Breast Numbness: 7 Causes, When To See A Doctor & More

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Nutrition

Why Do I Have Breast Numbness?

Medically reviewed by Kristen M. Moyer, MD — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on June 7, 2021

Breast surgery
Breast injury
Ruptured breast implant
Breast lift
Compression
Bites
Other causes
When to see a doctor
Takeaway

young woman with her hands resting on her chest after she tries on an outfit — Igor Ustynskyy/Getty Images

Numbness is a loss of feeling in a region of your body. Your body doesn’t react to touch, heat, or cold, and you don’t feel pain.

Numbness commonly indicates a problem with nerve function. It’s often caused by nerve injury, pressure on a nerve, or a chemical imbalance in the body interfering with nerve function.

There are several explanations for why you might experience numbness in one or both of your breasts.

Breast surgery

In some cases, surgery on a breast — mastectomy or lumpectomy — can cause damage to nerves, resulting in numbness, tingling, or pain.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), between 20 and 30 percent of people develop post-mastectomy pain syndrome. It can manifest as numbness, pain, or itchiness.

Breast injury

Has the area of numbness been injured in the past? That physical trauma could have affected your nerves, leading to the numbness you’re feeling now.

Ruptured silicone breast implant

Numbness of a breast might be a sign of a ruptured silicone breast implant. Other signs of a ruptured breast implant include:

decrease in breast size
breasts that appear uneven
hard knots in the breast

Breast lift

A mastopexy to surgically lift and change the shape of your breasts can result in a loss of sensation. This typically returns within several weeks. However, some loss of feeling could be permanent.

Compression

The numb sensation in your breast might be the result of the compression of small nerve fibers in the chest wall or breast tissue. This type of nerve compression can also cause a tingling sensation.

One possible culprit is wearing a bra that doesn’t fit properly.

Bites

Numbness in a very specific area of your breast could be a reaction to a bite from an insect, a mite, a spider, or a tick.

Other causes of numbness

Numbness that isn’t limited to the breast has many possible causes, including:

abnormal levels of minerals such as calcium, potassium, or sodium
vitamin deficiency, such as a lack of vitamin B12
shingles
nerve damage from alcohol, tobacco, or lead
toxins in seafood
congenital conditions that affect the nerves
breast cancer treatment, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy

A number of medical conditions can also cause numbness that isn’t necessarily isolated to the breast, including:

diabetes
migraine
multiple sclerosis (MS)
an underactive thyroid

When to see a doctor

If you notice an area of numbness, keep an eye on it. If there isn’t an obvious explanation — such as a bug bite — and it doesn’t resolve itself in a couple of days, see a doctor.

Contact a doctor immediately if you experience other changes to your breasts, such as:

skin dimpling
lumps
nipple discharge
an uneven appearance
severe discomfort

Takeaway

If you discover a numb area on your breast, you might have an easy explanation, such as recent surgery in the area or the sign of an insect bite.

On the other hand, you might not be able to easily pinpoint the cause, which might be as simple as compression caused by an ill-fitting bra.

Either way, if numbness persists, see a doctor to get an explanation for the loss of feeling. Together you can come up with a treatment plan designed to return all, or at least some, sensation to the area.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Breast lift (mastopexy). (n.d.).https://www.cosmetics.rush.edu/breast/breast-lift-mastopexy
Numbness. (2019).https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/numbness
Peripheral neuropathy fact sheet. (2020).https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Peripheral-Neuropathy-Fact-Sheet
Post-mastectomy pain syndrome. (2019).https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/pain/post-mastectomy-pain-syndrome.html
Risks and complications of breast implants. (2020).https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/risks-and-complications-breast-implants

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Kristen M. Moyer, MD — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on June 7, 2021

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media