Types of Man Boobs – Gynecomastia
is caused by hormonal imbalance.
All men produce some amount of estrogen, but when you produce more than the “normal” amount, that may lead to the development of excess breast tissues.
This affects 1 out of 2 teen boys, and 2 out of 3 men above 50 years old, when hormone levels are affected by sexual development, thyroid problems, or as a side effect of some medications.
There are 4 grades in gynecomastia classification, with the mildest being just a local swelling around the nipple area, and the most severe showing a pronounced rounded appearance similar to a female breast.
Both conditions display similar physical traits an enlarged, chubby chest. The difference lies in what’s underneath.
Gynecomastia is caused by the overdevelopment of glandular tissues that comprise fat tissues and glands, mostly as a result of hormonal imbalance and pseudo-gynecomastia is caused by excess fat accumulation.
Only your doctor can confirm what you really have through a clinical assessment.
Pseudogynecomastia: Types of Man Boobs
Genetically, men tend to accumulate fat in the chest and abdomen area – your arms and legs may look slim, but you bulk up in your torso.
When fat builds up behind and around the breast area, the chest appears puffy and swollen, hence the name man-boobs.
This is clinically known as lipomastia, adipomastia, or pseudogynecomastia.
The more estrogen you have, the more your body tends to store fat.
Interestingly, fat also causes your body to produce the aromatase enzyme, which can convert testosterone into estrogen and slow down your metabolism.
Unfortunately, a lower metabolism will also mean you burn less fat, and this triggers a vicious cycle where you store more and more fat in your chest area and worsens your hormonal imbalance.
However, one clear sign that you have real true gynecomastia is you can feel a firm mound of glandular tissue around your areola area and painful to touch.
For some, the nipple may even feel sensitive. But if it’s pseudogynecomastia, the entire breast is evenly enlarged.
