Itchy, Itchy

I'd like to share a minor health problem I have.

In spring, 2002 I lived in Pittsburgh in an un-air-conditioned studio apartment. It was hot. Around this time I began to experience an intense itching in my cleavage area. Betweem THELMA AND LOUISE-yes, they have names!. I got some cortisone and medicated powder and went on about my business, trying not to scratch too much in public. Eventually it goes away.

Summer 2003, I'm working at a summer camp, The itch has come back and is unbearable!It has spread onto my upper torso. The skin is red, inflammed and flaky. G-R-O-S-S! I use hydrocortisone, but it provides relief for all of 10 minutes. I show my mom and some female friends. My mom doesn't know, she just tells me to keep using the hydrocortisone. Another friend says it looks like ringworm. (How I would get ringworm in that area, I don't know). A cousin says it looks like psoriasis. Someone else says it looks like excema. I start buying any and every cream and potion I think might give me some relief. I am constantly itching or resisting the urge to scratch. Meanwhile, its just getting worse: bigger, redder, flakier, itchier.

Finally, I go to the doctor. She takes one look and says it's yeast. Excuse me??? Yeast...like you make bread with? She says it's like I had athlete's foot on my chest. She said it is caused by sweat gathering between my (large) breasts and the skin in that area not getting any air or a break from the moisture, causing perfect conditions for yeast to grow. Me not wearing a bra to bed only made it worse.No wonder I only seem to have this problem in warm weather. Trust me, I was ready to sign up for a breast reduction after this.

Doc told me to get some tinactin or any otc cream for athlete's foot and I'd be fine and might not want that reduction anymore.

Now, in 2006 when I started wearing more supportive bras with underwire, I did experience some relief that summer. However, it still itched if I got hot and sweaty. So, tinactin has become a daily toiletry for me, during the summer. If I miss a day, I notice...I start itching! In fact, if I had to chose between it and lotion, I'd just be ashy.