What Are the Causes of Redness in the Breast?

Redness in the breast is a common complaint. Often seen as a result of allergic reactions, this condition can also indicate breast inflammation or be a symptom of serious diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, if symptoms such as firmness, redness, or swelling are noticed in the breast, it is essential to consult a General Surgery specialist without delay.

What Conditions Can Redness in the Breast Indicate?

1. Breast Infection (Mastitis)
   Mastitis is a condition where the breast tissue becomes infected, resulting in pain, swelling, increased temperature, and redness. While it is commonly seen in breastfeeding women, it can also occur in non-breastfeeding women. Symptoms of mastitis include fever, chills, fatigue, nausea, swelling, pain, redness, and increased warmth in the breast.
2. Breast Abscess
   An abscess is typically caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which is commonly found on normal skin. Abscesses account for 20% of the causes of redness in the breast. If there is a cyst in the breast and it becomes infected, it can develop into an abscess, leading to pain, redness, and increased temperature.
3. Inflammatory Breast Cancer
   Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer that occurs when malignant cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels in the breast skin. Unlike other forms of breast cancer, IBC typically does not form a lump or tumor tissue.

While most breast cancers begin as a mass or hard lump, inflammatory breast cancer presents with redness and inflammation of the skin, along with a sensation of heaviness in the breast, without a lesion. The symptoms of IBC resemble those of mastitis, a breast infection. However, while mastitis responds to antibiotic treatment, the symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer do not improve with antibiotics.

When the lymphatic vessels in the breast are blocked by cancer cells, symptoms such as redness, increased warmth, pain, and swelling appear. Additionally, painful lumps, nipple discharge, orange peel-like skin appearance on the breast, swelling in the underarm lymph nodes, and flattening of the nipple may also occur.

4. Nipple Eczema
   Nipple eczema can cause redness in one or both nipples and the surrounding area. It is most common in the fifth or sixth month after childbirth. In breastfeeding women, burning sensations and itching in the breast during breastfeeding are frequent symptoms.
5. Paget's Disease of the Breast
   Paget's disease of the breast is a rare type of cancer that affects the skin of the nipple and the surrounding darker area known as the areola. Most women with Paget's disease also have one or more tumor-like lesions in the breast tissue of the same breast. Symptoms include itching, tingling, or redness of the nipple and/or areola, flaking, crusting or thickening of the skin, flattening of the nipple, and discharge.