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Orange peel skin is a change in the texture of the breast that is easy to see and important not to ignore. It has several possible causes, and one of them, inflammatory breast cancer, needs prompt care.
What Orange Peel Skin Is
The skin of the breast becomes thick and firm, with a pitted surface like the peel of an orange. It is caused by swelling in the skin when fluid cannot drain away normally.
It is not the same as cellulite. Cellulite is harmless dimpling over fat, usually on the thighs and buttocks, that has been there for a long time. Orange peel skin on the breast is a new change and comes with thickening of the skin itself.
The Link With Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer is uncommon, but it grows quickly. Its signs include:
- Redness or discoloration over a large part of the breast
- Swelling, warmth or a feeling of heaviness
- Thick, pitted skin like an orange peel
- A breast that changes size quickly
- A nipple that turns inward
- Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone
- Tenderness, pain or itching
These signs together, especially when they appear over a few weeks, need medical attention right away.
Other Causes of Orange Peel Skin
- A breast infection, including mastitis in women who are breastfeeding, which usually brings pain, warmth and sometimes fever
- Swelling after breast surgery, an injury or radiation treatment
- Conditions that cause fluid to build up in the body, such as heart failure
- A skin infection such as cellulitis
An infection usually improves within days of the right antibiotic. Swelling that does not improve needs a closer look.
What Happens When You See a Doctor
Your doctor will examine both breasts and the lymph nodes under the arms. Imaging usually follows, often a mammogram and an ultrasound, and sometimes an MRI. If anything looks suspicious, a biopsy of the breast tissue or skin gives the answer.
If you were given antibiotics for a suspected infection and the skin has not clearly improved within about a week, go back and ask about further tests.
Getting the Right Help
For changes in the breast, start with your primary care doctor or gynecologist. Dermatologists see many rashes and skin conditions on the breast and can tell you whether a change looks like a skin problem or needs a breast evaluation.
Before You Go
Swelling from an infection or an injury can fade as it heals. Orange peel skin from inflammatory breast cancer tends to stay or worsen, so do not wait to see whether it fades.
No. Cellulite is harmless and long-standing, usually on the thighs or buttocks. Orange peel skin on the breast is a new thickening of the skin and should be checked.
Within days. A red, swollen breast with orange peel skin is not something to watch for weeks.
Reading is a start. A visit is an answer.
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