What To Do If You Have Dry or Flaky Nipples

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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
0:53 Possible causes of dry nipples are: Chafing
1:35 Yeast Infections
1:57 Paget's disease
2:12 Treatment for flaky nipples



The nipples are a very delicate area of tissue on the human body.

When the nipples rub against clothing or other objects, they can become dry and chapped. This can occur while exercising or during sexual activity for both men and women.

When the nipples are chafed, a person will typically experience dry, cracked nipples along with some pain on or around the nipples.

In severe cases, the nipples may bleed, such as after long-distance running.

Chafing may affect people more severely during winter months, as cold weather can make the skin more prone to dryness.
Yeast infections

Candida albicans is a fungus that causes yeast infections, or thrush. Nipple thrush is less common in males than females.

Yeast infections can occur in the nipples for several reasons, including:

having had dry nipples previously
having nipples that are cracked or bleeding
having recently used antibiotics
breastfeeding

Thrush thrives in warm, damp environments, so keeping the nipples dry and cool can help prevent thrush from occurring. Changing shirts and bras regularly can help prevent yeast infections.

In addition to dryness, thrush can cause the following symptoms:

burning, itching, stinging, or tender nipples
flaky skin on or around the nipple
shiny skin on or around the nipple
a burning sensation that often follows breastfeeding
a deep aching, shooting, or stabbing pain in the nipple or breast
cracked nipples
flushed areola and nipple
a rash

Contact dermatitis

When a foreign object or substance comes into contact with parts of the skin, it can cause an allergic reaction called contact dermatitis. A person’s nipples can also experience contact dermatitis.

Common causes of contact dermatitis include:

perfumes
ointments
soaps
detergents
synthetic materials in clothing

In addition to dry nipples, contact dermatitis can cause symptoms such as:

itchiness
flushing and swelling
pain or discomfort

Eczema

Eczema refers to a group of inflammatory skin conditions. The term most commonly refers to a condition called atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis affects 7.2 percent of adults and 13 percent of children in the United States. It usually affects the hands but can occur anywhere on the body, including the nipples.
Hormone changes

Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can affect the breasts, and they might lead to tenderness, dryness, and itching in some people. This is due to natural changes in the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body.

Hormone-related nipple dryness or itchiness is not a cause for concern and will likely go away during the next phases of the menstrual cycle.
Paget’s disease and cancer

Paget’s disease of the breast is a rare condition associated with breast cancer.

It causes a dry, scaly rash around the nipple, and some people mistake it for eczema. Paget’s disease usually suggests that a person has underlying breast cancer.

Breast cancer will typically only affect one of the nipples.

The main symptoms of Paget’s disease include:

flaking or scaly skin on the nipple that does not heal
yellowish or bloody nipple discharge
a suddenly inverted nipple
tingling or itching around the nipple

Although breast cancer can affect men, it is more common in women. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, less than 1 percent of total breast cancer cases occur in men.

Learn about the warning signs of breast cancer here.