From the Guidelines
The term for cellulitis underneath the breast is intertrigo or inframammary intertrigo. This condition occurs when the skin under the breast becomes inflamed due to friction, moisture, and heat in the skin fold, creating an environment where bacteria, yeast, or fungi can thrive and cause infection. Symptoms typically include redness, swelling, pain, itching, and sometimes a foul odor or discharge.
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment usually involves keeping the area clean and dry, using antifungal creams like clotrimazole or miconazole if fungal infection is present, or antibiotics like cephalexin 500mg four times daily for 7-10 days if bacterial infection is confirmed, as suggested by 1. For prevention and management, wearing a properly fitted supportive bra, using absorbent powders or cotton cloths between skin folds, and practicing good hygiene are essential.
Severity and Special Considerations
In severe cases, a dermatologist or primary care physician should be consulted for proper diagnosis and treatment. The condition is more common in women with larger breasts, those who are overweight, or during hot, humid weather when sweating increases. According to 1, elevation of the affected area and treatment of predisposing factors, such as edema or underlying cutaneous disorders, are recommended.
Antibiotic Coverage
For typical cases of cellulitis without systemic signs of infection, an antimicrobial agent that is active against streptococci is recommended, as stated in 1. However, in cases associated with penetrating trauma, evidence of MRSA infection elsewhere, or severe nonpurulent infection, vancomycin or another antimicrobial effective against both MRSA and streptococci may be considered, as suggested by 1.
Duration of Therapy
The recommended duration of antimicrobial therapy is 5 days, but treatment should be extended if the infection has not improved within this time period, as recommended by 1.
From the Research
Definition and Causes
- Intertrigo is a superficial inflammatory dermatitis occurring on two closely opposed skin surfaces as a result of moisture, friction, and lack of ventilation 2.
- It can occur in any area of the body where two skin surfaces are in close contact with each other, such as the axillary, inframammary, umbilical and inguinal areas 3.
Cellulitis
- Cellulitis is an infection involving the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue 4.
- It is a clinical diagnosis based on the history of present illness and physical examination and lacks a gold standard for diagnosis 4, 5.
Term for Cellulitis Underneath the Breast
- The term for cellulitis underneath the breast is not explicitly stated in the provided studies.
- However, intertrigo can occur in the inframammary area, which is the area underneath the breast 3.
- It is possible that cellulitis in this area could be referred to as inframammary cellulitis, but this term is not mentioned in the provided studies.
Diagnosis and Management
- Intertrigo and cellulitis can be difficult to diagnose and manage due to their similar presentations and lack of gold standard diagnostic tests 2, 4, 6, 5.
- Treatment for intertrigo and cellulitis typically involves topical or oral antibiotics, as well as measures to reduce moisture and friction in the affected area 2, 4, 6, 3, 5.