of the breast tissue or pain around the nipple area, it is advised that you seek out further medical advice."
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Specialist Litigator, Katy Link, from Patient Claim Line, explained: "The symptom we probably hear most about is a lump in the breast. Any unusual lumps or thickening of the breast tissue should be assessed by a medical professional immediately. However, there are other red flag symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored, and if you spot any of the following you should seek medical advice straight away."
Other red flag symptoms include changing in the shape of the breast or both breasts, discharge, lumps in your armpits, or changes to the look or feel of your skin. You should also look out for "any kinds of rashes, such as crusting, scaling or itchy skin, or any redness around the nipple".
The most important thing is to see your GP if notice any change to your breast that is new or unusual for you. You can find out more about breast cancer symptoms at Breast Cancer Now.