Conditions
Breast Abscess
Similar to abscesses that form in other areas of the body, a breast abscess can be very painful. They mainly affect women aged 18-50 and are common among those who are breastfeeding, as the nipples can become cracked, allowing bacteria to enter that can cause infection. The inflammation of the breast tissue – called mastitis – is the first stage in the development of an abscess, which has symptoms such as redness, tenderness, and painful localised swelling of the affected breast, which may also feel hot. The infection targets the fatty tissue of the breast, causing swelling just outside the milk ducts, which leads to more discomfort, such as itching, breast lump, green or pus-like nipple discharge, as well as the enlargement of the affected breast. Small abscesses can be drained with a syringe, but larger ones will require a small incision under local anaesthetic. Early treatment and a course of oral antibiotics is the best way to prevent an abscess from developing.
Comments and Questions
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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
hi, i am 22 and for the past two months i have been suffering with what looks to be a boil on my right breast. i first noticed this when i came out of the bath, and a red sore open lump had appeared. the lump must have burst in the bath. i had some anti biotics fromt the doctor to clear this and a scar was left in its place, im worried as today i found yellow puss stains and blood on the inside of my bra, so it must have refilled, im worried this could turn into somethign more dangerous. i have also suffered from simular spots or boils on the inside of my thighs and i thought this was due to sweat glands, but to get them on my breast has worried me. do you have any ideas or suggestions on how i may treat this? thanks so much
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I'm abit worried as a yellow crust appears out of my nipple sometimes and appears on my bra as a kind of brown colour. If i pick at it it comes out and leaves a hole but nothing happens if i squeeze my nipple as the yellow stuff seems copmpletely dry! I'm only 14 and although i satarted my period nearly a year ago, my boobs are still very small - just about fill 30B. Please help as im too embarrased to tell my mum! xx
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i dont really want to go on telly ... :/ but thanks anyway! alex
on my aerola on both breasts I clearly have what I can only suggest is the montgomery glands after research. However, myn seem to be extremely swollen but cause no discomfort what so ever. However, a few are often like pimples and I can extract a thin white substances when squeezing them, something you would imaging coming out of a spot. I was just wondering if this is normal and if it would cause any problems in the future with breastfeeding?
This is normal. It's actually the body's way of keeping the area moisturised and just what you need when breastfeeding. They are called the sebaceous glands.
Hiya . I'm 20 Years Old With A Young Son Whos Nearly 2 . I Hav Had Big Lumps On My Nipples For The Past 2 Years Which I Can Remember. When I Squeeze These Puss Does Come From Them, They R Extremely Sore & Uncomfortable Wen Wearing A Bra, I Feel So Embarressed About Them I Rarely Remove My Bra Infront Of My Partner. Please Help I Didn't Breastfeed, If Thts Any Help !
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On my nipple i have something that lookes like a spot and it's white, its really small but it causes no pain or discomfort at all. I don't know if its normal or not? I think it covers the small hole on the nipple but if i squeeze it nothing happens. Do you know what it could be?
Hi there i have had a problem for some time of years now. My boobs have become saggy and my stomach is very big i am not proud of my body when i want to go out, i think the worse of my body and sometimes wishes that i didnt have such an ugly figure but i was wondering if you could help me by giving me some advice on how to sort this problem !PLEASE HELP!
hi there i have had a lump in y breast about the size of a 2p coin for about 1&1/2 now it is hard and causes me pain the pain seems to go through the lump. i was referred to breast clinic at hospital they done scans and said it wasnt cancer it was mastitus. i suffered fro this 7 years ago after the birth of my son and have had a yellowy liquid that comes out ever since. ive had a baby 2 years ago and thats when the lump appeared? i have put on 2 & 1/2 stone in the last 9mths since it became painful esecially round my middle i have tryed diets and excerise but y weight keeps going up this really is affecting me i dont go out, iam on anti depressants and i cant put up with this anymore. weight is a big problem for me abig part of my deprression i have zero confidance and dont know what to do. my belly is really saggy and in discust i keep pulling it in discust and splitting under neath please help my weights going up its ruining my life+
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Is it too young to have a breast abscess at the age of 15? Like many of the comments above i had an itchy right nipple for a few days and then this morning it was really hurting, when looking in the mirror i noticed there was a red swelling below the nipple and it has started to become very tender. is this unusual?
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Hi there, I have been having a problem with my right nipple for a couple of weeks, and I am getting quite worried now. At first it was itching and thought this may have been down to the washing powder i was using, but thought it was strange that I wasn't getting these symptoms anywhere else on my body. A couple of weeks ago I noticed a change to the nipple, it seems to have a cluster of nodules in it and is very sore to the touch. I did think it was pregnancy to start off with as the change in appearance was where the milk would come out, but have been to the Dr's and now had 3 pregnancy tests (Home and Dr's), which have all come back negative. If someone knows any reason why I could have these symptoms then please let me know, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Mary 20 x
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Hi im a mum of 6kids which i have breast fed all ive been having prombles with my breast for about 15yrs i went to my doc and he sent me to the s.d.t clinc and then i was sent home after being told it was nothing my right breast has alot of dark green and sometime a whitish green coming out of my nipple and at the side of my nipple and my right breast is very painfull and alot bigger then my left on i sometimes cry with the pain and now i have a small pain in my left breast with a bit of white coming out of my nipple
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