Skin diseases of the breast and nipple: Inflammatory and infectious diseases

Certain dermatologic conditions are unique to the breast and nipple, whereas others may incidentally involve these structures. All require a nuanced approach to diagnosis and treatment because of the functional, sexual, and aesthetic importance of this area. The lactating patient requires special management because certain treatment options are contraindicated. All dermatologic conditions involving the breast and nipple require careful evaluation because malignancy of the breast can be mistaken for a benign condition or may trigger the development of certain dermatologic conditions. The second article in this continuing medical education series reviews common and uncommon inflammatory and infectious conditions of the breast and nipple and provides insight into both the diagnosis and the treatment of this heterogeneous group of diseases. For the purposes of this article, these conditions are divided into 4 distinct categories: 1) dermatitis; 2) radiation-induced changes; 3) mastitis; and 4) miscellaneous dermatologic conditions of the breast and nipple.