Table of contents:
- Are your nipples ...
- 1. Discharge
- 2. There are three
- 3. Experiencing irritation
- 4. Hairy
- 5. Pain during breastfeeding
The nipple on the breast is not a meaningless body decoration. The condition of your nipples can be a reflection of your body's general health. Here's more complete info.
Are your nipples …
1. Discharge
If you are not pregnant or breastfeeding, you should immediately check with your doctor if your nipples have a strange discharge - for example milky white (like breast milk), clear, to greenish.
In most cases, discharge from the female nipple (galactorrhea) can be the result of excessive stimulation. For example, from sexual stimulation or clothing friction. Breast nerve oversensitivity after surgery / trauma / burns to the chest, due to shingles, chronic stress effects, side effects of certain drugs (such as H2 blockers cimetidine / tagamet, birth control pills, and metoclopramide), benign pituitary tumors, to chronic kidney failure can also cause this.
Leah S. Gendler, MD, a breast surgeon at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey adds, a sudden discharge from the nipple can signal symptoms of breast cancer. This also applies to men's nipples.
2. There are three
Very few people in this world have three nipples. It is estimated that one in 50 women and 1 in 100 men in the world are born with three nipples. The third nipple usually doesn't have any effect as long as there are no other faulty aspects of your body. In most cases, this extra nipple is often seen as a normal birthmark or mole.
Plastic surgeon Grace Ma, MD, of Peachtree Plastic Surgery in Atlanta, states that this third nipple could have been removed by simple surgery. Even so, the extra nipple can also secrete fluid or milk. So, if the liquid that comes out is transparent or greenish yellow as described above, then immediately check with your doctor.
3. Experiencing irritation
Irritated or inflamed nipples are commonly experienced by breastfeeding mothers. However, non-breastfeeding women and men can experience the same thing. Often times, nipple irritation is caused by friction on the bra or clothing during exercise mixed with sweat.
Worse yet, irritated nipples can cause redness, itching, scaling, and peeling. If your nipples show this symptom even though you haven't finished exercising or doing other things that can irritate the skin around the nipples, it's a good idea to contact your doctor immediately. This can be one of the rare conditions, Paget's disease being one of them. Paget's disease is a rather rare form of cancer that affects the nipple and areola. But don't worry too much just yet, this condition can also be just an ordinary symptom of eczema.
4. Hairy
The small bumps around the nipples are the follicles where fine hairs grow. You can remove these hairs by cutting, pulling them individually or through a processwaxing. However, if these follicles suddenly become painful, swollen, itchy, scaly, or even discharge, it's a good idea to contact your doctor immediately. These signs can be a sign of an infection or breast cancer.
5. Pain during breastfeeding
Nipples that feel painful, hot, and rough, are common things that mothers experience in the early stages of breastfeeding. But if this pain continues for a long time, it's a good idea to consult a doctor immediately. There are several possible conditions, including the position of the baby's mouth or improper breastfeeding position. However, it could also be caused by a bacterial infection or a candida yeast infection.
