Waiting for skin punch biopsy results, IBC?

HB33

A week ago (last Sunday) I noticed what I thought was a mosquito bite on the inner portion of my left breast. I didn't think anything of it since I had been working in the yard the day before. Tuesday, I woke up with a larger reddened area and it looked like a hickey. It was definitely NOT a hickey. 🙈 I snapped a picture of it. I'm a nurse and like to take note of things and document! By Thursday, I noticed the area was larger and itched like crazy. I made an appointment with my PCP and she saw me the same day. She was kind and listened to my concern of the new rash. She prescribed 2 antibiotics, for possible cellulitis but also ordered a mammogram and ultrasound for the next day. Those came back "normal". Fast forward through the weekend and my breast is swollen, the area is larger (maybe a tad larger than a 50 cent piece) and my whole boob itches. I was able to see my dermatologist today and she agreed to biopsy it. I will say that with the progression of the rash and swelling, I am concerned. The antibiotics have not helped. Thanks for listening. I just needed to get that out there. I wish I could post a pic!

Flo80

Hi there please ask for MRI as skin punch biopsy can be negative and has 25 percent chances of false positive. I wish it’s nothing

HB33

Thank you for your response! I appreciate the info. I pray it’s nothing too. 🙏🏻

light1candle

Hi HB33. So sorry to hear that you are dealing with this. I don’t know much about IBC but it sounds like you have done the right by seeing your dermatologist and arranging for a punch biopsy.

The reason I am writing is to ask if the dermatologist considered the possibility of a tick bite? Your mention of working out in the yard prior to noticing the itchy lesion is what leads me to ask. This is the time of year that *very tiny* nymph ticks (also called seed ticks) are around. They are so small that people can be bitten and never even realize it. Different people’s bodies react differently to tick bites, but for me an ordinary tick bite becomes red, swollen and *unbelievably* itchy. I am guessing your dermatologist may have already considered this possibility, but I thought I would mention it just in case. If it might have been a tick bite, of course you need to be aware of any possible symptoms which might indicate adeveloping tick-related illness (Lyme disease, etc.).

Sending you my best wishes that this turns out to be something very minor.

HB33

I did consider any type of insect bite. Initially, it looked to me like a mosquito bite then changed very quickly to just a rash. The dermatologist didn’t lean either way to what she really thought and didn’t offer any guess diagnosis but agreed we needed to biopsy it. Since the biopsy, the rash is worse and itchiness remains. I would assume the irritation from the biopsy could attribute to it’s appearance. I’m still on the Bactrim and Keflex and the dermatologist gave me a steroid cream. None of which seems to be helping. Sigh. Ido appreciate your response!