Women experience hormonal changes, especially during their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, which could explain many skin changes. However, some changes like excessive itching in your nipple could be an indication of something entirely different. And since it could happen to literally any woman, here are a few skin cues you should familiarize yourself with for better management.
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Thin and Dry Skin
Before you continue reading, you must understand the impact of menopause on your skin, especially women in their menopausal stage, ideally 40 years and onwards. Because oestrogen levels decrease as you age, you’re bound to notice changes in your skin texture and appearance when you reach menopause. Luckily, you can use treatments like hyaluronic acid or retinol to reverse dry skin and promote a youthful look.
On the other hand, regardless of age, this could be a cue for dehydrated skin. Whether you drink enough water or not is irrelevant to your skin’s hydration levels. Water partly helps your skin stay hydrated and maintain a healthy look, but it can only do so much without the support of moisturizers. So, it’s important to use moisturizers regularly. More importantly, after cleansing because your skin is clean and damp enough to allow fast moisture penetration.
Another common indication for thin and dry skin is sun damage, particularly if you don’t apply sunscreen regularly. By applying and reapplying sunscreen, there’s a higher chance you’ll be able to restore your skin barrier for supple and healthy skin. No matter your self-care strategies, it’s always best to put your skincare first as it’s the primary one that’ll help you look and feel your best. Preferably, do so as early as possible, don’t wait until your skin starts showing signs.
Prolonged Itching
This may come as a shock to some, but no matter how much you love that bra, an itchy nipple may be a sign that your bra is unsuitable. The type of your bra material can affect your breasts, and in most cases, your breasts will become intermittently itchy and develop slightly flaky skin. Even if you’ve never had an issue with a particular bra doesn’t mean it’s not the possible culprit. So before you think of the worst and jump to conclusions, consider changing your bra to see if it’ll stop the incessant itching. If not, it’d be wise to clue in your doctor.
Another possible explanation for itchy skin without a rash is the type of detergent. Usually, due to breasts’ high sensitivity, your nipples are the first to react but eventually, the rest of your body follows suit. You’ll notice that this immediately happens when you wear clean clothes because some detergents have harsh chemicals that could slowly affect your skin. To gauge if this is the cause for your itching, check if the itching aligns with when you bought a different detergent. If so, switch back to your original detergent before consulting your doctor for more tests.
It’s highly advisable to always consult with your doctor whenever there’s a skin change like those above. However, it’s best first to ensure that these cues are not as severe by following the suggestion given above. Only then can you conclusively know if your lifestyle is the cause or not.