Women’s nipples are a highly important, yet also an extremely sensitive area of the body. These small bumps are vital for the babies’ development since that’s how they get their mother’s breast milk.

Nipple pain is frequently associated with breastfeeding. And while it’s true that a lot of women experience pain in this area due to breastfeeding, it’s important to know that there are also other reasons why the nipples might hurt. Also, many women tend to wait for the pain to stop on its own without realizing that there are several very simple home remedies that can alleviate and cure this annoying pain.

Here we show you a list of the 8 most common causes of nipple pain:

1. Breastfeeding

This is, without doubt, the number one cause tends to be the result of the baby’s sucking motion. A critical factor to reduce pain while breastfeeding is to have a healthy posture, including sitting upright, ideally with support for the feet and pillow for the head. The mother should always adopt a comfortable and firm position and tilting the baby toward her, never the other way around. Uncomfortable positions can cause the baby to suck incorrectly, thus causing pain and, in some cases, infection problems.

2. Periods

Hormonal changes before and during one’s period can make the breasts enlarge slightly. This swelling causes nipple pain; however, the pain should only last a few days and completely disappear at the end of your period. In women whose cycle lasts 28 days, the pain and sensitivity tend to begin around day 21.

3. Pregnancy

As with periods, pregnancy also results in hormonal changes which can cause nipple pain. The breasts and nipples tend to enlarge and the areolae can take on a darker color.

4. Friction

Intense activities such as exercise or sexual intercourse can make the nipples be subjected to a lot of friction. This causes irritation which can result in bleeding and intense pain. For high impact athletes who participate in sports such as marathon running, football or basketball, it’s vital to use an appropriate sports bra which is the correct size.

5. Allergies

Given that it’s a very sensitive area of the skin, the nipples are more exposed to allergies from various sources such as temperature changes, soaps and creams, clothes washing detergents, certain fabrics, and many other factors.

6. Cancer

If, in addition to the pain, other symptoms are also present such as a lump on the breast, reddish color of the nipples, any kind of liquid discharge from the nipple, and any change in size or shape of the breast; it’s vitally important that you see a doctor to carry out the necessary tests to rule out any serious disease. Nipple pain has several causes and shouldn’t be a reason to panic, but it’s important to remember to perform frequent breast exams.

7. Mastitis

Mastitis is a breast infection caused by bacteria. It tends to be much more painful than the other causes and you’ll need to see a doctor to receive antibiotics.

8. Paget’s disease

This is very rare but not unheard of. If crusts form on the nipples, it’s time to see a doctor to rule out this disease.

4 Very effective home remedies

1. Warm compress

Using a clean cloth, soaked in lukewarm water, massage the nipples and breasts 10 minutes before breastfeeding or working out. This soothes the discomfort and helps stop the pain.

2. Oil massages

Using olive, coconut or almond oil, massage the area around the nipple, leaving the oil on the breast for as long as possible in order to nourish and moisturize the area.

3. Apply vinegar with oil

The same massage above that is performed with oils, can be done again here, adding a little antibiotic touch.

5. Ice

An ice cube wrapped in a small cloth is a great reliever of swelling and redness. Applying ice for approximately two minutes, several times per day tends to significantly reduce inflammation.

Share this valuable information with your friends. Nipple pain is a very common problem and isn’t only related to pregnancy.

This article is purely for informational purposes. Do not self-medicate, and in all cases consult a certified healthcare professional before using any information presented in the article. The editorial board does not guarantee any results and does not bear any responsibility for harm that may result from using the information stated in the article.