I have already talked with some of you about breast reduction surgery and the general consensus was that it is definitely helpful for people like myself (big chest, back and shoulder pain, etc.). Right now surgery just is not an option for me.
Here’s the deal - I live in a very hot place and I have to go outside several times a day (home care nurse). I sweat to the point of a soaking wet bra almost every day now. And with moisture comes something nasty - fungal or yeast infection on the underneath surface of my breasts. Right now I am using a prescription cream that takes about 3 days to cure the rash. Then almost immediately another rash appears. Raw, red skin with occasional seepage of liquid (serum?) makes for an agonizing day. Right now I rushed home from a visit to dry off, change bras and appeal to you all for help. Yes, I wear a special bra that promised to keep me dry. Yes, I have tried powder. I am at my wits end, and it’s only going to get hotter as the summer progresses.
Any of this sound familiar and if so, any suggestions??? Like I said, surgery just isn’t an option right now. Today is a good day, since I was able to come home and change bras, but such days are few and far between. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Have you considered owning several bras, (I know they can’t be cheap for one like you!), taking them into work with you and changing several times a day? It’s annoying, to be sure, but probably less so than infections and expensive creams.
I cannot for the life of me remember who makes it, but I literally just saw a print ad for plus-sized bras made with some sort of breathable, anti-bacterial fabric. Hopefully someone else knows what I’m talking about.
My sympathies. I’m a guy, but I had a fungal rash under both arms for decades until this past year, when my doctor finally gave me a treatment that worked (crossing fingers). Summer heat and moisture from sweat always made the fungus break out.
Here’s an idea – can you place something in your bra to absorb the sweat and “wick” it away from your skin? I’m thinking something like a section cut from a disposable diaper, or adult diaper (whatever they’re calling “Depends” now). It would be cushiony, and would tend to keep your skin dry, which is what you’re after.
Or would it not fit into a bra cup comfortably?
I searched for “diapers” and “sweating under breasts” to see if anyone had done this before. Haven’t found anything, but this page might be of interest:
Good Lord, someone manufactures such absorbent pads as a commercial product:
BTDT. Pantiliners inside the bra. Given your size, try the ‘longs’ first. Change as needed. If they slide around, get the ones with wings and hook that part over the bottom of the bra cup.
I use Carefree, because the fabric is a little more comfortable on a rash, but you might look into the poise pads. They are designed for a liquid that’s more the consistency of sweat.
It’s a pain in the butt to strip down to change the liners, but I do it in a bathroom so I can rinse & dry the underboob area at the same time. That also helps with the rash.
And carrying several liners in your purse is a tad more discreet than carrying several bras in your purse.
It seems to be easy to obtain such sweat pads for under the armpits, where they’re referred to as “under Pads”. It’d save cutting up diapers, anyway. Here’s one such site:
I don’t know if this would help, but maybe talk to a doctor about it. You can get Botox under your arms to stop sweating, have you thought about getting Botox under your breasts? Even if your insurance doesn’t cover it (and I’d imagine they might in this situation), Botox isn’t all that expensive anymore.
I’d imagine that just stuffing some absorbent thing in your bra is still going to chafe and be miserable.
I just noticed that I hadn’t made it clear in post #4 – someone actually manufactures absorbent pads for inside bras to solve precisely the problem you’re having. And apparently the bras they go in, as well.
Forgive me for sounding unkind. I am only trying to help. There are big and little people and we need everybody. You did not provide overall dimensions. I can only guess that you are well overweight. One free option you have is to cut your calorie intake and reduce the body mass in all areas including the breasts. Some women complain, “that’s the first place I lose it.” In your case it may be the last place to go. But certainly less weight on the back and all areas would make life easier and less sweaty as your body would have less trouble maintaining proper temperature. I also realize that weight reduction takes time and won’t help you immediately, but it’s a start.
Good luck.
To try to cut down the moisture production, have you tried the “clinical strength” antiperspirants that are out there? Secret and a bunch of other brands have them now. My husband and I both love them. He’s a letter carrier who walks a route outside and finds they’re immensely helpful in preventing sweating.
While this might certainly help her if she is over weight, I know many women who are perfectly thin with enormous tits. You realize it isn’t just fat girls with big racks, right? I have a friend who is a 28 G. 28. That’s tiny around- your average ribs out Victoria’s Secret model is a 30. It’s incredibly rude of you to come in here and just assume that because a woman has large breasts, she’s obese. :rolleyes:
Further, even if she is fat, while some “lose it there first”, I know I don’t. My breasts don’t fluctuate at all with my weight.
But really, good lookin’ out for the fat chicks out there. Thanks.
Your problem sounds similar to the problems babies have, (long-term moisture + constricted environment) so I’d recommend poking around the baby aisle at the drugstore or asking the moms you know which diaper rash ointment worked best for them. Maybe that would help?
You’re very much jumping to conclusions here. I only personally know one woman who has undergone breast reduction surgery. If she weighs 100 pounds soaking wet I’d be surprised. She’s incredibly tiny, and her breasts were very much all out of proportion to her body, and she had many of the issues the OP describes before deciding on surgery.
On the surgery side - start building a case with your physician regarding the health issues you have in regards to your breasts. With SOME insurance companies, you might be able to get the reduction done for medical (as opposed to cosmetic) purposes.
I have had a lot of luck with Secret antiperspirant. Yep, under the boobs. I really only need it in the summer. I don’t have really big breasts but what’s there gets irritated from sweat. Once I even had a fungus, but it was taken away quickly with some antifungal foot stuff.
I’ve heard the powder irritates the interigo (sp?) even more so maybe try using the pads and not powder?
