Nipple piercing and smoking possible cause of subareolar abscess in women

Updated December 7, 2023

Healthcaretoday, Subareolar abscesses, breast infection, areola, breast, women, nipple piercing, smoking, diabetes, breast cancer, cancer, cancer awareness, Professor Dr See Mee Hoong,

By Professor Dr See Mee Hoong
Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon,
UM Specialist Centre

Subareolar abscesses, growths located on the areolar gland beneath or below the nipple's colored area, signify a breast infection stemming from a collection of infected tissues within plural cells. While the precise cause remains elusive for surgeons, certain factors seem correlated with its emergence.

This uncommon problem primarily affects women in their 40s, with associated risk factors including diabetes, nipple piercing, and smoking. Blockages in small glands or ducts beneath the areolar skin can instigate this condition, fostering glandular infections.

Symptoms typically commence with a tender, swollen lump beneath the areola, accompanied by skin warmth, redness beneath the nipple discharging whitish fluid, and systemic manifestations like fever, chills, fatigue, or a general sense of unwellness.

Treatment
The standard approach involves treating subareolar abscesses as infections, employing antibiotics and draining the infected tissue. This procedure, often performed in a doctor's office under local anesthesia, aims to alleviate symptoms. Surgical removal of affected glands becomes necessary if abscesses persist.

Possible complications
Within this disease spectrum, correlations exist between conditions like periductal mastitis, initiating the infection within milk ducts. Left untreated, periductal mastitis can progress into abscesses. Hormonal changes and smoking contribute to these problems, particularly affecting smokers and typically involving multiple ducts on both sides (bilateral).

At times, these conditions may mimic cancerous presentations. Therefore, any presence of an abscess, mass, or lump beneath the nipple necessitates a comprehensive evaluation to distinguish between infection and potential cancerous implications. This involves a systematic three-step assessment to ascertain the precise nature of the condition.