rash and redness under breast

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pat01
pat01 Member Posts: 1,005
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I'm one week out of rads.  Did not have much skin reaction during rads, but since I've stopped I have developed raised red bumps on the skin, and very dark area in the crease under the breast.  This area is now starting to itch. I've been using Eucerin cream.  What makes it feel best is to just support my breast away from my body, so that the skin is not touching, and it airs everything out under there.  But obviously I can only do that when I am sitting around at home (I work full time).

RO said to expect some skin reaction up to a week after rads, but this seems to be getting worse and not better. Any suggestions for OTC or home remedies?  I'm wondering if I should discontinue using the Eucerin under the breast, as it just seems to make it ultramoist under there, when airing the area out makes it feel best.  Should I place some cotton between the breast and chest during the day at work so the skin doesn't touch?  I've been wearing cotton sports bras, so my breasts are mashed down on the chest.

thanks - Pat

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  • Leah_S
    Leah_S Member Posts: 8,458
    edited September 2011

    Pat, the rash is called "radiation dermatitis". I found an OTC cortisone cream relieved it.

    Congratulations on finishing rads!

    Leah

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 5,938
    edited September 2011

    Pat I continued to get the rash off an on after rads.  RO told me to use OTC hydrcortisone cream which I found did  nothing for me.  Just so happen I had an appt with my dermatologist and showed it to him and he gave me Kenalog 1% and said the OTC stuff does not work and he does not understand why RO's won't give us better stuff to use. He said this rash can continue off and on for a while and things such as a new shirt rubbing on our radiated skin can cause a rash to break out.  Luckily I have not had any in about 2 months now. Before that it was come and go using the Kenalog.

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  • pat01
    pat01 Member Posts: 1,005
    edited September 2011

    I'm trying an OTC hydrocortisone cream today.  It kind of burned when I put it on, but feels OK now.  I may call RO today and talk ot the nurse.  She was a big Aquaphor pusher, but I don't know if this rash/dermatitis is a result of lack of moisturized skin, since it is occurring in the moistest place of all, the breast fold.  Thanks for your suggestions.

    Pat

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited September 2011

    It could be shingles....I had shingles after chemo in the exact same place and some ladies report shingles after rads. Hopefully its not.

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  • starella
    starella Member Posts: 159
    edited September 2011

    hi, i developed radiation dermatitis, my dermatologist recommended clobetasol propionate foam 0.05%, it work like magic.  It got to a point that the itching woke me up at night.

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  • jazz3000
    jazz3000 Member Posts: 188
    edited September 2011

    My first thought is the sports bras. They are awfully tight under the breast area. I think a camisole without the bra might be an easier way to go and no one is going to notice. You can find some that are fitted with a bra insert but make sure they are a little roomier at the bottom. If you have a tendency to sweat rub you creams in very well and wipe off excess and use corn starch (not baby powder_ ) to stay dry. 

    When your airing out at home get some Benadryl spray and spray the rashy area to get rid of it.Great Luck with this and hoping it all gets better.

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  • MostlySew
    MostlySew Member Posts: 1,418
    edited September 2011

    My nurse suggested I put a piece of soft cotton t-shirt under the breast and inside the bra. That helps avoid the skin to skin contact. She said lots of their patients do that. Can't vouch for it's helpfullness first hand though



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  • Megadotz
    Megadotz Member Posts: 302
    edited September 2011

    I had a similar problem --  my RO suggested the aqauaphor and it cleared it up right away. FWIW, Aquaphor is also used for  diaper rash.

    Another  thing that can cause this is a fungal infection -- that needs a prescription cream.

     Hope it clears up soon whatever the cause.

    Meg

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  • DiamondGirl
    DiamondGirl Member Posts: 1,046
    edited September 2011

    I developed radiation dermititis and 2 days after I finished my 33rd rads I had to be seen by a doctor at the urgent care.  He gave me a week worth of steriods, hydroxyz hcl and zyrtec.  The rash lasted more than 3 weeks.  Like what Sherryc said, it continued on and off.  I'm 9 months out and I also have to change my detergent and fabric softner.  They are both fragrance free, if I use the fragranced softner, the rash breaks out again. I hope you get better soon.

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  • pat01
    pat01 Member Posts: 1,005
    edited September 2011

    Just wanted to update you all. I used the OTC hydrocortisone cream, but it wasn't getting better, so I called again and discussed with nurse, we decided it might be fungal, so all weekend I used OTC antifungal. Still had red area this morning, with some skin peeling, so they had me come in. RO says it is a burn, and gave me prescription for silvadene cream. I'm to bathe the area 2x a day with warm salt water, pat dry, then apply cream and cover with gauze. He said that one of the side effects of the Canadian protocol (which I had) is that the burn can develop up to a week after stopping rads.I found out today the rash I have (still have it) is actually called folliculitis.



    I'm going braless at home, but wearing cotton sports bras at work - not sure if I can carry off the braless look at work LOL, especially being so lopsided now, but I may give it a try tomorrow, as it feels so much better when not confined to the bra.

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