BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuBreast skin and nipple changesInverted nipple; Nipple discharge; Breast feeding - nipple changes; Breastfeeding - nipple changes Learn about skin and nipple changes in the breast so you know when to see your health care provider. Notice Changes in Your Breasts and NipplesINVERTED NIPPLESThis is normal if your nipples have always been indented inward and can easily point out when you touch them. If your nipples are pointing in and this is new, contact your provider right away. SKIN PUCKERING OR DIMPLINGThis can be caused by scar tissue from surgery or an infection. Often, scar tissue forms for no reason. See your provider. Most of the time this issue does not need treatment.WARM TO THE TOUCH, RED, OR PAINFUL BREASTThis is almost always caused by an infection in your breast. It is rarely due to breast cancer. See your provider for treatment.SCALY, FLAKING, ITCHY SKINThis is most often due to eczema or a bacterial or fungal infection. See your provider for treatment. Flaking, scaly, itchy nipples can be a sign of Paget disease of the breast. This is a rare form of breast cancer involving the nipple. THICKENED SKIN WITH LARGE PORESThis is called peau d'orange because the skin looks like an orange peel. An infection in the breast or inflammatory breast cancer can cause this problem. See your provider right away.RETRACTED NIPPLESYour nipple was raised above the surface but begins to pull inward and does not come out when stimulated. See your provider if this is new. What to Expect at Your Office VisitYour provider will talk to you about your medical history and recent changes you have noticed in your breasts and nipples. Your provider will also do a breast exam and may suggest that you see a skin doctor (dermatologist) or breast specialist.You may have these tests done:Mammogram MammogramA mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to evaluate some breast symptoms and to find breast cancer in women with no symptoms....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Breast ultrasound Breast ultrasoundBreast ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to examine the breasts.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Biopsy BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests for nipple discharge When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if you notice: Your nipple is retracted or pulled in when it was not that way before. Your nipple has changed in shape. Your nipple becomes tender and it is not related to your menstrual cycle. Your nipple has skin changes. You have new nipple discharge. You notice bleeding from the nipple. You have fever and breast tenderness or pain.Open ReferencesReferencesDavid BA, Shalin SC. Disorders of the skin. In: Klimberg VS, Gradishar WJ, Bland KI, Korourian S, White J, Copeland EM, eds. Bland and Copeland's The Breast: Comprehensive Management of Benign and Malignant Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 18.Deb S, Dabbs DJ, Fox SB. Neoplasia of the male breast. In: Dabbs DJ, ed. Breast Pathology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 32.Klatt EC. The breasts. In: Klatt EC, ed. Robbins and Cotran Atlas of Pathology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 14.AllVideoImagesTogA Closer Look Breast cancer - InDepth(In-Depth)Breast cancer(Alt. Medicine)Self Care Breast skin and nipple changesBreastfeeding - skin and nipple changes Tests for Breast skin and nipple changes MammogramRelated Information Review Date: 11/21/2022 Reviewed By: LaQuita Martinez, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Alpharetta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 05/22/2024. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Breast skin and nipple changesInverted nipple; Nipple discharge; Breast feeding - nipple changes; Breastfeeding - nipple changes Learn about skin and nipple changes in the breast so you know when to see your health care provider. Notice Changes in Your Breasts and NipplesINVERTED NIPPLESThis is normal if your nipples have always been indented inward and can easily point out when you touch them. If your nipples are pointing in and this is new, contact your provider right away. SKIN PUCKERING OR DIMPLINGThis can be caused by scar tissue from surgery or an infection. Often, scar tissue forms for no reason. See your provider. Most of the time this issue does not need treatment.WARM TO THE TOUCH, RED, OR PAINFUL BREASTThis is almost always caused by an infection in your breast. It is rarely due to breast cancer. See your provider for treatment.SCALY, FLAKING, ITCHY SKINThis is most often due to eczema or a bacterial or fungal infection. See your provider for treatment. Flaking, scaly, itchy nipples can be a sign of Paget disease of the breast. This is a rare form of breast cancer involving the nipple. THICKENED SKIN WITH LARGE PORESThis is called peau d'orange because the skin looks like an orange peel. An infection in the breast or inflammatory breast cancer can cause this problem. See your provider right away.RETRACTED NIPPLESYour nipple was raised above the surface but begins to pull inward and does not come out when stimulated. See your provider if this is new. What to Expect at Your Office VisitYour provider will talk to you about your medical history and recent changes you have noticed in your breasts and nipples. Your provider will also do a breast exam and may suggest that you see a skin doctor (dermatologist) or breast specialist.You may have these tests done:Mammogram MammogramA mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to evaluate some breast symptoms and to find breast cancer in women with no symptoms....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Breast ultrasound Breast ultrasoundBreast ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to examine the breasts.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Biopsy BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests for nipple discharge When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if you notice: Your nipple is retracted or pulled in when it was not that way before. Your nipple has changed in shape. Your nipple becomes tender and it is not related to your menstrual cycle. Your nipple has skin changes. You have new nipple discharge. You notice bleeding from the nipple. You have fever and breast tenderness or pain.Open ReferencesReferencesDavid BA, Shalin SC. Disorders of the skin. In: Klimberg VS, Gradishar WJ, Bland KI, Korourian S, White J, Copeland EM, eds. Bland and Copeland's The Breast: Comprehensive Management of Benign and Malignant Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 18.Deb S, Dabbs DJ, Fox SB. Neoplasia of the male breast. In: Dabbs DJ, ed. Breast Pathology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 32.Klatt EC. The breasts. In: Klatt EC, ed. Robbins and Cotran Atlas of Pathology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 14.