Why does my nipple hurt – Top Reasons and what you should Do Immediately

Nipples are very sensitive and women seem to cringe with discomfort when nipple pain is mentioned. There are lifestyle and health changes that could lead to nipple pain, and they can easily be resolved once these causes are known. Others could come with symptoms that require you to see a doctor. Here are some causes of nipple pain and how to manage the sign.

Possible Causes of nipple pain

one of the common explanations for nipple pain is friction. Your breast might have rubbed against your loose bra or tight shirt for a long time, if this is not the case, here are other causes for the pain.

Menstrual cycle

You may notice pain in the breast just before your menstruation. this is due to a rise in estrogen and progesterone hormones that make your breast to be filled with fluid and enlarged. you shouldn’t feel this pain once you start menstruating or shortly after.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes your body to change as your body’s hormone changes to support your growing baby. one of the earliest signs of pregnancy is breast enlargement and soreness. others include:

• missed periods
• nausea or vomiting,
• morning sickness
• urinating more often than usual
• fatigue

Your breast will likely keep growing as the pregnancy progresses but the soreness should stop.

Als0 Read: Why your nipples may hurt

Eczema

Eczema is a type of dermatitis. this skin condition could be the reason for the flaking and blistering around your nipple. Dermatitis occurs when immune cells in your skin overreact and cause inflammation.

Breast cancer

Nipple pain is one sign of breast cancer. you might also have symptoms like these:

• a lump in your breast
• nipple changes like redness, scaling or turning inward
• discharge from the nipple other than breast milk
• change in the size or shape of one breast

Nipple pain is most likely not cancer. If you have other symptoms of breast cancer, it’s worth seeing a doctor.

Treatment of nipple pain

The treatment depends on the cause of the soreness.

1. Wear a better-fitting bra or shirt if the soreness is caused by friction.
2. Use a steroid cream to bring down inflammation caused by dermatitis(Eczema)

To relieve nipple tenderness caused by breastfeeding:

• You can take pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• You can hold a warm, moist compress to your breasts
• You can also use a lanolin ointment to prevent nipple cracking

For Breast cancer treatment, one or more of the following may be done:

• surgery to remove the lump or the entire breast
• radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells
• Chemotherapy, or drugs that travel through the body to kill cancer cells
• hormone therapy to block the hormones that certain types of breast cancer need to grow
• targeted therapies, which are drugs that block specific changes in cancer cells that help them grow

Breastfeeding and nipple pain

Women who are breastfeeding may develop nipples pain from the suction. it could also be a sign of infection like Mastitis and thrush.

Mastitis is an infection that causes the breast to become sore, red, and well up. it may be developed when milk gets trapped in the milk duct and bacteria begins to grow inside. other symptoms of Mastitis include
fever

• breast swelling or warmth
• skin redness on your breast
• pain while nursing

when Mastitis is left untreated it could lead to an abscess, a collection of pus. see your doctor if you experience the symptoms above.

Thrush
Thrush is another infection that causes sore nipples. it is a yeast infection you can get from dry and cracked nipples after breastfeeding. When you have thrush, you’ll feel a sharp pain in your nipples or breasts after your baby feeds.

You may apply antifungal cream after breastfeeding your baby.

Conclusion

It all depends on the cause of the nipple pain, some go away on their own, while some have to be improved by treatment. if the pain doesn’t improve on its own, you need to see your doctor.

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