Reasons for Breast Burning and Pain

Every woman needs to be breast aware. This means monitoring your breasts for any changes in appearance or sensation. If your breasts have started to burn or hurt it does not necessarily indicate anything sinister but it is best to get them checked out by your doctor straight away. Many breast problems can be attributed to hormonal, growth, or allergy matters and this is discussed further below. We also have some natural remedies for you in this article.

Muscle pains

Some breast pain actually originates in the muscles around the breast but remember to visit your doctor so they can diagnose you. It may even be caused by over-doing it at the gym. You can minimise the risk of this happening by warming up properly before you train and stretching properly when you have finished. Supplements containing magnesium may also be useful.

Breast tissue burning

A burning sensation in the breast area may be caused by an allergic reaction. This sort of reaction may be caused by something you have applied to the area, like a deodorant, or from some type of detergent that has come into direct contact with the skin, like your washing powder. After discussing the symptoms you have with your doctor, you could try swapping the products you apply to your skin for more gentle and natural products. Some people have found that changing to a natural clothes detergent is very helpful. In the meantime you can use aloe vera gel to soothe the burning.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is more likely to be itchy, sore and uncomfortable so try to avoid it. Keep you skin around your breasts well hydrated with natural oils and creams. You could use a vegetable oil around the nipple area and a moisturizing cream, or shea butter on the remainder of the breast. Artificial moisturisers and creams could irritate the delicate skin in this area and make matters worse. They could also cause allergies.

Before menstruation

Hormones in your body will naturally fluctuate during your menstrual cycle and these hormones can cause changes in the breasts. Many women feel a fullness and tenderness in their breasts during the days leading up to menstruation. Get this checked out by your doctor to make sure that you do not have any underlying medical hormonal problems. There are several natural remedies for hormonal breast pain which include evening primrose oil, chasteberry, angelica, Peruvian ginseng and salvia.

During pregnancy

Pregnancy completely changes the balance of hormones in our body. One of the symptoms of pregnancy can be burning or pain in your breasts – in fact this is a tell-tale sign of early pregnancy. The growing baby triggers an increase in blood flow to the breasts, especially in the nipples. The discomfort tends to ease as the pregnancy progresses. Always check your symptoms with your midwife. If your midwife confirms that everything is OK, you can soothe the pain by making infusions with concentrations of marigold flowers to apply to your chest. Wait until the infusion has cooled down and apply with the help of a compress.

Mastitis

Breast feeding (lactation) is a time when breasts can be very uncomfortable – especially during the first few days after you have given birth. If you feel burning and pain when feeding your baby, you may have mastitis, which is an inflammation of the mammary tissue caused by an infection. It is often accompanied by fever and fatigue. You must talk to your doctor about mastitis. You could try and treat it with an infusion with thyme concentrate or by taking vitamin C and propolis-based supplement. Your midwife can check the position of the baby as he/she feeds, to make sure this is not causing the problem.

Breast cancer prevention

Don’t panic about persistent pain and burning in the breast, but treat it seriously. Always get breast symptoms checked out by a doctor to rule out breast cancer. It is also vital to carry out a breast examination yourself every month. Stand in front of a mirror, touch the entire breast area slowly and deeply in circular motions. Try to cover all around it up to your armpits. Do the same with both breasts.

If you do notice that anything is different, get it checked out. Always see your doctor about loss of liquid through the nipple, whether it is blood-coloured or yellow. This should be a cause for concern.