5 Causes of Itchy Nipples and How to Overcome Them

Many things can make your nipples itch. Even though itching is actually a normal thing to happen, persistent itching of the nipples can be a sign of a more serious condition.

Therefore, it is important for you to know the causes of itchy nipples.

There are several reasons for itchy nipples, including:

A common problem experienced by breastfeeding mothers is mastitis, which is inflammation of the breast tissue. This condition occurs due to blockage of the milk ducts or breast tissue that has been infected with bacteria.

Mastitis can make the nipples feel itchy, swollen and reddish accompanied by pain or a burning sensation, especially when breastfeeding.

Eczema can make the skin dry, itchy, scaly, red, and cracked. As much as possible avoid scratching the skin too hard, because it can cause injury and increase the risk of Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infection.

Eczema can usually relapse and come and go if not treated properly.

During pregnancy, hormones in a woman's body will increase. This increase in hormones can cause changes in body shape, including an increase in breast size.

This increase in breast size can cause the skin in the area around the breast to stretch. This stretching can trigger itching and is sometimes accompanied by dry, peeling skin.

Itching of the nipples can also occur due to friction with clothing. For example, for those of you who like sports, the nipples can feel itchy due to sweat and friction with clothes. It is also known to trigger irritation.

In addition, irritation of the skin and nipples can also occur if you use a bra that is too narrow. If left unchecked, this can cause sores, cracked nipple skin, and even bleeding.

Breast cancer is a dangerous disease that generally occurs in women. Symptoms include redness in the breast area, lumps in the breast, nipples becoming flat or pulled inward, discharge from the nipples, and changes in the skin of the nipples or breasts.

Sometimes, nipples that feel very itchy and painful can also be a symptom of breast cancer.

The itchiness of the nipples will get worse if you are exposed to chemicals from body care products, such as perfumes and soaps. Not only that, clothing materials made of wool or artificial fibers can also exacerbate itching on the nipples.

How to deal with itching on the nipples depends on the cause. If the itching is caused by eczema, it is recommended that you keep the skin around your breasts moisturised by using a moisturizer.

If itching of the nipples occurs due to irritation, as much as possible avoid the cause of the irritation. Avoid using soaps that contain fragrances or dyes. For treatment, this condition can be overcome using ointments with emollient and corticosteroid content.

For those of you who like sports, you can protect your nipples from friction by clothing by applying petroleum jelly to the nipple area. It is also recommended to use a bra that is comfortable and not too tight.

Meanwhile, for pregnant and lactating women, you can wear a bra made of cotton so that the air flow to the breasts is smooth and avoid using harsh soaps. Apart from that, you can also apply cold compresses to the nipple area to reduce itching.

You can consult a doctor to find out the cause of itchy nipples that you are experiencing so that proper treatment can be carried out.

You are also advised to see a doctor immediately if itchy nipples do not improve or the condition worsens and is accompanied by fever, severe pain, bleeding or yellow discharge, and changes in skin texture in the nipple area.