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Does Nipple Piercing Cause Breast Cancer

On And Off Inverted Nipples

Does A Discharge From The Nipple Indicate Breast Cancer?

Whereas some people experience permanent nipple inversion, other may experience them during some periods and no other. This depends on particular individuals and probably the cause.

In some cases, some individuals may find that nipples that once seemed permanently inverted now fluctuate between inverted and erect in different times.

Many women experience inverted nipples during pregnancy, even when their nipples normal before werent inverted pregnancy. This behavior of nipples tends to affect first-time pregnant women than women with subsequent pregnancies.

Can Squeezing Or Being Hit In The Breast Cause Cancer

An injury, such as falling or being hit in the chest, will not cause breast cancer. Squeezing or pinching the breast or nipple will not cause breast cancer either.;

It may cause bruising and swelling to the breast, which can be tender or painful to touch.

Sometimes an injury can lead to a benign lump known as fat necrosis. This is scar tissue that can form when the body naturally repairs the damaged fatty breast tissue.

What About Other Types Of Nipple Discharge

Nipple discharge can be alarming to many women. But discharge that occurs only when the nipple and breast are squeezed may not be a cause for concern. The risk of cancer when nipple discharge is the only symptom is fairly;low.

A lump with the discharge will be of primary concern to your healthcare provider. But keep in mind that breastfeeding women may experience a lump;under;the areola, and a discharge. This can;be caused by lactational mastitis;that occurs with;a pus-filled infection .

Galactorrhea is a;milky discharge from both nipples, when a woman;is not breastfeeding. This is often due to an increase in the hormone prolactin, which produces milk. Galactorrhea may occur if you take sedatives or;marijuana. Or it can be caused by;high doses of estrogen.;Women who have this;often have irregular menstrual periods. Or their periods have stopped. In some cases, galactorrhea may be caused by a;pituitary gland tumor. Your healthcare provider may order blood tests and an MRI if he or she thinks you have this.

Nipple discharge that is due to a benign noncancer;breast condition may be treated by keeping the nipple clean, among other treatments. Nipple discharge that occurs because;of infection may require hospitalization.

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Breast Cysts With Infection Are Harder To Differentiate Radiologically

Inflammatory fold, axillary and medial areas are common locations for sebaceous cysts.

If an infection has caused complications to the cyst the margins of these masses may become shaggy and irregular with thickening of the overlying skin.

On a mammogram, it becomes more difficult to differentiate the cysts from neoplastic cell growth.

What Are Some Common Nipple Problems

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Nipple conditions are a common noncancer breast condition that;affect many women. Some problems are related to lactation. Others are not. Like all breast conditions, any nipple problems should be reported to your;healthcare provider right away. This can help you get;a prompt;diagnosis and start treatment.

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Are There Any Risks Associated With Nipple Piercings

A piercing punctures your skin, poking a hole in your immune systems first line of defense. Wherever you get one, there will be risks. If you plan to get a nipple piercing, Jaliman says infection , bruising, and irritation are all possibilities.

To avoid infection, since that is, by far, the most common issue: Make sure the the tools used to pierce your nipples are completely sterile, Jaliman stresses. The area should be cleaned with a skin disinfectant or alcohol before you get started.

If you have a metal allergylooking at you, nickelbe sure the piercer uses stainless steel or better. After that, it’s up to you to take good care of your piercing.

Mastitis And Breast Abscess

Patients with acute mastitis and abscess often represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. There is currently no consensus on optimal management strategies. The principles that guide successful diagnosis, evaluation, and management are discussed presently.

PRESENTATION

Patients with acute breast infection typically present with one or more of the following symptoms: skin erythema, palpable mass, tenderness, fever, and/or pain.13 Breast abscesses may occur in both the lactational and nonlactational setting.48 Breast abscesses have been most commonly reported to occur in women between 20 and 50 years of age.4,5,7,9 However, breast infections have also been reported in men,9 postmenopausal women,10 and children.11 Postmenopausal patients with breast abscess often have a more indolent presentation and may lack many of the classical findings for breast abscess.10 Abscesses may occur either centrally or peripherally in the breast. Many authors have reported that a subareolar abscess is more common in nonlactating women,1,4,7 and lactational abscesses are more common in the upper outer quadrant.5,12 Conversely, two groups have reported that abscesses in nonlactating women occur in the periphery of the breast.5,13

BREAST INFECTION ASSOCIATED WITH OR FOLLOWING BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

EVALUATION

MICROBIOLOGY

UNUSUAL BREAST INFECTIONS

BREAST MALIGNANCY PRESENTING AS MASTITIS AND ABSCESS

MANAGEMENT OF BREAST INFECTION

Antibiotics
Surgical Incision and Drainage
Aspiration

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Can I Get My Nipples Pierced After Surgery

Whether youre a breast cancer survivor, transgender, or youve undergone breast augmentation or reduction surgery, you might be wondering whether you can get your nipples pierced at all.

Unfortunately, theres no easy answer.

According to Elayne Angel, author of The Piercing Bible, if your surgery was fairly minor, and you have no scar tissue on or near the nipple, youll likely be able to have your nipple pierced once you have fully healed from surgery.

If youve had radical breast surgery, then you might not be a good candidate for nipple piercings, depending on the type of surgery you received. Once youve fully healed, you should consult a piercing professional who has a wealth of experience with nipple piercings as well as your surgeon. They will be able to look at your breasts or chest and let you know whether or not youll be a candidate for nipple piercings.;

Part of the reason why its so complicated is that an infection in your nipple piercing could spread to your implant, causing substantial complications. Additionally, piercing is not advisable if your nipple was reconstructed with non-areolar tissue since it wont heal as easily. Piercing can also be difficult if you underwent areola reduction, which is common in female-to-male chest surgeries.

After youve had breast/chest surgery, if you want to get your nipples pierced, the best thing you can do is talk to both your surgeon and a piercer you trust to see if youre a good candidate.

Diagnosing An Infected Nipple Piercing

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Your ability to self-diagnose typically depends on your symptoms. Some signs of an infection may be so obvious that its easy to recognize that your nipple piercing is infected. Pus drainage, for example, is a clear sign of an infection.

If youre unsure about your symptoms or whether they indicate irritation or infection, you should consult your doctor. Waiting too long for a diagnosis and treatment can prolong the infection. This can greatly increase your risk for serious complications.

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What Are Inverted Nipples Meaning & Definition

An inverted nipple is a condition whereby the nipple is retracted inward into the breast instead of pointing outward. This condition is often referred to as nipple inversion, nipple retraction, or invaginated nipple. Moderately inverted nipples are generally called flat nipples.

In some cases, an inverted nipple may temporarily protrude when it is stimulated. The condition usually affects women but can also occur in men. It can affect one or both of the breasts.

An inverted nipple can be congenital or acquired . Acquired nipple inversion can result from either to benign or malignant conditions, or due to trauma. It is also common for a baby or child at puberty to develop inverted nipples and this may be considered natural.

Congenital nipple inversion is not a sign of any medical condition and can resolve on its own temporarily or permanently during pregnancy or breastfeeding. On the other hand, having an acquired nipple inversion may be a sign of a more severe medical condition.

Infections Of The Breast And Nipple

Inflammatory disorders account for approximately 4% of all childhood breast conditions. Causes include local infection, epidermoid cysts, foreign bodies, trauma, nipple piercing, and folliculitis from shaving periareolar hair. Infection usually presents as localized tenderness and induration followed by appearance of erythema and then a fluctuant mass. Breast abscesses may occur at any age, including in infants. Initial management includes antimicrobial therapy. Aspiration or incision and drainage may be needed. Procedures in the prepubertal female breast should be done judiciously with small incisions and minimal tissue disruption because of the risk of damage to the underlying breast bud. The most common organisms causing breast infections are Staphylococcus aureus, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.3,4 Antimicrobial coverage should initially include methicillin-resistant Staph aureus, until culture and sensitivity results are available.

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The Piercing Definitely Made Me More Aware Of My Nipples

I got a nipple piercing when I was 20 and kept it in for probably eight years before I removed it. The piercing itself was not what I thought it was going to be. I’d had friends who got them and told me, It doesn’t hurt nearly as much as you think it will. This was unhelpful; I waltzed in thinking it wouldn’t really hurt, so the pain actually caught me off guard.

“But it wasn’t just the painit was the whole experience. I was told an apprentice would be doing the piercing. I was like, Okay. I can deal with this. They told me to take off my shirt and bra, so I was sitting there shirtless with my least favorite, most modest roommate and six strangers crowding around me. The apprentice picked up a needle to prep it, and his hand was literally shaking to the point where the main piercer was like, Whoa. Set it down. Calm down. This is no big deal. Really instilling confidence in me, guys. When he picked the needle back up and was about to jam it through my nipple, the other piercer yelled, STOP! The other piercer grabbed the needle and was like, Look, it’s barbed. You do not want to use this one for the piercing. Finally, the deed was done. It was much more painful than I thought it was going to be because I had expected it not to hurt. The pain was sharp and searing, but in the grand scheme of things, it was still manageable.

Can Mastitis Be A Sign Of Breast Cancer

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Mastitis and breast cancer are different diseases and mastitis does not increase the risk of breast cancer. Cancer is caused due to the rapid and uncontrolled division of cells due to mutation. The oncogene becomes dominant over tumor suppressor genes in the cancer cells leading to continuous growth and damaging normal cells. Mastitis is the condition of inflammation in the breast due to the clogged milk duct or infection. The symptoms include pain, fever, inflammation, swollen lump, redness, and tender breasts. These symptoms are almost similar to a type of breast cancer termed as inflammatory breast cancer. As the swelling and pain in mastitis is often due to the presence of bacterial infection, thus prescribing antibiotics helps in easing the symptoms. However, this is not the case in inflammatory breast cancer as the use of antibiotics does not help relieving the symptoms.

The symptoms of the mastitis and breast cancer are similar, but both the conditions differ in their pathophysiology. While mastitis is due to the advanced condition of untreated clogged milk ducts, the inflammatory breast cancer causes obstruction in lymph vessels due to growth of cancer cells. Thus, the condition of the mastitis is not sign of breast cancer, but the symptoms of both the conditions are similar. Proper care should be taken of the lump in the breasts and if the lump continues to grow or does not respond to general treatment, consultation from the expert should be taken.

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How Do I Take Care Of My Nipple Piercing

Again, your piercer should offer you detailed aftercare instructions, but you definitely want to make sure they clean the area before things get started. Jaliman recommends using an antibiotic ointment right after the piercing and throughout the healing process.”

Make sure to keep up with your nipple piercing aftercare, she emphasized. For at least four weeks, Jaliman recommends using a special spray on the piercings: The APP suggests an additive-free, pre-mixed saline spray formulated for piercings.

Thompson recommends the “less is more” approach, keeping the area clean by showering once a day . “Your body doesn’t really need help to heal the area, aside from maintaining a healthy lifestyle”you know, staying hydrating, eating clean, sleeping well, managing stress, and exercising.

During the first couple months, you’ll also want to skip hot baths, pools, lakes, and hot tubs , and cover the piercing with a waterproof bandage if you do partake, suggests the APP.

Also, consider a tight cotton shirt or a sports bra for sleeping. For itching, Jaliman suggests an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream.

What Symptoms Of Breast Rash Are Cause For Concern

Whenever breast rash is accompanied by other symptoms such as infection, fever, a lump underneath the skin, swelling of the throat, or failure to get better after a reasonable period of treatment, a doctor should be consulted. It can be difficult to self-diagnose the cause of a breast rash, and in some cases a delay in treatment can be the difference between a successful outcome and a more serious health condition.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/19/2018.

References

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Smoking Nipple Piercing Are Risk Factors For Developing Breast Abscesses Study Finds

Date:
Weber Shandwick Worldwide
Summary:
Women who smoke or pierce their nipples are more likely to develop a breast abscess, according to a new study. Researchers found the odds of developing primary breast abscess were six times higher in smokers than in nonsmokers, and smokers were 11 times more likely to develop subareolar abscess.

Women who smoke or pierce their nipples are more likely to develop a breast abscess, according to a new study in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Researchers at the University of Iowa found the odds of developing primary breast abscess were six times higher in smokers than in nonsmokers, and smokers were 11 times more likely to develop subareolar abscess. Breast abscesses were 15 times more likely to recur in smokers than in nonsmokers. In addition, this study is one of the first to provide clinical evidence that nipple piercing is also a risk factor for subareolar breast abscess, with the onset of abscess occurring from one month to seven years from the time of piercing.

Breast abscesses, inflammatory lesions of the breast that are painful and difficult to treat, tend to recur at rates as high as 40 to 50 percent, according to previous retrospective studies. Until now, there has been a lack of research on the risk factors associated with this condition.

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Why Get Your Nipples Pierced

How To Cure Nipple Discharge?

Nipple piercings tend to have a bit of a stigma surrounding them. Although they are gaining mainstream popularity, many still struggle to understand why youd get that part of your body pierced.

Were here to shed some light.

While nipple piercings are sometimes chosen for sexual reasonslets face it, they can be sexy as hellfor many, their nipple piercings carry a much deeper meaning.

Piercing the nipples helps some to take control of their bodies. When they pierce such an intimate area, theyre taking an empowering stance. It goes beyond feeling sexy; its an exclamation that they have the right to decide what they want to do with their bodies.

Nipple piercings also have feminist implications. Having jewelry in your nipples makes them stick out, which means that theyll often show through a tight t-shirt, especially if youre not wearing a bra. With so many conversations surrounding womens bodies and what women should or should not be wearing, nipple piercings make the statement, This is my body, and who cares if you can see my nipples? It helps us reevaluate the way we sexualize women.

Lastly some people just think that the look is cute. There are tons of jewelry styles to choose from that look amazing sticking out of your nipple. Its kind of like wearing sexy underwear; you might be the only one who knows that youre wearing it, but it still makes you feel pretty and confident.

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Inverted Nipples Grade Self

You can perform a simple pinch test for your nipples to find out which grade they belong to. This test is especially for women.

Just hold your breast around the edge of the areola between your thumb and index finger. Press inward gently but firmly, about an inch behind your nipple.

  • If it protrudes easily, it is considered a grade 1 inversion
  • If it does hardly protrudes but does not retract, it is considered a grade 2 invasion.
  • If it retracts or does not protrude at all, it is considered a grade 3 inversion.

Radiological Signs Of Breast Inflammation

The breast is a superficial organ and often inflammation would involve the overlying skin. Features of cellulitis such as skin thickening and subcutaneous edema should be noted. Radiological imaging is more advantageous than clinical examination in evaluating skin thickening as it allows accurate delineation of its extent, measurement and comparison to surrounding skin and contralateral breast . Subcutaneous edema is easily evaluated using Doppler US, revealing diffuse increase in thickening and echogenicity of the subcutaneous tissue and later accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous tissue . On mammogram, subcutaneous edema manifests as diffuse increase in breast density or increased interstitial markings .

Pueperal Mastitis in 29-year-old female.

A. Ultrasound reveals features of subcutaneous edema with skin thickening with increase in echogenicity of subcutaneous tissue. Fluid is observed as intervening hypoechoic lines in subcutaneous tissue. B. Ultrasound with color Doppler also reveals ill-defined hypoechoic fluid collection with heterogeneous content within site of inflammation. Hyperemia of subcutaneous tissue surrounding collection is noted.

Reactive versus malignant lymphadenopathy.

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