The presence of painful or painful nipples is relatively common and can occur at different times in life, both in men and women. Most of the time, it’s just a sign of a mild problem like rubbing your clothes, allergies or hormonal changes, but it can also be a symptom of a more serious problem, such as an infection or cancer, for example.
Typically, nipple pain goes away within 2 to 3 days and therefore does not require specific treatment, but if it lasts longer or if it is very severe, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist or mastologist to assess the area and identify the cause.
- This is the most common cause of nipple pain or itching that usually occurs during exercise.
- Such as running or jumping.
- As rapid movements can cause the T-shirt to repeatedly rub the nipple.
- Irritate the skin and cause a feeling of pain or itching.
- In some cases.
- This can even lead to a small wound.
However, this problem can also occur in women who wear bras that don’t fit or in people who use synthetic materials, for example.
What to do: It is recommended to avoid the use of the material that caused irritation, if you exercise put a piece of glue on the nipple to prevent it from rubbing with clothes. If there is a wound, you should wash the area and do appropriate treatment, which can be done with a healing ointment.
Nipples are one of the most sensitive areas of the body and can therefore easily respond to small changes, whether in room temperature, the type of soap used in the bath or even the type of clothing used. In these cases, itching is more common, but redness, peeling of the skin and even a small swelling may also occur.
What to do: To assess whether it’s an allergy, wash the area with warm water and neutral pH soap and avoid wearing the clothes you’ve worn. If symptoms persist, this can be a sign of another problem and therefore it’s important to see a dermatologist. Find out how to identify a skin allergy.
In case of eczema, the itching of the nipple is usually very intense and persistent, and can also be accompanied by the appearance of small pills on the skin, redness and dry skin. Eczema can occur at any age and there is no specific cause, which can occur due to prolonged contact with water, very dry skin or stress, for example.
What to do: Corticosteroid ointments are generally used to relieve symptoms, such as hydrocortisone, which should be prescribed by a dermatologist. However, applying chamomile compresses can also help soothe irritated skin. Here’s how to do this and other home remedies.
Hormonal changes are the most common cause of severe nipple pain, especially when they affect the site. Hormones can cause mild inflammation of the mammary glands, making them more sensitive.
Although this type of change is more common in women, due to the menstrual cycle, it can also occur in men, especially during adolescence, when there are many changes in hormone production.
What to do: You should avoid touching the area and you can also apply cold compresses to reduce swelling, however, the pain will go away on its own after a few days, when hormone levels will be balanced. If this does not happen after 1 week and in combination with other symptoms, consult a dermatologist or pediatrician for adolescents.
Infection can occur as long as there is a change in the skin around the nipple and, as a result, is more common in people with very dry skin or lactating women, due to the presence of small sores that allow bacteria, viruses or fungi to enter. .
In these cases, it is more common to feel itching in the nipple, but there may also be feeling of heat in the area, redness and swelling.
What to do: You should usually apply an antibacterial or antifungal ointment prescribed by your doctor, depending on the microorganism that causes the infection. However, while waiting for the appointment, it is important to keep the area clean and dry, it is a good option to keep your nipples in the air most of the time.
Pregnancy is a period in a woman’s life during which the body undergoes several changes, one of which is breast growth. When this happens, the skin should stretch, so some women may experience a slight itching on the nipple.
What to do: The best way to prepare your skin for pregnancy changes and avoid stretch marks is to properly moisturize the skin. To do this, it is recommended to use a cream for very dry skin.
Cracked nipples are another common problem in women, which occurs during lactation and can cause itching to turn into pain. In some cases, cracks can be so severe that nipples can even bleed.
What to do: pass a few drops of milk, after breastfeeding, on the nipple and let dry naturally, without covering clothes. A protective ointment can then be applied, washing the nipple before feeding the baby. Get more tips on what you can do.
Paget’s disease can affect the nipples and, when this happens, the main symptom is constant nipple pain and itching. This disease is a type of nipple skin cancer and can be a metastasis of breast cancer, so it should be observed by a mastologist as soon as possible.
Other symptoms that may indicate Paget’s disease include changes in nipple shape, rough skin, or fluid release.
What to do: If you suspect nipple or breast cancer, it is advisable to go to the mastologist immediately and start appropriate treatment, which is usually done by surgery and combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as the case may be.