Breast Cancer Rash

April 10, 2025

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Susan Yost, Ph.D., staff scientist, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Duarte

One of the most common signs of breast cancer (or noncancerous breast conditions) is a lump in the breast or underarm. However, not all breast cancers cause lumps, and certain rare forms of the disease have a different telltale sign: skin rash.

Two types of breast cancer may cause a rash and other skin changes, as listed below.

Inflammatory breast cancer: This type of cancer accounts for between 1% and 5% of all breast cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.

Paget’s disease: This condition affects the nipple and areola (the darker circle of skin around the nipple). Usually, there is an underlying breast tumor, too, such as ductal carcinoma in situ, an early cancer that is confined to the milk ducts. About 1% to 4% of all breast cancers involve Paget’s disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.

What’s an Inflammatory Breast Cancer Rash?

Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer in which malignant cells block lymph vessels in the skin. That causes the breast to swell and the skin to become red or otherwise discolored. In Paget’s disease of the breast, cancerous cells form in the top layer of the skin, creating the rashlike appearance that marks the disease.

What Does a Breast Cancer Rash Look Like?

Inflammatory breast cancer may cause a number of skin changes that generally worsen quickly (over the course of a few months), including:

• Swelling of the affected breast and redness that spreads to cover at least one-third of the breast
• Skin that may have a pink, reddish-purple or bruised appearance, or look pitted, like an orange peel (what is known as peau d’orange)
• An inverted (inward-pointing) nipple
• Breast tenderness, pain or a feeling of warmth

With Paget’s disease, the skin of the nipple and areola typically looks red, crusted and scaly — similar to eczema. Sometimes the nipple becomes flattened, and it may discharge a fluid that is bloody or yellowish.

Is a Breast Cancer Rash Itchy?

In some cases, a breast cancer rash may be itchy, whether it is part of inflammatory breast cancer or Paget’s disease. However, itching is often a sign of something else, such as:

• Eczema
• Breast infection, such as mastitis (which is most common in women who are breastfeeding)
• Noncancerous changes in the breast tissue known as fibrocystic breast changes

Most women do experience skin irritation or other breast changes at some point, and these symptoms are most often due to noncancerous conditions. The only way to know for sure is to see a health care provider for an evaluation.