Why Do I Have a Rash Between My Breasts?

Medically reviewed by Marisa Garshick, MDMedically reviewed by Marisa Garshick, MD

A rash between the breasts may show up for a number of reasons, such as skin irritation, infection, or an underlying condition. The skin between the breasts is particularly prone to inflammation if the skin of the breasts rub together.

Skinfolds, in which skin touches skin, such as between the breasts, are a prime environment for moisture, bacteria, and fungus to build up and cause irritation or infection.

Treatment and prevention of a rash between the breasts depends on the type of rash and what triggers it, which can vary from person to person.

This article talks about the causes of a rash between the breasts, how to treat it at home, and when it’s time to contact a healthcare provider.

What Causes a Rash Between the Breasts

A rash between the breasts can show up for a variety of reasons. These include the skin becoming irritated or infected from friction or moisture buildup between the skin of the breasts or an underlying health condition.

Heat Rash

A heat rash occurs when your sweat glands become blocked from sweating a lot. Blocked sweat glands are more likely to occur in skinfolds, where sweat gets trapped.

When the sweat glands are blocked and sweat accumulates underneath the skin, the skin becomes inflamed and small bumps appear on the surface of the affected skin. These bumps are usually itchy and red on lighter skin tones or a darker shade than the surrounding skin on darker skin tones.

Intertrigo

Intertrigo is a skin condition caused by inflammation in skinfolds. It usually occurs where skin rubs against skin, such as a rash under the breast. It may also occur between the breasts if the skin of the breasts touch. Heat, moisture, and friction in the skinfold make the skin prone to a yeast, fungal, or bacterial infection.

Skin affected by intertrigo may be itchy, painful, and red or red-brown. The skin may also look cracked or have a prickling sensation.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type of breast cancer that causes the breasts to look inflamed due to redness and swelling.

While inflammatory breast cancer symptoms do include rash-like symptoms like redness on more than one-third of the breast as well as itchiness, tenderness, and pain on a breast, characteristic symptoms of breast cancer rash help differentiate it from other types of rash on the breast. This includes one breast looking larger than the other due to swelling in cancer.

Other Underlying Conditions

Some rashes between the breasts may be caused by an underlying condition such as eczema, contact dermatitis, or inverse psoriasis.

Breast eczema occurs when the protective skin barrier is damaged, leading to dry, itchy, and discolored skin on the breast, nipple, or chest. The skin might also appear thick and leathery. Breast eczema may be triggered by something that irritates the skin, such as sweat or pollen. It might also be tied to stress or genetics.

Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin becomes inflamed after contact with an irritating substance. There are two types of contact dermatitis: irritant dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Some common skin irritants and allergens that might affect the skin between the breast area include certain shampoos, fabrics, or fragrances.

Inverse psoriasis is a type of psoriasis that develops in skinfolds, such as between the breasts. Friction between the skin, a skin injury, an infection, or stress can all trigger inverse psoriasis.

How to Treat a Rash Between the Breasts at Home

Whether and how you can treat a rash at home depends on the type of rash and what’s causing it. For example, a heat rash between the breasts can be treated by cooling the body down or using an anti-itch cream.

A rash caused by a skin infection may require medication as recommended by a healthcare professional. For example, a healthcare provider may prescribe an antifungal or antibiotic cream to treat intertrigo.

For underlying conditions like inverse psoriasis and eczema, you might need an ongoing treatment plan to keep your skin clear and manage flare-ups.

Can You Prevent a Rash Between Your Breasts?

Some types of rashes between the breasts can be prevented by taking extra care to avoid irritation. For example, wear moisture-wicking clothing, such as bras, sports bras, and shirts made from lightweight and breathable fabric, on hot days to prevent sweat buildup and clogged sweat glands.

Sometimes, sweat buildup is unavoidable, and the best thing to do is cool down and dry your skin as soon as possible.

If the skin on your chest becomes irritated after using certain products or wearing certain clothes, take note and try to avoid those materials as much as possible.

How Long Does a Rash Between the Breasts Last?

How long a rash lasts depends on the type of rash. A heat rash, for example, will usually disappear within one to two days, though more severe heat rashes can last over a week.

A rash that’s caused by an underlying condition like eczema or inverse psoriasis may go away with treatment but come back regularly if the triggers are ongoing, such as chronic stress.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

If you have a rash between your breasts that gets worse or doesn’t go away with at-home treatments, it’s time to talk to a healthcare provider. A persistent rash may be a sign of an underlying condition that requires ongoing treatment.

It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider about a rash that doesn’t go away so that they can determine the cause and provide a treatment or management plan, if necessary.

Summary

A rash between the breasts may be caused by heat, infection, irritation, or an underlying health condition. Some rashes can be treated at home, will go away soon after treatment, and can be prevented with simple strategies like keeping the area clean and dry. Other rashes may require ongoing management if they are associated with an underlying condition.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.