Does This Look Like A Cause For Concern? Please Im Very Worried

[chinchi]

Around May/June time, I noticed a small piece of loose skin next to my left nipple. I didnt think much of it at the time, and so just left it alone.

I spent the summer overseas, and gradually noticed that the loose skin was getting bigger, and so promised myself to see a doctor upon my return to the UK.

Im almost 29 weeks pregnant and have been in and out of hospital since my return 3 weeks ago, and so the skin on my breast seemed the last of my worries until I was getting dressed today.

The tip of it is now fiery red, and seems to have grown a little more in the past week. I dont know its there unless I look at it- its not sore or itchy, but Im convincing myself that its the start of something bad. My Mum died of breast cancer nearly a year ago, and so that automatically has me thinking the worst.

Ill be going to see the GP in the morning, but I just wondered if anybody has experienced anything similar? I have put a picture on my profile. Thanks

It's difficult to see but it looks like a skin tag from your photo - they're usually completely harmless. They're often red, particularly if they are in a place which catches on your clothes.

If that's what it is, the GP can remove it, but it won't do any harm to leave it.

Is it a skin tag? These can get pretty big and are normally no cause for concern. I would definitely show it your GP tomorrow just to get it checked.

It's a bit hard to see, but this looks exactly like something I have on my breast and I am 40 weeks pregnant. I've been to see a dermatologist and they are not concerned - they gave me a name for it which I currently can't remember. Anyway, they are planning to leave it until I've had my baby, and then remove it unless it disappears of its own accord (apparently that's very common, as pregnancy hormones do weird things).

But get yourself to the GP anyway .... and good luck

I should have said - that in my case this red, blood filled pouch of skin is about 1cm across, and appeared when I was about 3-4 months pregnant.

Thankyou for your replies I was thinking a skin tag myself, and hoping that it will be completely harmless.

Hopefully the GP will put my mind at rest tomorrow

come back and let us know once you've seen your GP

Just got home from seeing the GP who was lovely.

She checked my breasts for any lumps and bumps, but thankfully all ok there. She has referred me to 'minor ops' and has requested that once it has been removed, that it be sent off for testing.

Here is where the waiting starts I guess!

oh chinchi, try not to worry, I know that's easier said than done. Rich blood supply etc can do some weird things to your body when you're pregnant. I had to have a mole removed from my boob when I was 34 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby, I was worried that my boob might 'explode' if he touched it to remove the mole .... it didn't.

oh oh oh - i had one of these in my 1st pregnancy...almost looked like another nipple( wish I hadn't told my dear sis about it as she and my bro called me scaramanga for months...)

Anyhow, it turned out to be nothing. gp & consultant said to wait til I finished breastfeeding and see if it went down. It didn't, finally had it removed under local anaesthetic, day surgery at local hospital.

It wasn't a skintag - can't remember name...but it was mildly embarassing rather than life-threatening.

Thanks heinzsight and dilbertina

Im hoping itll be something and nothing and the doctor didnt seem overly concerned. Ive read that they are quite common during pregnancy so lets just hope its a hormone surge!

chinchi - my GP did the same thing - referred me to have it removed - but the dermatologist said since it was nothing to worry about they prefer not to do it during pregnancy, so you may find they wait to see what happens when the hormones settle down etc. I'm scheduled to have mine looked at again end of October, by which point this baby will surely have appeared ('tis 2 days late at the moment!).

All fingers crossed for you.

and don't worry about them wanting it sent for testing, this is done everytime something is removed, from wherever on your body. its part of how medical knowledge is expanded.

I'm putting my money on it being either and inflammed skin tag or an accessory nipple.

Do I win a prize if I'm right?

Hope baby Pidge arrives soon!

Haha emma I love the sound of an accessory nipple- makes it sound quite funky!

Thanks too Misi- I did wonder why it would need to be sent for examining, but like you say, thats how medical knowledge is explained

Thanks MNers!

Hi Chinchi- I forgot to say that I perform minor ops and send everything I remove off for a histology report, even when I strongly suspect its harmless. Don't worry about it.

Good luck.

ha, seems almost more rare not to have one!

I had two skin tags removed - one of which was under my arm and looked a bit like yours. Both sent for histology and never heard another word. Hope you get some reassurance soon

I too developed skin tags during pregnancy under my bra-strap below the breast, all disappeared by themselves after the babies were born.