Understanding Changes in Your Breast Skin and Tissue
Your breast skin and tissue naturally goes through shifts during puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause. But sometimes unusual visual signs like dimpling can indicate an underlying health condition - potentially something serious like breast cancer.
This article covers when to worry about changes like dimpling of the breast skin. Learn what dimpled skin could mean, how breast cancer presents on the skin, warning signs not to ignore, and how to check yourself properly.
What Does Dimpling of Breast Skin Indicate?
Dimpling anywhere on your breast can signify an area of concern within breast tissue, whether it be the surface of skin itself or structures lying underneath.
Some potential causes of visible dimpling include:
- Fibrocystic changes
- Fat necrosis
- Breast cancer
Dimpling of the skin itself is most commonly harmless. This can occur with normal aging or weight fluctuations. But cancerous breast tumors can also cause dimpled indentations by pulling inward on the skin from inside the breast.
Connection Between Dimpling and Breast Cancer
Skin dimpling is most strongly associated with a specific form of breast cancer known as inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Unlike other types of tumors, IBC develops rapidly and invades skin lymph vessels first before forming a distinct mass.
As IBC cells multiply within lymph vessels under the skin surface, they obstruct normal drainage. This causes swelling of breast tissues along with reddening and orange peel textured dimpling of the skin covering the breast.
Though rare making up only 1-5% of cases, IBC is also one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. Distinct skin changes like dimpling signify this dangerous type often at a later stage, requiring urgent medical evaluation.
When to Seek Evaluation for Dimpling
Any newly developed dimpling, indentation or puckering on your breast skin should be examined promptly by a doctor. Skin changes could reflect inflammation, infection or trauma.
But more importantly, sudden skin dimpling may indicate:
- Breast cancer development in tissues underneath
- Inflammatory breast cancer invasion of lymph vessels
While many breast skin changes are benign, progressive dimpling is not something to ignore. Scheduling a prompt clinical breast exam and potential imaging tests at first signs of skin dimpling is essential.
How to Check for Breast Skin Dimpling
Learning to regularly check your own breast health is important between clinical exams. Here is how to effectively inspect your breast skin for any areas of concerning dimpling:
1. Visual Inspection
Stand shirtless in front of a mirror with arms relaxed at your sides. Slowly inspect each breast visually for any abnormal indentations, puckering or orange peel texture indicative of swelling and dimpling beneath skin.
2. Hands on Palpation
Lie down with a pillow or towel under your left shoulder. Use the pads of your 3 middle fingers on your right hand to gently press into and smooth across your left breast. Carefully palpate the entire breast and surrounding chest area feeling for dimples.
Repeat the process for the right breast with your opposite hand. Use light, medium and firm pressure. Ensure you check the entire span of your breast tissue up into the armpit area and down to the ribcage.
3. Mark Changes
Make note of any indentations, ridges or swollen areas discovered during self breast exams. Track locations using a body map each month to monitor for further development. Report any suspicious, progressive dimpling or skin changes to your physician promptly.
Other Breast Skin Warning Signs
Along with new indentations or dimpling, be on alert for additional visual skin changes including:
Redness
Red, inflamed looking breast skin may indicate infection or inflammatory breast cancer. While rashes or injuries can cause temporary redness, growing or darkening areas need evaluation.
Thickening
Thick, swollen, hard feeling skin can signify edema and inflammation or more serious causes like cancerous lymph node involvement deep inside breast tissue.
Peeling/Flaking
Note any areas of scaly, flaking or peeling breast skin which could reflect an underlying inflammatory condition or potentially even Pagets disease of the nipple.
Changes Around Nipple
Be very attentive to visual changes around the nipple as this overlies central breast ducts where tumors commonly develop. Look for any nipple retraction, oozing, new discharge or rashes.
Increase in Visible Veins
Newly visible, increasing or darkening veins on breast skin may indicate angiogenic vessel development around a growing cancerous lesion.
Rash-Like Changes
Itchy, painful or expanding rash areas on breast skin raise concern for inflammatory breast cancer. Skin may take on a pitted appearance almost resembling an orange peels texture.
Prompt medical insight is needed to interpret the significance of any suspicious breast skin findings noted during self-exams. Annual screening mammograms in women along with clinical breast exams every 1-3 years beginning at age 20-30 (or earlier if high risk) are also imperative.
Warning Signs of Breast Cancer Extending Inward
While skin changes reflect breast health issues developing closest to the surface, tissue warning signs deeper inside the breast also require attention. Two hallmark signs not to ignore include:
Lumps
New lumps in breast tissue - especially those that are hard, painless, fixed rather than movable - must be evaluated. Cancerous lumps often feel stiff due to extra fibrous tissue versus benign fluid-filled cysts.
Nipple Discharge
Spontaneous nipple discharge (not milk during breastfeeding) is abnormal and requires prompt inspection. Discharge may appear clear, milky, yellow, green or bloody as a tumor erodes into a milk duct.
Monitoring all areas of your breasts is key for early stage discovery. Speak to your doctor about proper technique, optimal frequency and warning signs specific to your individual breast cancer risk profile.
FAQs
What does it mean if my breast skin is dimpled?
New indentations or dimpling of the breast skin may indicate underlying changes in breast tissue. While it is often harmless, developing dimples can reflect tumors pulling inward that require medical evaluation.
Can normal hormone changes cause breast dimpling?
Hormonal fluctuations during puberty, periods, pregnancy and menopause can lead to some harmless breast texture changes. But any sudden, pronounced or progressive dimpling needs assessment to rule out problems.
Should I get imaging tests for dimpled breast skin?
Your doctor may start with a clinical breast exam feeling for masses under any dimpled spots. But imaging like a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI will likely follow if an abnormality is suspected that needs closer study.
What does inflammatory breast cancer rash look like?
Inflammatory breast cancer can cause visible skin changes like an orange peel texture, hives-like ridges or pitting resembling a rash. Red and swollen skin is also common. Any rash-like breast changes need prompt evaluation.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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