Why do I have pimples on my nipple

In most cases, both women and men, when we notice pimples in the areola area, it is not exactly small pimples but rather Montgomery glands. They are small sebaceous and mammary glands present in the area of ​​the areola and, sometimes, also in the nipple that have the task of produce sebaceous secretions so that both the areola and the nipple stay well lubricated. They are also known as Montgomery’s tubercles due to their shape and appearance on the outside of the skin.

The Montgomery glands function is antibacterial. They produce fat or oil and thus secrete a substance that lubricates and protects, altering the pH of our skin and thus prevents bacteria from growing and proliferating. It is recommended that when you shower you do not wash your nipples with soap, simply with clean water in order to preserve their antibacterial function. Soap could alter its pH in addition to removing these protective oils and drying out the skin in the area.

The hormonal disorders they can alter these glands and make them more visible. That is why sometimes you can see them more marked or think that there is some kind of mismatch, but there is no reason to worry. When hormonal levels are regulated and stabilized, these glands return to their normal size.

The size of the glands is better appreciated when the nipple is stimulated, so it is common that if you rub or during breastfeeding these sebaceous lumps are more noticeable, thinking that we have granites on the nipple that have increased. You may not see them normally and they are only visible when there is a hormonal change or the nipple has been stimulated, but if you look closely at the area you will always see them. The number of these glands can vary according to each person, although in general there are between 4 and 28 glands for each areola.

They are not a breast disease, they are just normal glands. What happens is that many times they create confusion and lead to visits to the gynecologist out of caution and concern. However, sometimes they can become inflamed or cause infections although they are not very common.

When the glands become inflamed they can cause pain or look like whiteheads. It is very important that you do not touch them or try to extract the liquid since it is still this accumulated oil or sebum that keeps the nipple and areola clean. Inflammation happens because sometimes the sebaceous gland outlet is blocked and causes it to swell and hurt or turn red. It is not necessary to wash it with anything or try to touch or open it as we have seen, as it usually disappears on its own.

The breasts change during pregnancy in several ways, for example the areolas are enlarged and darkened and Montgomery glands increase in volume. In addition, as we have seen, when the nipple is stimulated they are more noticeable so breastfeeding the baby can cause these lumps to be more noticeable.

In addition, these Montgomery tubers make a series of substances that can serve as an olfactory stimulus for the appetite of the newborn baby. These glands also secrete small amounts of milk that help the areola skin to stay elastic and healthy. They do not have to hurt when the baby latches on to the breast, although they are much more visible.

If what you have are pimple-like pimples, it can be two things, one is that the glands have become inflamed, as we have seen before and the second is that what you really have is a pimple. They differ a lot, the pimple hurts the same as when it appears in another area of ​​the body and a small ball of pus forms. When the gland is inflamed you may notice it whitish but it does not usually occur and, in any case, it differs from the pimple. When in doubt, do not touch it, in both cases it will disappear with the passage of days.

Pimples on the nipples appear for the same cause as on the rest of the body. The skin of the breast does not stop being part of the skin like that of any area of ​​the body and abnormalities such as pimples can also appear. So that if your skin is oily or acne-prone Pimples are likely to appear anywhere including the nipples. Even if you do not have oily skin, it is possible that on occasion they appear. In this case, it is convenient to treat them in the same way as a normal pimple, it is advisable not to squeeze them until they are completely dry or wait for them to disappear on their own. However, the best thing for this area is to let it be and it disappears on its own since the nipples have very sensitive skin.

If what happens to you is that you have begun to notice the appearance of numerous bumps on the nipple accompanied by constant itching or redness you may have eczema due to some kind of allergic reaction. In this case, it is convenient to determine what is causing this reaction. It may be some type of bra, t-shirt, clothing or garment that you have been wearing or perhaps some type of cream or even medication. The solution to this is to eliminate the cause and for this it is convenient that you go to the doctor for allergy tests. It could also be a hives and in this case they would disappear in a short time.

This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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