Do you have a red, swollen, painful bump under your breast skin? What are the meaning of these bumps and what are their causes? Boil on breast especially those keeps on coming back could be a sign of serious medical conditions i.e. diabetes or heart. This is a bothersome condition caused after hair follicles get infected by bacteria. Get detailed information about the boil on breast causes, symptoms, boils under breast and chronic boils as wells as their perfect treatments and preventions.
What are boils?
Boils are skin conditions triggered by a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus or other types of bacteria and fungi. Boils or furuncles are a very painful infection of hair follicles. Carbuncles are clusters of boils occurring after the spread of the infection. According to Nytimes.com, “Boils may occur in the hair follicles anywhere on the body.” So apart from occurring on the breast, boils are also common on face, back, neck, armpit, thigh, bottom among other body parts.
What causes boils on breast?
Anybody can develop a boil in any part of his/her body though, persons with certain ailments may be at higher risk than others. On the same note, we must get it all together that knowing the correct boil causes on your breast is very crucial for effective medications. Other factors like the severity of the boil should also not be neglected. Here are the commonly common triggers of breast boils and carbuncles:
1. Weakened immune system
There are various factors that can lower an individual’s immune system hence making his/her skin to be susceptible to various skin condition. Various medications and certain diseases such cancer and diabetes are known to increase the risk of having lowered immune system. Other factors that can contribute to lowered immune system include the following:
- Alcohol
- Refined grains
- Chronic stress
- Lack of vitamin D
- Food industries additives and Toxins
- Dehydration
- Anxiety and fear
2. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)
This is an acne related skin condition that have the potential to affect any place in the body including the breast. Healthcentral.com explains further that, “hidradenitis suppurativa is an acne-related skin condition that can manifest as chronic infections (boils) or abscesses around and on the breast.”
It is mainly caused by clogged pores or sweat glands leading to inflammations, swelling, pain, and pus formation. This condition lead is very troublesome especially when it leads to chronic infections. They can appear in cluster or just as single bump. This condition normally occurs alongside scaring. Below are common factors that trigger HS:
- Hot and humid climate
- Smoking and consumption of alcohol
- Application of birth control pills
3. Hormonal imbalance
Hormonal imbalance is known to be initiate various skin conditions including the boils in any place on an individual`s body. This condition usually occurs during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause.
The use of birth control pills can also surge the levels of other acne causing hormones i.e. oestrogen, which may lead to development boils. Hormonal imbalances can also be initiated by certain medications.
4. Poor nutrition
Poor nutrition is another factor that play a greater role towards skin conditions. It also have the capacity to lower an individual’s immune system. Taking higher amount of sugar and fatty foods can lead to many skin problems. So redefining your diet through the help of nutritionist will be the best way out.
5. Ingrown hair on breast skin
Ingrown chest and areola hair, especially among men and women, can lead to boils on this area. This can be due to wrong or poor shaving technique or using improper tools during the same process. This can also be due to the fact that, one is having naturally curly and coarse hair that can possible grow back into the skin. This can lead to acne that later grow to boil.
Shaving the right direction and not cutting the hair too short can help. Using proper aftershave can also help in the prevention of boils occurring due to ingrown breast hair.
6. Poor hygiene
Poor hygiene can lead to conditions that allow the accumulation to dead skin cells, sebum and dirt. These can lead to infected hair follicles when it attracts bacteria. As already mentioned, bacteria leading to occurrence of boil on the affected area, be it breast or other parts of the body.
To avoid this calamity, you should make sure you keep higher standards of personal hygiene. This will also banish other bacteria that may favor the occurrence of acnes, pimples or boils.
7. Exposure to allergies and irritants
Allergens and irritants can lead to itching, inflammation or burning sensation on the skin. This conditions may make one to develop the urge to scratch the affected area. This may lead to infections leading to formations of small boils which later grow to big boils. The best way out is to find out the irritants and your allergens and then give them your back.
Other triggers of Breast Boils
- Wearing of tight and unbreathable undergarment
- Smoking and alcohol consumption
- Exposure to hot and humid climates
- Chemotherapy can also increase the risk of developing body boils
- Nipple piercing
Symptoms for Breast Boil
Usually, a boil start to develop as hard, red, painful lump just about a half an inch in size. After few days the boil will become softer, huge and very painful. It will then develop a pocket of pus on the top. Below are the signs and symptoms of severe infections:
- The skin around the boil will be red, painful and swollen
- White or yellow centers will
- Weeping, crusting or oozing
- Itching before the development of the boil
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Sometimes, the boils may be very itchy
- Boils can be single or occur in clusters on the breast skin
- A fever may follow the boils especially in children
- The area around the boils often become hard and painful
Boils may also occur along other serious symptoms (especially when one develop infected boils) such as fatigue, general ail-feeling or severe pain, reduced appetite and red streak on the skin.
Examination and test for breast boils
To carry out the diagnosis for breast boils, your doctor my employ physical examination. This skin infection may have spread to other parts of the body, therefore he/she may ask questions about other parts of the body. The doctor may also like to know whether your breast boil is acute or chronic. A medical study may also be done on the pus or materials from the boil.
Right and proper diagnostic test is very important since it is what will unmask the primary causes of the boils and paving a way for proper and effective treatments for boils.
Boils under the Breast
When we talk of boils under breast, it might actually be Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) which is known to affect the breast. According to Hidradenitispatients.com, “Hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin condition that manifests itself in form of abscesses or boils on and around the breast, especially in the crease underneath.”
A part from Hidradenitis suppurativa being one of the type of boils that can grow under the breast; there may be other types of boils. So here we are going expound on the HS. Here are the causes of HS:
- Imbalance in sex hormones
- Tight clothing
- Smoking
- Improper application of cosmetics
- Certain drugs
- Obesity
Chronic breast boils
One may suffer reoccurring boils for several months or years. These types of boils normally occurs on thigh and under the breast. The most known reoccurring boils under the breast is Hidradentis suppurativa. It can be large and painful to bear. Many chronic boils may be due to improper treatments, and infections. Chronic boils may be running in families so it may be influenced by genetics. You may also develop chronic boils if:
- You have the tendency of shaving the wrong way every time
- You are diabetic
- You bear immune disorder
- You take medications that will suppress your immune system
- You maintain poor hygiene
Chronic boils can be very troublesome and may result to serious complications such as blood infections, bone infection and heart infections. The best short-term medication for chronic boils are the antibiotics treatments.
Treatments for boils on the breast
Boils or breast boils treatments can be treated depending on the main causes of boils. As we now all know, boils are majorly triggered by bacterial infections; therefore, treatments involving antibiotics can be very effective and dependable.
The antibiotics can be oral or topical but topical antibiotics can be in the form of creams, gels and lotions. Commonly known antibiotics are Neosporin and Ichthammol. Many antibiotics treatments have got side effects hence one need to be very careful when using this medication. We also have antibacterial soaps. Still the doctor may have other treatments options for your boils on the breast.
Other wonderful cure for boils include lancing and draining.
Home Remedies for curing breast boils
Boils can also be treated naturally. We cannot only rely on antibiotics for boils on the breast treatment since there are several natural home remedies that can be used to cure mild boil problem. Try these natural home remedies for healing breast boils:
A) Warm compress
Warm compress is among the best boil remedies to help get rid of pus from the boil. You can do this by dipping warm cloth into warm water and then apply it on the boil. To make the procedure more effective, you can add salt to the warm water. Leave the warm cloth on the boil for 15 minutes. This can also reduce itching when the boil is itchy.
B) Tea tree oil
This product is known to have the best antiseptic properties, which can be used to heal many skin problems. Apply one drop of tea tree oil on the boil to treat it. You can do this twice a day until you achieve you desired result.
C) Onion
This has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties and it is very effective for treating boils. Prepare some slice of onion and place it directly on the boil. Wrap it with a cloth on the boil so that all the onion juice can really reach the deeper skin. Repeat this three times a day to effectively drain out the pus out.
D) Egg
Egg white is another home product that can really treat the breast boils. You can take one egg then boil it and the peel it. You can then wet the white of the egg and then apply it on the boil. You can then cover it with clean piece of cloth.
Other effective natural home products that can be used instead of the mentioned products are as follows:
- Turmeric
- Castor oil
- Milk
- Bacon
- Corn meal
- Cumin seeds
- Black seeds
- Indian Lilac
- Garlic
How to prevent breast boils?
Some causes of boils can be prevented but not all can be prevented. So instead of spending a lot of money treating those breast boils, here are some of the most proper preventive measures for those breast boils:
- Maintain proper hygiene
- Avoid too much consumption foods rich in fats and sugar
- Make sure you use antibacterial soaps during bathing
- Make sure you exfoliate your skin regularly to prevent accumulation of sebum, dead skin cells and dirt
- Always keep your hands clean to prevent bacteria from affecting your skin
- Never squeeze your since the may expound the infections
- Reestablish you diet i.e. include vitamin A, C and E in your diet. Products such as caffeine can also trigger body boils
In summary, the seriousness of boils normally depend on what causes boil on the skin and the responses given to the symptoms. Note that home remedies can be used to heal boils on the breast but in mild cases. Severe breast may demand medical treatments. So make sure you see your doctor when the conditions of your boils become unbearable and cannot be controlled using home remedies or OTC products.