Veiny Breasts: Early Pregnancy, Not Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, And ...

There are a number of possible causes for veiny breasts.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, especially early pregnancy, your breasts may become veiny. A more accurate description might be that the veins already in your breasts merely become more visible.

This is because your blood volume increases 20 to 40 percent during pregnancy. Your veins are transporting blood, nutrients, and oxygen to your developing fetus. The increased blood volume makes the veins more visible under the skin.

This typically lessens after you give birth, but it can persist afterward, especially if you breastfeed.

Breastfeeding

Visible veins are common during breastfeeding, especially when breasts are engorged with milk. But if the veins look like spider veins and are accompanied by redness on the breast, fever, and not feeling well, mastitis could be the cause.

Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue, and you need to contact your doctor if you think you have it. It’s easily treated with oral antibiotics, but your doctor will want to examine the area.

Mondor’s disease and other benign conditions

Mondor’s disease is a rare and benign (noncancerous) condition that can occur in both women and men, although it’s more commonly found in women. Also called superficial thrombophlebitis, this condition is caused by inflammation of a vein in the breast or chest wall, making the vein visible under the skin.

It might be caused by hard exercise, a tight-fitting bra, or a surgical procedure. In some cases, it can be a sign of cancer.

So, if you notice a new visible vein, call your doctor and have them take a look to ensure it’s nothing serious.

Another benign condition that can cause a vein in your breast to become prominent is pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH). This can cause a visible vein in the breast along with a palpable lump and other symptoms that mimic breast cancer.

A surgical biopsy and subsequent examination of the cells under a microscope can determine PASH or cancer.

Breast cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a kind of breast cancer that typically has visible symptoms on the outside skin of the breast. Symptoms can include:

• a change in the shape or size of the breast
• skin changes that look like the peel of an orange (dimpled or rough)
• inflammation or skin that’s hot to the touch
• veins that grow near these skin changes

Most of the time, newly visible veins are due to breastfeeding or weight gain, but if veins appear near any other changes in the breast, call your doctor immediately to have it looked at.

Breast surgery

Breast augmentation can cause visible veins to appear in the breasts. According to a 2009 study, visible veins in the breasts happened almost universally after augmentation. Many people weren’t even aware of the increased visibility, and most weren’t bothered by it.

If you are considering breast augmentation, this might be something to consider. If you’ve had breast augmentation, this could be why you are noticing visible veins in your breasts.

Q:

Can PMS cause the veins in my breast to be more visible?

Anonymous patient

A:

Thehormones of your menstrual cycle can influence your breast size, causing themto swell and feel tender. Because of this swelling, there is more blood andfluid in the area, which can cause your veins to be more visible. Veins in yourbreasts can also be more visible after exercise or when you’re overheated.

Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.