Burning Sensation in Breast, Inside or Under Right and Left Breast

What causes a burning sensation in breast

A burning sensation in the breast, whether the left breast or right breast, should not be ignored. It can occur during early pregnancy, when breastfeeding or during normal times. If you feel a throbbing or sharp shooting pain in your breast or nipple area, here are the possible causes and what to do.

Breast pain, medically referred to as mastalgia is common among many women. The pain can be accompanied by heaviness, tightness, breast tenderness, or a burning sensation in breast. When linked to your menstrual cycle, it is referred to as cyclical breast pain (cyclical mastalgia).

What causes a burning sensation in breast
What causes breast pain?

According to the Breast Cancer Foundation, breast pain can include tenderness, discomfort, or any pain occurring in the underarm or breast region, which can be caused by a number of factors.

In almost all cases, the burning sensation in breast affects the outer and upper area of your breasts, but the sensation can at times spread to your arms. Although this sensation can be experienced by all women—including postmenopausal women, it is more prevalent in premenopausal and perimenopausal women.

In this article, we will discuss the causes of a burning sensation in breast e.g. pregnancy and breastfeeding, and we will also look at some of the conditions that are likely to affect your nipples.

What is a burning sensation in the breast?

The burning sensation in the breast is often marked by the presence of a Stabbing or shooting pain. You are likely to experience this sensation in either one or both breasts. It can be as a result of:

  • Thermal burn
  • Exposure to toxic or extreme substances

Depending on the causative factor, this sensation may occur in the breasts alone, or it could also spread to your other body parts. In some instances, this burning feeling may be accompanied by tingling or numbness.

The duration and course of this burning sensation tends to differ widely, and is mainly dependent on what has caused it. If the sensation has been caused by a burn, it may start all of a sudden. But, when it has been caused by neuropathy, it develops gradually, before it worsens or becomes persistent with time. {source—NHS).

What causes a burning sensation in the breast?

The burning sensation in your breast can be felt in any part of your breast, and it can also spread to all the neighboring areas as well. Most women have a tendency to to worry that this sensation may be an indication that they have a serious underlying condition e.g. breast cancer. However, breast pain alone is rarely used as a cancer indicator. Some of the causes of this burning sensation include:

1. Mastitis

The mastitis causing infection is a common and major cause of this burning sensation being experienced in your breast. It is a common condition among mothers who are breastfeeding, given the fact that suckling often causes skin damage in the area surrounding the nipples, and this can pave way for bacteria to penetrate through.

When mastitis is the cause of this condition, the sensation will continue to increase as the baby suckles. In addition to pain, you may also experience symptoms like:

  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Fever

2. Neuropathy

Another major cause of this burning sensation is damage to the nerves, which are used in transmitting signals to your brain and spinal cord (neuropathy). Nerve damage or neuropathy can be caused by a number of disorders such as:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Abnormal nerve function

The condition can be marked by numbness or tingling in your breasts. Even though nerve damage is often permanent, your doctor can prescribe pain relievers to help with the pain.

3. IBC (inflammatory breast cancer)

This is a very rare kind of breast cancer, which is generally found in about five percent of all breast cancer patients. It is a condition marked by breast occurring due to blockage in the lymph vessels, thereby making it impossible for the lymphatic fluid to flow as it should. Your breasts could also become inflamed, and this would lead to redness and a burning sensation in your breasts.Sharp shooting pain in left or right breast

Common symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include:

  • Discoloration of the skin around the breast area
  • Sudden changes in your breast size
  • Breast skin may start dimpling
  • Notable beast pain
  • Change in the appearance of the nipples
  • Enlarged lymph nodes

Breast cancer typically progresses at a very fast pace, which means that patients should begin showing symptoms within a matter of weeks. If the burning sensation in the breast is accompanied by swelling, you should ensure that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

4. Hormonal fluctuations

When menstruating, it is common for a woman to experience fluctuations in her hormone levels. The hormonal fluctuation can then be accompanied by benign cysts and growths in the area around the woman’s breasts.

For some women, the sensation is common when they are about to start menstruating, while others will normally experience it during ovulation. Women between the ages of thirty and fifty years may also be prone to experiencing this sensation, which will in no way be related to their monthly cycle.

5. Muscle strain

Certain instances exist when pain could be present around your breasts, and which could be as a result of the occurrence of a sore pectoral muscle beneath all the tissues that are present in your breasts. Straining or injuring this pectoral muscle when exercising can result in a sharp, burning sensation in your breasts.

6. Clogged milk duct

Clogged milk ducts could also be the cause of this burning sensation. A mother who is breastfeeding will start to notice the appearance of a red lump on her breasts. The appearance of this lump can be accompanied by:

Blocked milk duct may cause a burning sensation in breast
Blocked milk duct may cause breast pain
  • Breast tenderness
  • Burning sensation

It is a condition that is brought about by the improper draining of milk from the mother’s milk ducts. If they are not treated, the clogged milk ducts can lead to an infection of the breast, which will then lead to this burning sensation.

7. Diabetes

A woman suffering from diabetes could experience paresthesia’s as well as burning in different areas of her body. Paresthesia’s can be defined as burning or numb sensation, which is commonly experienced in the extremities, and one that can also be felt in the chest and face area. The reason for this is that diabetes affects your body’s ability to handle glucose.

Because of this diabetes, the nerves present in your body can become inflamed, and it may lead to breast or chest pain. Pain perception among the diabetic often gets altered, and the burning sensation may be an indication that there is a more serious condition e.g. heart attack at play.

8. Paget’s disease

This is yet another common cause of the burning feeling being experienced in your chest. Even though it is rare, it is a form of breast cancer, which will normally begin at the nipple and areola before spreading deeper into the breast. Often, the condition can easily be overlooked as normal dry skin.

Although it may only involve a small area around the nipple, it is often an indication that the woman has an underlying case of cancer. Women above the age of fifty years are at a higher risk of getting this condition. Additional symptoms include:

One dangerous sign you should be on the lookout for is nipple inversion or retraction. The condition can be treated using lumpectomy or a complete mastectomy procedure. Once treatment is complete, it should be followed with chemotherapy or light radiation treatment.

Burning sensation in breast when breastfeeding

Do you experience sharp pain in breast after breastfeeding? When breastfeeding, the sharp pain that you are experiencing in your breast could be caused by:

  1. Breast engorgement—this is when your breasts are overly full
  2. Mastitis—it refers to the pain and swelling that occurs when a milk duct is blocked, which may be the result of an infection caused by a bacterium
  3. Breast abscess—it is a painful buildup of pus, which tends to occur when mastitis is not treated in time
  4. Thrush—it is a fungal infection, which is likely to occur if the nipples are damaged or cracked

Burning sensation in breast during early pregnancy

Breast pain and pregnancy are two conditions, which are forever tied together. When pregnant, your breasts will be growing in a bid to accommodate the milk that is needed by your baby, and as a result, you will experience breast tenderness in the next coming months. During pregnancy, breast pain should not be a cause for worry or concern. Some of the most common complaints made by pregnant women include:

Sharp pains

Although sharp pains are common when you are pregnant, they continue to be a mystery for many doctors and women. Normally, the pains tend to be brushed off as a result of the change and growth taking place in your breasts. The pains are often attributed to:

  • Expansion of your milk ducts
  • Breasts expanding
  • Breasts filling

All the above mentioned are naturally occurring factors that should not be a cause for concern. For a majority of women, this pain will disappear on its own after stopping the consumption of caffeine, and instead choosing to consume more milk. The sharp pains may also be caused by the cysts that develop during pregnancy.

Breast tenderness

Progesterone and estrogen are produced in high amounts when you become pregnant. They are two hormones, which are known to cause changes in your breasts during early pregnancy as well as breast tenderness. Between week two and week four, you are likely to start noticing the tender nature of your breasts.

During this period, fat will start building up in your breasts. Additionally, there will be increased blood flow in the breasts because of this fat buildup. The changes being experienced in your breasts are meant to ensure that you will be able to successfully produce milk to guarantee that your child will be properly nourished.

This burning sensation during pregnancy is quite common, and unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to relieve the pain. Milk production begins in the last trimester, which is a period where you may even start looking lean. When you are pregnant, these areas will be quite sensitive:

  • Veins
  • Nipples
  • Areolas

You should remember that during pregnancy, your breasts are expected to grow greatly. If the pain becomes too much, you may need to buy a maternity bra, as it will provide you with extra support to ensure that your breasts will not ache.

Burning sensation in left breast

Each breast in your body contains an extensive system that is made up glandular tissue. The tissue is surrounded by:

  1. Lymph nodes
  2. Fatty tissue
  3. Connective nerves and tissue
  4. Blood vessels

The diseases that affect the nerves in your breast can cause tissue damage, inflammation, and breast irritation. Tissue damage can often lead to a burning sensation in your left breast, which may then be accompanied by a persistent pain. Some of the conditions causing this pain could be life-threatening, and hence the need to see a physician for a proper diagnosis.

Sharp pain in right breast

Localized pain occurring in your abdomen or chest may or may not be related to a serious underlying health condition. But, you should find out what causes this pain, to ensure that the correct measures are taken so as to treat the condition before it become severe. It is not uncommon to experience sharp pain in right breast, and any person can experience the pain. It can be caused by:

  • Kidney stones
  • Rib injury
  • Gallbladder disease

In the event that you have recently been engaging in workout exercises, and your symptoms have remained stable, the pain may just be a temporary condition, which could be related to strain. It is one of the primary causes of pain in your breast, and it can be resolved by taking some pain relievers.

But, if you recently had a serious respiratory condition or were involved in a recent trauma, you should ensure that you consult your doctor immediately.

At times, you may not be aware of symptoms manifesting themselves in your body, which point towards a more serious condition affecting your kidneys or upper abdomen.

It is, therefore, imperative to consult your physician for a proper diagnosis and advice on how to manage the sharp pain in your right breast.

Burning pain under and inside breasts

Burning pain under and inside breasts is very common among pregnant women, and for the first time mothers, it can be quite scary. At this point, your body will be making internal changes in a bid to create room for your developing child. As a result, the reason for this pain may vary greatly. Some of the causes may include:

  1. Increase in the size of your liver
  2. Heartburn
  3. Issues with your gallbladder
  4. Acid reflux
  5. The position of your baby
  6. Shifting of your hips in a bid to make room for the birth process

Pain occurring under your right breast may be an indication of many varying factors, and as such, there is a need to ensure that your gallbladder is examined. In lots of instances, the gallbladder is likely to develop some issues when you are pregnant, and as a result of this, you could end up experiencing pain in your chest, under and inside your breasts, as well as in your back.

Additionally, your baby may be moving inside the womb, and in the process pushing your diaphragm upwards. It is often very painful because of the additional pressure exerted on your ribs. Normally, most doctors do not view some of these sensations and pains as being serious, but if they become persistent, you should ask for tests to be conducted, as a way of ascertaining that everything is moving along perfectly. In case the pains become worse after you have eaten, there is a prospect that they are being caused by acid reflux or indigestion, and as such, you should consider changing your diet.

Home remedies for burning sensation in breast

According to the California Pacific Medical Center, burning sensation in the breast affects between fifty and seventy percent of all women. Some of the accompanying symptoms include:

  1. Stabbing pain
  2. Soreness
  3. Tenderness
  4. Swelling in both breasts

The good news for women experiencing this sensation is that they do not have to live with it. There are a number of home remedies, which they can use to assist them relieve the pain associated with these sensations. They include:

Ice pack

To obtain relief from the burning sensations, you can make use of an icepack. An icepack will have a cold temperature, which will assist in numbing the area, as well as in assisting reduce the pain and swelling.

  1. Take a few ice cubes and place them in a plastic bag. You will then need to wrap the plastic bag using a washcloth
  2. Apply your icepack to each breast for a period of ten minutes
  3. You need to repeat this process a few times each day until you get some relief

You also have the option of using a warm compress, or alternating between the two, to assist in reducing breast tenderness and swelling.

Self-massage

A self-massage will come in handy in reducing inflammation, and improving blood circulation in your breasts. The massage assists in maintaining heathy breast tissues, which in return ensure that nutrients will reach your breasts. This is vital as it assists in preventing tenderness and pain.

  1. When taking a shower, begin by soaping your breasts. Once they are properly soaped, gently massage each breast for a few minutes starting from the center area and moving outwards to your armpits. If you are breastfeeding, ensure that you do not soap your nipples.
  2. Alternatively, combine equal amounts of wheat germ oil and apricot oil, and use the resulting blend to massage your tender breasts

Castor oil

It contains ricin oleic acid, which comes with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. These two properties greatly assist in relieving breast pain. In addition, castor oil improves blood circulation, which ensures that important nutrients get to reach the tissue cells, and that the waste products are eliminated from your body.

What to do at home

  1. Combine a single teaspoon of castor oil with two teaspoons of olive oil
  2. Use the resulting blend to massage your breasts all over
  3. You should follow this remedy each day, especially in the week preceding your periods, for the women who experience burning sensations in their breasts during their menstrual cycle.

Conclusion

For many women, the burning sensation in breast will go away on its own with time, and the sensations do not cause any harm. But, do not rely on this assumption entirely, as there is no way for you to be sure on whether there is an underlying factor or not. Therefore, it is always best to consult with your physician, and to make sure that you follow his advice.

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