For example, if you lift your arms, you may notice an indentation or puckering, like a dimple or a dent. “When this happens, it means the skin overlying the breast is being pulled in or retracted by some process within the breast,” says Richard Reitherman, M.D., Ph.
There are two main reasons for breast dimpling. One is fat necrosis, and the other is inflammatory breast cancer.
Breast Puckering
Puckering consists of an indentation that appears when you raise your arms. It retracts when you put your arms back down. To check for uncommon breast cancer symptoms such as this, stand in front of a mirror. Then, lift your arms above the head and look for any indents that occur.
Pulling or pushing against a lump causing a pucker is called a skin tether (ST) pushing sign. The dimpling or puckering should not be confused with the dimpling of orange peel skin, or puckering from a previous surgery. ST is a classic symptom of breast cancer.
3. Why might breast dimpling be the only breast cancer symptom people experience? It may not be the only symptom necessarily but certainly the most obvious as the dimpling is often the first thing we notice with our eyes in the mirror after getting out of the shower or while doing a self-breast exam.
What's Considered “Normal” Dimpling? Normal dimpling is usually due to noncancerous lumps or fat necrosis, often confused with breast cancer. Fat necrosis can cause firm, round lumps to form in the breast, but they are not cancerous. 11 The skin around the lump may look dimpled, thickened, bruised, or red.
Dents and dimpling may be minor, but they can have serious consequences. "Dents or dimples in the breast are often caused by the tumor actually pulling at the skin itself," Dr. Audree Tadros, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, explained.
Changes in the skin texture on or around your breast: puckering. This could suggest a lump inside the breast, which causes the ligaments (fibrous tissue) in the breast to shorten, which pulls the tissue and skin inwards, resulting in a puckered or dented appearance.
A very important feature of cancerous lumps is that they tend to pull the overlying skin inwards causing a visible dimple (like an orange peel). This is called skin tethering. It does not necessarily mean that the cancer has invaded the skin, but it is a sign you should have a breast examination by a specialist.
Puckering, dimpling, or scaling of the breast are also possible signs of benign breast disease. Problems with the nipple might also be a clue. Nipple discharge or nipples that are creased, inverted, or scaly may indicate benign breast disease.
The deformity is characterised by a constricted breast base and deficient horizontal and/or vertical development of the breast with or without herniation of the breast parenchyma towards the nipple-areola complex (NAC) and areolar enlargement.
The skin on your breasts should naturally be more or less flat and smooth. Again, consistency is key. Bumps and birthmarks that are always present are not a problem. A sudden change in the skin on your breasts should be reported to a doctor.
Pectus excavatum is due to too much growth of the connective tissue that joins the ribs to the breastbone (sternum). This causes the sternum to grow inward. As a result, there is a depression in the chest over the sternum, which may appear quite deep. If the condition is severe, the heart and lungs can be affected.
Fat necrosis is a slow, delayed process with several stages. As adipose tissue cells begin to die, you may notice changes in the texture or appearance of your skin in the area. You may feel a lump or a hard node under your skin, or the area may appear red, thickened or bruised.
The skin of the nipple and areola often looks crusted, scaly, and red. There may be blood or yellow fluid coming out of the nipple. Sometimes the nipple looks flat or inverted. It also might burn or itch.
The puckering is very common, just wait for the swelling to subside. By 6 months you will notice that it will all settle down.
Just because you might have a dimple or two, it's not automatically cause for concern. Breast skin and tissue often goes through shifts due to various natural transitions, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss and gain, menstrual periods, and aging.
Changes in the skin texture on or around your breast: puckering. This could suggest a lump inside the breast, which causes the ligaments (fibrous tissue) in the breast to shorten, which pulls the tissue and skin inwards, resulting in a puckered or dented appearance.
Signs of Breast Fat Necrosis
Breast fat necrosis typically feels like a round, firm lump to the touch. Some women experience tenderness, bruising, or dimpling in the area where the breast fat necrosis appears. Sometimes it can pull in the nipple.
Abnormal mammogram results occur when breast imaging detects an irregular area of the breast that has the potential to be malignant. This could come in the form of small white spots called calcifications, lumps or tumors called masses, and other suspicious areas.
A cancerous lump is usually hard, not soft or squishy. And it often has angular, irregular, asymmetrical edges, as opposed to being smooth, Dr. Comander says. In order for you to feel a cancerous lump, it probably has to be rather large and closer to the surface of the skin.
Skin puckering is a feature observed in fractures that undergo large displacements at the time of initial injury and occur as a result of adherence of the dermal tissues to the underlying fracture fragment.
Symptoms of benign breast lumps
See your GP if you develop any of the following symptoms. A lump or thickening in your breast or armpit. A change in the size, shape or feel of your breasts. Dimpling, puckering, a rash or redness of the skin on your breast.