Nipple Rash, Redness, Discharge, Pain or Itch
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Nipple discharge
Scab on nipple
Nipple swollen
Raw or eroded patch on the left nipple
Scaly skin on nipple
Raw or eroded patch on the right nipple
Red lump on the nipples
Scars on the nipple
Nipple redness
About the Symptom
Nipple rashes may appear as a red, scaly or bumpy area of the skin of the nipple and/or the area of darker skin surrounding the nipple (areola). The affected skin is often sore and inflamed, and it can be itchy or cause a burning sensation. There are many causes and the most common one is contact with an irritating substance or piece of clothing. If the symptoms are on both sides and get better with removing the irritation or with over the counter itch creams there may be no need to see a physician. Bloody nipple discharge that shows as spots on the bra or clothing can be an early sign of problems that may lead to a cancer. This and any other type of nipple change or discharge should be evaluated by your doctor ASAP.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Recent weight loss
Possible Causes
Generally, Nipple rash, redness, discharge, pain or itch can be related to:
- Paget's Disease of the Breast
This is a rare type of breast cancer affecting the nipple and surrounding skin (areola). It is most common in women over 50 but can also develop in men. Common risk factors include increasing age and a personal or family history of breast or other cancers.
- Hyperprolactinemia
Excessively high prolactin (hormone that releases milk) levels in the blood. Causes include medications and brain tumors.
- Gynecomastia
A condition in which abnormal hormone levels cause males to develop female characteristics, such as breast enlargement. Common causes include medications and brain tumors.
- Breast Cancer
- Mastitis
- Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have any redness, scabs, or secretions on your nipples?
- How long have you had redness, roughness, and discharge from the nipple area?
- Have you experienced redness, roughness, and discharge from the nipple area before?
- How has the redness, roughness, and discharge in the nipple area changed since it first started?
Reviewed By:
Alice Police, MD (Breast Surgery)
Breast Surgeon of 30 years experience. Recent Chief of breast surgery at UCIrvine Medical Center, Northwell Health in New York State, Chief of breast surgery at Monument Health in Rapid City South Dakota. Breast Cancer Researcher in conjunction with multiple studies through Notre Dame department of electrical engineering. CMO of Nearwave, a start up breast cancer device company.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Jul 16, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Nipple Problems and Discharge - Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinicNipple Discharge - health.com
https://www.health.com