Itchy

Ok. My breasts recently have been itchy beyond possible imagination. I've come close to making myself bleed from scratching so much and nothing has been helping. I have no idea what is causing it either. Is there anything I can use to help it? I've tried lotions and the like, but nothing helps and I don't want to put too many things on the breast/nipple area due to feeding.

[happynifer]

it happens sometimes to me too.  DON"T SCRATCH.  you will just make it worse.
i think it is similar to why our bellies itched while we were pregnant.
the skin stretching and contracting depending on how much milk your breasts are holding..
the other thing is to make sure you don't have thrush or another infection that may be contributing.  
i just distract myself and it goes away after a few minutes without doing anything else.

[Mumma2many]

Could you have Thrush? It is a yeast type infection. It is common and can cause itching. I would look into that, & try not to itch. I know how hard to is. Hang in there, this too shall pass.

Take care!

[Clysta]

I don't think I do, but I'm not too sure. My baby has white patches in her mouth, but they don't look like the other pictures of thrush that I've seen. I'll go to a doctor and see if that might be the problem. Thanks!

[zazou]

I did have itchy breasts and that was due to the fact that they expand and contract due to the milk supply thus the skin was stretches. I agree that they may be a cause. But I also had dry skin as well, so that may be another reason. I sometimes didn't wear a bra especially when I had a rash from the itchiness, in order to let air. Make sure that you are wearing a cotton bra.

When I had a yeast infection, I did itch but more closer to the nipple, my daughter also had oral thrush and white patches in her mouth. It was extremely (!!!!) painful whilst breastfeeding her.

Lanolin is perfectly safe to use when breastfeeding, I used that on my nipple.

[Clysta]

Hmm...I don't have pain or anything. It just itches. Almost reminds me of when I was younger and had chicken pox. It happens randomly too. Normally when I'm empty though, or not much is there. I only wear sports bras so I'm good in that. Sometimes I go without one as well just because it's nicer and now that I finally stopped leaking I can do that.

[Mumma2many]

I never had pain either when I had it. You could always spread some plain yogurt on your breasts and see if that helps. It isn't a for sure diagnosis, but some women find it helps.

[Heatherm4]

I'm the same way when my breasts get really full though. They are crazy itchy like my belly was when pregnant.
Did you start using a new detergent or is there something irritating in your bra?

[Clysta]

Nope. It only started when I started breastfeeding and even then it didn't start till maybe a month or two ago.

[SunWorshiper_26]

I have had itchy breasts since pregnancy bc of them growing. I use nipple butter on the entire breast but not the nipples (she wont latch if I use anything on them). The nipple butter which is organic not lanolin either seems to help a lot. It's by First Years

[mum2beagain]

It couls also be hormonal, mention it to your doctor.