Cutaneous Fungal Infection Below The Breast Fold
Q: I am a 52 year old woman in a good health. Three months ago I developed a rash under my breast. It was very irritating, itchy and gave off an odor. The rash under my breast is about 85% gone. However, now it has moved to the center of my breast. I have been monitoring my diet and I haven’t changed any foods that I eat. I take Synthroid and that hasn’t changed. My undergarments also haven’t changed. The soaps I use in bathing and doing laundry haven’t changed. This rash has not appeared anywhere else on my body. Do you think this is something I should be concerned about? Should I watch if it goes away on its own?
Reply:
The irritating, itchy rash with a smell you’ve been having is most likely a fungal infection.
The lower part of the breast rests over the skin below to form a fold of skin which is very vulnerable to fungal growths. This area often remains moist and so provides condition for easy growth of fungus.
Predisposing Factors
Tendency increases with the following factors:
- As the breast sag down with age
- The breast mass increases (as in pregnancy)
- Brasseries are made up of fabrics that do not absorb excess sweat
- Tight brasseries
- Diabetes
- Excessive sweating
- Moist weather
The commonest fungal infection here is cutaneous candidiasis (yeast infection).
Fungal infections in any area tend to spread or shift from one place to another.
Management
Your rash seems to heal by itself. However, the following steps can be taken for better management:
- Keep the area clean and dry. Assure that sweat does not accumulates there.
- Let your brasseries be loose and preferably of cotton cloth only.
- If you feel any symptom like itching or smell in that area, it would be advisable to apply some topical anti-fungal cream over that area.
- In case the rash comes again and again, get yourself ruled out for diabetes.
If the rash stays for more than a week, it is advisable to get it examined by a doctor.
Take Care,
Buddy M.D.
I’m a slightly 10-15 lbs overweight white male with a burning pain in a crease under my breasts. I have had this burning without any redness since i had a spinal fusion from T2-T5 and have lost muscle mass in my pecs. There are physical creases but no lesions, odor or discoloration. It seemed to start during physical therapy 5 years ago under one side and started under left side and later the right side. I’ve tried diaper rash ointment and anti-biotic cream to no avail. It burns like athletes foot, which I had as a teenager. My spinal cord injuries cause me to lay on my back most of the day as it’s not easy to walk for me. I bathe at least every other day and have tried everything. My GP says it’s because due to surgery and metal rods from my injury keep me from taking full breaths. The pain is severe and I’m going crazy. Can it be a fungal and/or microbial. I’m not diabetic and other than my back and weight, I’m healthy. I take gabapentin, occasional Tylenol or Aleve and Robaxin muscle relaxers. Don’t smoke or drink and live alone. No jock itch or athletes foot. It seems worse when I’m reclined wearing any type of garment.
It’s very unlikely to be fungal or microbial.
Likely to be related to your nerves, may be due to the surgery you had.