Are you suffering from an underboob rash? Is the skin between your breasts tender or sore? If yes, you might be experiencing some irritation around your chest area. This article will discuss the causes of underboob rash and suggest ways to treat them.
Underboobs are the regions of your body that lie below your breasts. They include the breast tissue (breast fat), nipples, and area surrounding the nipple. The skin in these areas tends to be thinner than other parts of the body, making them prone to rashes and infections. It is especially true during pregnancy.
A rash is a common symptom of infection. Rashes often appear after being exposed to bacteria, viruses, chemicals, or allergens. Rashes usually occur on the face, scalp, neck, arms, legs, hands, feet, or genitals.
What is Underboob Rash?
Underboob rash, also known as Intertrigo, is a condition caused by skin irritation due to exposure to certain substances such as dirt, heat, cold, allergies, or poor hygiene. Underboob rashes typically involve skin folds, including the front, back, side, and inner thigh.
In pregnant women, underboob rash becomes more frequent and severe because of hormonal changes. During pregnancy, hormones encourage cells to grow faster and thicker than usual. As this happens, your body also produces more breast milk, which means the amount of fat increases. These factors cause the skin to become thickened, making it harder to get rid of toxins.
What are The Various Causes of Underboob Rash?
There are many reasons why people develop underboob rash:
1. A yeast infection called candida albicans can quickly spread through sweat glands, causing irritation and inflammation.
2. Poor personal hygiene may lead to underboob rash.
3. Excessive sweating, lack of air circulation, and heat can cause the underboob rash.
4. Excessive skin rubbing turns the situation worse.
5. Diabetes and obesity are the other prominent reasons for underboob rashes.
What are The Different Types of Breast Rash?
Here are the different types of underboob rash or breast rash that one may encounter:
1. Heat Rash
Also known as Miliaria, it results from clogging of sweat glands leading to sweating blocked under your skin. It leads to heat rashes under the breast. Although the rash goes off in a few days, I recommend using a gentle, soothing wipe to prevent heat rash.
2. Fungal Rash
It is a type of dermatitis affecting the skin, with symptoms similar to ringworm, athlete’s foot, jock itch, and psoriasis. It is generally found on the waistline and groin areas. You may experience itching and redness with patches of scaly skin. Fungus rash on the waistline will need treatment with antifungal creams and antibiotics.
3. Exposure Rash
This type of rash occurs when exposed to something harmful like sun rays, dust, pollen, etc. After getting exposed to something terrible, you may feel dryness, burning sensation and pain in the affected area.
4. Eczema / Eczema
It is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by erythematous papules and plaques. It mainly affects the outer layers of the epidermis and dermis. It results from scratching, so avoid scratching. If not appropriately treated, eczema can be severe and sometimes even cause death if left untreated.
5. Reaction to Medication
Sometimes medical treatment and drugs can also cause an allergic reaction leading to itchy rash and even itchy skin.
6. Psoriasis
It is a chronic immune system disorder that most commonly affects the rash under the breasts, scalp, elbows, knees, and feet. It is characterized by flaking eruptions that usually occur during the summer months. It leads to redness and scaling of the skin.
What are The Symptoms of Intertrigo?
The symptoms of intertrigo vary depending upon its severity. Milder cases of Intertrigo may not show any visible signs. However, if left untreated, it could result in bad odour, discomfort, and even infection.
Some of the commonly observed symptoms include
· Redness,
· Itching,
· Cracking,
· Blisters,
· Peeling,
· Burning sensation, and
· Swelling.
How to Avoid Underboob Rash?
Here are the ways to avoid underboob rash:
1. Figure Out About Your Bra
A sagging or unfit bra could potentially lead to an underboob rash. Hence, you must ensure that you choose a bra that fits you perfectly and provides proper support to your boob.
Choose a breathable bra material to avoid boob sweat. Also, the bra should be supportive enough to life your boobs well. It will prevent any rubbing between your chest and boobs.
For super irritated skin, I recommend an under-wire-free bra by Warner’s, Bali, Hanes.,Vanity Fair, Calvin Klein and Playtex.
You can opt for lightweight bras with soft cups or padded ones. Find an excellent supportive cotton bra for summer to absorb sweat.
Hygiene is equally essential. With the tons of laundry to handle, we often neglect the significance of wearing a clean bra. A damp bra may cause the germs to breed, leading to intertrigo.
2. Consider Bra Liners
We all look for uncompromised support for our boob and are often not able to go away from underwire bras. If you have super-sensitive skin, bra liners are the best way to proceed. These are meant to create a sweat-absorbing barrier between the underwire and your breast.
Both non-disposable and disposable fabrics are available for bra liners to choose from.
3. Anti Fungal Cream
There are many over-the-counter anti-fungal creams, such as hydrocortisone cream, that help treat rashes. The substances like miconazole, cortisone, and clotrimazole help get rid of fungal infection rash on the breast.
4. Anti-Chafing Sticks
Spraying deodorant under the boobs may cause irritation and itching. It further leads to rashes, and hence anti-chafing stick such as a Body Glide Stick is an excellent alternative to get rid of pesky sweating smell all day long. I tried Bodyglide Anti-Chafe Balm, and it worked well for me perfectly. The unique formula of this chafing stick keeps my skin supple.
Say good-bye to deodorant that contains alcohol, keeping your skin dry.
5. Anti-Chafing Cream
If you are looking for a natural solution that gives you the freedom from underboob rashes, anti-chafing cream is another viable option to consider. Fresh Beasts is one such paraben-free cream that can replace your conventional talc—loaded with the tea-tree oil to act as a natural anti-bacterial.
This cream works on the principle of natural antiperspirant. To avoid any residue, I recommend applying it in small portions, even on the inner thighs.
6. Anti-Chafing Gels
An anti-chafing gel is a perfect companion when travelling and about to get sweaty. These gels help in the daily prevention of sweating and give your relief from irritation. These are available in small tubes that can easily be slipped into my purse.
7. Anti-Chafing Powder
It’s all about comforts! As we have been using powders since childhood. The way baby powder keeps the excess moisture away, the anti-chafing powder also works similarly. Asics powder can be used even all over the body. It comes with calamine-based powder to keep you rash-free. The best part is, it is cost-effective!
8. Hygiene Habits To Follow
In addition to using the prescribed products, a well-maintained hygiene habit is essential to make them work. In summers, make sure to take a shower daily. Pat dry after that using a clean towel to keep the skin dry. Avoid clothes that are too tight or synthetic that make your skin unbreathable.
Conclusion
Underboob rashes are common due to friction caused by the pressure exerted by underwires. Due to high temperatures, humidity, and the bacteria present in the air, these conditions lead to an outbreak of infections, including candidiasis, folliculitis, and eczema. However, there are several ways to treat underboob rash. You can use the prescribed medicines or choose a suitable bra that helps you to avoid such rashes.