What is the best way to treat a rash under my breast?

Can’t say I’ve ever dealt with this, but maybe some medicated talcum powder? I’m shooting in the dark here.

If you have (or can easily get) super soft baby baby washcloths, cut them in half and put a half each between the bottom of the bra and you. First, clean carefully with witch hazel on a cotton ball, dry thoroughly, then use corn starch baby powder instead of talc (talc, being a mineral, will cause micro-scratches).
When it gets really bad, I put a few drops of tea tree oil in the witch hazel for a more intense astringent effect.
As you can guess, this is an oft repeated affliction for me. :-)

Antifungal cream and cortisone cream, or a cream with a combination of the two.

JLeslie is correct. The rash is caused by a yeast (fungal) infection. It’s the same thing as a vaginal yeast infection, just a different location.

There is something better than the cream. It comes in a spray can so it’s in powder form. The reason it’s more comfortable is because the powder form of anti fungal ingredients dries everything out and prevents further rubbing and chafing.

The best brand to use, in my opinion, is LOTRIMIN in a gray can. It’s OTC at any pharmacy.There are other brands but Lotrimin is the gold standard.

However, it’s marketed for either Athletes Foot or Jock Itch. Thats what the front of the can says, but don’t be put off by that. Yeast is yeast is yeast regardless of the location. Anywhere it’s dark and damp can produce an overgrowth of yeast which requires an antifungal to deal with it.

When I’ve used it, it clears everything up in a day, but I usually use it for two days just to be sure. But the relief is pretty much instantaneous.

You can use the cream form if you want but the powder dries everything out better.

(Just be aware that the first time you use the powder spray, it will sting but only for a few seconds LITERALLY; this is due to the aerosol propellant used and likely also contains alcohol, which also has a drying effect.)

To prevent re-occurence once the rash clears, just keep it as dry as possible in that area. You can use regular talcum powder or corn starch plus wearing cotton blouses, t-shirts, etc. (as well as cotton bras). At night you can fold a piece of paper towel in half under each breast to absorb moisture.

I use to clean it with witch hazel and then put some desitin on it at night and sleep either topless or with a thin cotton shirt. It keeps it soft and locks in moisture like it does for a babies bottom that has a rash.

During the day, I use to use hydrocortisone creams to help with the itching and burning. Also make sure you are changing your bras frequently and use perfume free and allergy free detergents to clean them.

As for yourself, use cetaphyl cleanser on the area instead of water and soap. It will help to clean the area without agitating the rash and making it dry. If you can, clean twice a day and apply hydrocotisone after you clean. Till it is better, don’t use any lotions or perfumes on your torso. When you are home. Go bra-less and wear a thin cotton shirt. If this make you sweat, tuck the bottom of your shirt under the girls.

@Pandora

You wrote “it keeps it soft and locks in moisture like it does for a babies bottom.”

Typically diaper rash is caused by the irritation from the compounds in urine (ammonia being the worst) and NOT from fungus. Therefore an emolient like Desitin is called for.

But the last thing a yeast infection under the breasts needs is for something to “lock in moisture.” You want DRY NOT MOIST FOR YEAST

Something like Desitin (and cortisone cream) deals with relieving the SYMPTOMS, not the underlying cause.

The problem is an overgrowth of yeast cells. The problem is eliminated by an antifungal in whatever form. Other products simply relieve the symptoms but the problem will keep recurring (especially in summer when moisture from sweat increases dramatically.)

This needs an antifungal. I have gone from the itchiest reddest most uncomfortable rash there to complete relief with ONE application of Lotrimin powder. I do a follow up with several more applications just to be sure but the first time I used this, I couldn’t believe it.

Yes, in the past, I had used cortisone cream and had to keep reapplying it to cut down on the itching and it was just a mess. And this went on for days and days. Things didn’t improve until the cooler weather of Fall and Winter.

I couldn’t believe what one spray of the Lotrimin did. I was amazed.

It’s a matter of using the right tool for the job, so to speak. Why use three or four different products when one eliminates the problem?

Diaper rash is normally not fungal. Breast rash (jock itch, vaginal yeast infection) usually is.

I have to agree that Lotrimin, or even leftover yeast infection cream sitting in your cabinet, is the best bet. Why use cortisone when you might not need to, and it is primarily symptom relief. Unless, on the off chance the redness is from an ill-fitting bra. Then soothing creams and ointments like Desitin, A&D, and cortisone, would be helpful, and going braless for a couple of days. If you go without a bra and are large breasted try to wear a shirt that keeps your breasts up as much as possible.

While it’s theoretically possible that the rash could be from another cause, the time of year suggests it is far more likely yeast. August is the hottest most humid month of the year so….

Besides, there’s a really simple test. If the Lotrimin has no effect on the rash, then it’s not yeast and symptom relief is needed until the cause is found.

But if I were a betting person, all my money would be on the yeast :)

@Buttonstc I think it really depends on how bad it is. But I’ve never tried any anti fungal and have gotten rid of it.

I’m not quite sure what you mean by that. Were you using the anti fungal along with Desitin or something else?

Do you mean gotten rid of it permanently, never to return? Or do you mean that you pretty much have a rash to varying degrees all year long?

When I’ve used it, it clears up a bout almost instantaneously. But I have to be aware and keep an eye on it because things could get out of balance at any time during summer months. But now I use the spray at the first sign of even the slightest itching and it keeps it in check.

But that’s the way it is with yeast infections regardless of their location. There is always some degree of yeast present. That’s perfectly normal. It only becomes a problem when one’s body gets out of balance for whatever reason (humidity, antibiotic use, too much sugar etc.). So it’s the overgrowth of the yeast which is the problem.

If an anti-fungal isn’t that helpful for you then it’s possible that your rash has a different cause altogether. Or that it’s partly fungal and partly something else. Excema? I don’t know. I’m not a doctor.

But all I know is that for me, once I started using an anti-fungal instead of all the other stuff, life was a lot less miserable in the summer months. I no longer need cortisone cream because it never gets bad enough to warrant it.

Everybody is an individual and things work differently for different people. But IF it is a yeast problem, the worst thing for it is moisture. Yeast just love it and multiply like crazy regardless of who it is.

But if it isn’t yeast at all then that’s a different scenario altogether.

First is to prevent what is causing the rash My daughter turned me on to a product called Fresh Breasts. You can buy it on Amazon. I threw my talc out for this great tube of amazingness. It’s like lotion in a tube coming out, and turns into a dry powder as you rub it on those “squishy” areas. Poof! No more sweaty Betty’s equal no friction, hence no more irritating rashes. Cheers!

Oh cool. That sounds neat. I’m definitely going to get me some.

Welcome to Fluther, btw. We always like to see new faces here :)

See your doctor. Asking unqualified people on a website for medical help might do you more harm than good.

I’ve been a user here for seven years, Barb. We are all family here. I trust these women.

Thanks everyone! I used corn starch baby powder and it cleared up in two days.