While skin changes can occur on the breast, it is a common misconception that breast cancer typically appears as a simple pimple. Breast cancer usually presents differently than a common skin blemish. Understanding normal breast appearance and recognizing changes are important for breast awareness.
Distinguishing Skin Blemishes from Concerning Breast Changes
Common skin blemishes like pimples, ingrown hairs, or cysts on the breast usually resolve on their own within a few days to weeks. A pimple often appears as a small, red, tender bump, sometimes with a white or black center. These blemishes generally remain localized and do not spread or significantly alter the surrounding skin’s texture or color. Ingrown hairs can cause similar small, inflamed bumps. Cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs, can feel like movable, round lumps just under the skin.
In contrast, skin changes that might signal breast cancer tend to persist or worsen over time, not resolving after several weeks. A concerning lesion might be firm, fixed, and potentially painless, rather than tender like a pimple. Changes in the skin’s appearance around the area, such as persistent redness, scaling, or thickening, are also distinguishing features. Unlike a small, isolated pimple, cancerous skin changes can affect a broader area of the breast and may not have a clear, pus-filled head.
Other Visible Breast Cancer Signs
Beyond localized pimple-like lesions, other visible skin changes on the breast can indicate breast cancer. A change in the breast’s size or shape, particularly if it occurs in only one breast, is a key sign. Skin dimpling or puckering, often described as having an “orange peel” texture (peau d’orange), is a symptom, especially with inflammatory breast cancer where cancer cells block lymphatic vessels. This can also be accompanied by swelling, warmth, or a feeling of heaviness in the breast.
Persistent redness, scaling, or thickening of the breast skin or nipple area are also signs. Paget’s disease of the breast, a rare form of breast cancer, affects the nipple and areola, causing eczema-like changes such as flaky, scaly, crusty, or oozing skin that may also itch or burn. Nipple changes, such as a nipple suddenly turning inward (inversion) or any unusual discharge (especially clear, milky, or blood-tinged), warrant attention. Sores on the breast that do not heal are another concerning sign.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Any new, persistent, or concerning change in the breast or underarm area warrants medical evaluation. If a skin change on the breast, such as a red spot or bump, does not resolve within a few weeks or worsens, consulting a healthcare professional is advisable. This applies to any changes in breast size, shape, skin texture, or nipple appearance.
Early detection of breast cancer is important. While many breast changes are benign, only a medical professional can determine the cause through examination and testing. Do not self-diagnose or delay seeking advice, even if symptoms seem minor.
Initial Steps in Breast Evaluation
Initial evaluation for a breast concern involves a medical history review and a physical breast exam. During the physical exam, the healthcare professional will visually inspect the breasts for any changes in appearance and feel for lumps or abnormalities in the breast tissue and underarm area. Based on these findings, further diagnostic imaging tests may be recommended.
Common imaging tests include a mammogram (X-ray of the breast tissue) and an ultrasound (uses sound waves to create images of the breast’s internal structures). An ultrasound helps differentiate between a fluid-filled cyst and a solid mass. A Breast MRI, using a magnetic field and radio waves, may provide more detailed images. These tests help determine the nature of the change and guide further investigation, such as a biopsy for microscopic examination.