Nipple and Breast problems

 Dealing with nipple problems

Nipple problems are personal and can be embarrassing especially for men or women who are not pregnant or nursing.  As each nipple has about 15-20 tiny pores on it and those pores form the opening of ducts that connect to glandular tissue, it is not uncommon or abnormal to experience occasional discharge from those glands.  If your nipple problems exceed what you think is a normal frequency or amount of discharge it is wise to see a doctor.  Your doctor can perform a series of simple tests to determine the severity of your condition and to help you to understand why you are experiencing the discharge.  Reasons for nipple problems could range from something as simple as having taken a medication that causes the discharge as a side effect to the possibility that discharge is a symptom of a more serious problem; cancer.

Inverted nipples

Most women have protruding nipples, but for those who do not, they may perceive their appearance to be abnormal or a hindrance to sexual arousal.  About 10% of women have inverted nipples and as long as you have had inverted nipple for as long as you can remember, chances are that there is nothing that you need to worry about medically.  It is when nipples very suddenly become inverted that you may have cause for concern and should see your doctor right away.  A simple mammogram is usually enough to rule out possible cancer as the cause.  Some women simply start out with inverted nipples and eventually begin seeing them protrude when they reach their early 20s.  An inverted nipple and a retracted nipple differ in that a retracted nipple is one which is pulled inward from time to time. It is not permanently turned inwards.  The inverted nipple is most commonly that way because the nipple is connected to a shorter milk duct (which is permanent unless surgically altered). 

Nipple discharge

Nipple discharge is a common nipple problem complaint for both men and women (and not just women who are pregnant or lactating).  Discharge from the nipples comes from the ducts that are located under the surface of the breast.  Women who are breastfeeding produce milk and this milk is occasionally discharged through the nipple.  This is no surprise, what becomes concerning is when nipple discharge is unexpected.  Discharge can occur in women who are not lactating as a natural leak that occurs when blocked ducts are unplugged.  Something as simple as exercise can be the reason for unplugging a blocked duct.  Normal discharge is not always in what most would consider to be a normal color.  Not all discharge is white, milky, or clear.  Sometimes completely normal discharge can be a yellow, green, blue, or black color.  Older women who experience occasional nipple discharge will find that the discharge is thicker or even cheese-like in consistency. 

 Although possibly embarrassing, nipple discharge is only a sign of disease or other serious health concern when the discharge is constant and in large quantities.  Sometimes an overactive pituitary gland can be the cause of nipple discharge, in which case medications are needed to correct the abnormality.  A discharge that is bloodstained may be caused by a wart in one of the ducts underneath the nipple.  Removal of the duct containing the wart is usually all that it takes to solve this problem and this removal can be done with a relatively simple procedure.  In some cases If the discharge is coming from the surface of the nipple or from the surrounding skin it could be a sign of slow growing cancer.  After a series of diagnostic tests are performed, if a cancer is found surgical removal is needed.  As in these rare cases nipple discharge can be a symptom of breast cancer, you should not hesitate to discuss your nipple discharge with your doctor.  Men who experience this frequent and heavy discharge should see a doctor as soon as possible as the usually cause for such discharge is a tumor and you will need to be treated.

Breastfeeding - dealing with nipple problems

For women, nipple problems related to breastfeeding are the most common, however nipple pain is not normal and there are things that you can do to prevent and maintain good breast and nipple health.  A woman's body goes through a lot of changes leading up to and immediately after giving birth.  The woman's nipples become very sensitive.  Some women even express blood from their nipples.  For some women this pain is unbearable while others might describe their pain as annoying.   The key is to do your best to care for your nipples and prevent a problem before it even starts.

To prevent nipple problems when breastfeeding the first thing that you want to do is to make sure that your baby is attaching himself to you correctly.  This problem is especially common in first time mothers.  A simple tip is to slightly change the position of the baby on the breast until they are able to latch on correctly.  Failure to have the baby attach correctly can lead to a number of problems including painful engorgement and blistering.  Lactation experts suggest that women who are having a hard time nursing their babies try to express their milk either manually or with a pump to draw out the nipple.  It is not recommended that a bottle be used too early as it may confuse the child as they are just learning how to eat from their mother.  Women with flat or inverted nipples find that the use of a nipple shield is helpful. 

Conditions of the nipple especially common for lactating women

• Nipple thrush - Nipple thrush is a fungal infection that typically occurs within the first weeks after birth.   Nipple thrush is characterized by severe and burning nipple pain even when the nursing baby is latched on correctly.  Breast pain has a feeling of heat or pocking needles associated with it.  This condition must be treated as it is very possible for the baby to be affected by it and to develop thrush themselves (manifested in a skin rash or white spots in the infant's mouth).  Antifungal ointments applied to the nipple after feeding can be used as treatment for the mother and liquids or creams can be used to treat the infant respectively for oral and skin thrush.
  

• Dermatitis (skin irritation) around the nipple - Dermatitis around the nipple and areola can be caused by ointments and creams you are using on the nipples, detergents, soaps, lotions or breast pads that contain ingredients that the woman may be sensitive or even allergic to.  If you develop dermatitis stop using whatever product you suspect to be the cause of the problem (usually a new product that you started using shortly before noticing the dermatitis.
• Nipple eczema - Nipple eczema can cause considerable pain as it causes inflammation of the skin which, if left untreated, could lead to blister-like lesions that crust over. Women when develop eczema on the nipples will typically need to see a dermatologist to solve the problem.  The dermatologist will likely suggest diet changes and a short, intensive course of cortisone cream (prolonged use of cortisone cream lessens its ability to be effective).

Too many nipples

According to several sources, 1 in between 18-50 people (men and women) has more than 2 nipples.  All extra nipples are also referred to as supernumerary nipples and are more common that most people think.  Obviously this nipple problem is embarrassing as most people would consider having too many nipples to be weird or abnormal.  Some people are not even aware that the marks that they may have on their bodies are in fact extra nipples.  Extra nipples are typically smaller and less defined than the main two nipples.  There is rarely a medical reason to remove extra nipples (medical reasons for removal are usually spurred by a sudden change in the appearance of the extra nipple).  Most people who do choose to have extra nipple removed do so for aesthetic reasons.  Extra nipples usually form along the path between the armpit and the inner thigh.

Hairy nipples

Coarse, dark hairs around the nipple are quite common and can be removed with a pair of tweezers.  If this causes irritation (as it very well may because of the extremely sensitive area around the nipple) it may be better to simply cut the hairs off close to the skin. Of course this is not a permanent solution and the hairs will need to be cut from time to time.  Only excessive hairiness on and around the nipples as well as on other parts of the body is something that you should be worried about and should talk with your doctor about.

Itchy nipples

Eczema is most often to blame for itchy nipples. It occurs mainly in women in their late teens.   The itch may be only on the nipple or it may affect the flatter area surrounding the nipple (the areola). A steroid cream from your doctor can usually stop the itch and the embarrassing scratching.  `Jogger's nipple is another is another common itchy nipple complaint that is caused by friction from clothing, especially during long-distance running.  The solution is simple; protect your nipples with petroleum jelly or surgical tape before exercising.  A silk running vest will also cut down the abrasion that running with an undershirt containing more synthetic fibers would produce.