Very itchy/tingly skin on the fold of my breasts

[cara]

Hello Doctor,

I have had a persistant itch come and go in the folds just below my breasts for about a year.  I have rather large breasts so I assume that it's the friction between the skin that must be causing it. I couldn't find anything to calm it down until my mother gave me a prescription only medicine (that her doctor prescribed to her) to try and it works beautifully.  I only need to use a very small amount maybe once or twice a month and it literally stops the problem after only one application.  

However, I am a little worried as to what this medicine could be so I'm hoping you'll explain it to me and inform me if I should stop using it and what are some alternative.

It is called:

CELESTONE-M Cream 0.02%
(Betamethasone Valerate equivalent to Betamethasone 0.2 mg/g

Thanking you in advance,
Cara

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Cara:

Always listen to your mother!  (Well, almost always . . . .)

A rash called seborrhea often affects skin below breasts, as well as other skin folds (the groin, under the arms.)  A cortisone-based cream (what Mum provided) is just the ticket, and can be used with compete safety on an intermittent basis, as you're doing.  In my experience, powdering and other such maneuvers don't help much.

Best.

Dr. R

[PamD]

I have had the same problem in the past, and one of the best things I found is to apply a small amount of anti-perspirant under my breasts!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Perhaps, but antiperspirants can be rather irritating, epsecially if the skin is raw.

Dr. R.

[Luanne]

I have the same thing.  The area beneath my breasts is rashy and itches severely and unfortunately I scratch it.  I have used Lotrisone cream in the past but now I am without insurance and it is very expensive.  I have found that using powders makes it worse.  I also have the same problem with the skin in my leg/crotch area.  It is much worse in the summer when I sweat.  I am hoping that with winter approaching that it will improve.

I would love a miracle cure or to know if anyone has found something that works...permanently???

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

1% hydrocortisone is inexpensive.  Give it a try.

Dr. R

[L.Cox]

I have a friend who has this rash also, and she has been diagosed with a disease called Hailey-Hailey Disease. I read where this is fatal and incurable. Is there a simple skin test that can be done to confirm this, or Is this so rare that doctors don't consider this when diagnosing?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Hailey-Hailey is an exceedingly rare form of rash in skin folds.  It is part of a strongly hereditary condition--meaning it's pretty unlikely if lots of other people don't have it.

Dr. R