The nipples are the small protuberances located in the central part of the breasts and, together with the breasts, we can consider them as one of the most sensitive areas of our body. Many women tend to worry about keeping the nipple area clean and well cared for since, due to their delicacy, they are very prone to any type of alteration such as small lumps, inflammation, itching or even an irritated nipple.
Having a sore nipple can be due to many reasons, from a minor problem such as an infection or chafing to something more serious such as the development of a possible disease. If you ask yourself ” Why is my nipple sore? “, in this MyhealthMyskin article we want to give you an answer by explaining the possible causes of this condition.
Why Do I Have Sore Nipples?
Here are reasons for sore nipple during pregnancy and other hormonal changes.
Many pregnant women when they begin their gestation stage begin to feel a slight itching in the nipples and the rest of the breasts, especially in the part of the areola and in the upper part of the breasts. This irritation in the nipples is due to the multiple hormonal changes during pregnancy, among them, the increase in the sensitivity of the nipple due to more blood reaching that area than before. Therefore, changes in the breasts during pregnancy are one of the main reasons for itchy nipples during this stage.
We can also have sore nipples when we experience other hormonal changes such as menstruation. Most women, when they have their menstrual period, have some symptoms in the breasts such as pain, itching and irritation of some of the nipples.
If you are having some type of nipple irritation for these hormonal reasons, you should not give it much importance as it is a temporary problem. You just want to avoid scratching your nipple as it will only increase the irritation. You can also use a moisturizing cream with soothing properties so that the irritated nipple does not cause you more discomfort.
Eczema On The Nipple
Eczema is a skin rash that can occur anywhere on the body. In this case, if you have an irritated nipple, it is very likely that you may be suffering from this type of skin dermatitis. The symptoms of an eczema on the nipple are the following:
- Irritation in the nipple that can spread to the areola area. In general, eczema does not usually occur at the base of the nipple.
- Rashes or eczema on the nipple are reddish in color and vesicles and a kind of scab usually appear in the affected area.
- The sore nipple caused by eczema is also often scaly and dry.
- There may also be an inflammation in the nipple due to irritation.
Another skin condition called atopic dermatitis, a very common chronic skin disease, can also occur. Atopic dermatitis can be confused with nipple eczema because their symptoms are very similar, including sore nipples. However, atopic dermatitis is not very common to occur on the nipples or the chest, but if you present the symptoms that we have explained, you should go to the dermatologist to rule out that you may suffer from it.
Yeast Infection Of The Breast
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by fungi of the Candida species, the most common being Candida albicans. The most common areas where this infection affects is the vagina and mouth, being very rare, although there are possibilities that candidiasis occurs in female breasts, especially in mothers who are going through their breastfeeding period. The symptoms of breast candidiasis are as follows:
- Sore nipple and burning sensation in them, especially if you breastfeed the baby.
- Very sharp and stabbing pain throughout the chest.
- Very annoying itching in the nipples.
- Both the areolas and the nipples change to a very reddish tone.
Paget’s Disease Of The Nipple
Paget’s disease of the nipple is a very rare cancer that occurs in the areola, the skin that surrounds the nipple. One of the most important signs to detect this type of cancer are cancer cells that are found in the superficial layer of the skin of both the areola and the nipple itself. These cells are called Paget cells and, at the microscopic level, they are found in small groups in the inner layer of the skin.
Paget ‘s disease of the nipple affects both women and men and usually appears around the age of 57. Symptoms of Paget’s disease of the nipple may include the following:
- Irritated nipple, reddened and tingling sensation.
- Itching in the areola.
- Peeling of the skin of the nipple.
- Nipple flattening.
- yellowish secretions.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer is characterized by the appearance of a series of lumps of cancer cells that cause the breasts to swell until they obstruct the blood vessels that carry a liquid called lymph, which is mainly responsible for transporting leukocytes and for the elimination of bacteria in the area. Therefore, this is one of the possible causes for which you may have an irritated nipple.
The main symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer are the following:
The main symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer are the following:
- Reddened skin of the breast due to inflammation.
- Inflammation of the breast that, in addition, can also cause a hardening of them.
- Sensation of heat throughout the breast.
- The breast may take on an orange peel appearance due to swelling.
- Sore nipple or nipples that can also flatten.
- Breast pain.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why do I have a sore nipple, we recommend you visit our Women’s Health category.
Have You Ever had Sore Nipples During Pregnancy Or Other Hormonal Changes? What did you do about it ? Comment Below!
