The nipple, also called the nipple, is the cylindrical part of the central protrusion of the mammal breast, which is harder than the areola and breast. Women sometimes feel that the color of their nipples has changed. So what should I do if my nipples are inverted? What are the symptoms of inverted nipples?

What are the symptoms of inverted nipples

The nipple cannot protrude but is sunken inward, which is called nipple inversion. The degree of nipple inversion varies from person to person. In mild cases, the nipple is flat or retracted to varying degrees. It can bulge or squeeze out after being stimulated. In severe cases, the nipple is completely sunken into the areola and cannot be pulled out, taking on a crater shape and often accompanied by secretions or odor. Even if the inverted nipples are squeezed out, they are generally smaller, often have no obvious nipple neck, and appear split. The incidence rate of female nipple inversion is 1% to 2%. It is usually bilateral or only occurs on one side. The degree of nipple inversion may be inconsistent. Inverted nipples affect the appearance of the breasts. In addition, inverted nipples can accumulate dirt. or grease, causing infection or odor. What's more serious is that the nipple is inverted, making it difficult for the baby to suck milk and losing the breastfeeding function.

What to do if the nipples are inverted? Bra method

Choose a bra of appropriate size and avoid or correct bad habits of corseting to avoid further aggravating the inverted nipples. At the same time, make a hole in the center of the bra similar to the size of the nipple. After putting on the bra, push the nipple outward and keep it in a prominent position.

Suction therapy

After pregnancy, use a breast pump to suction the nipple several times a day, and use its negative pressure to cause the nipple to bulge.

Using nipple braces

Nipple braces can treat flat or inverted nipples.

Manual stretching

Girlhood is an important period for breast development, and it is also an important period for correcting nipple inversion. Frequent stretching of the nipples can make the breasts protrude and increase the support of the surrounding skin, which can "shape" the breasts. Several times a day. Over time, the nipples naturally gradually bulge outward. If you can't pull it out, you can first push the skin of the breast near the nipple outward.

Negative pressure method

You can use a syringe outer sleeve to cover the nipple, or you can use a small wine cup to buckle the nipple and tighten it with a cloth tape, or use a cupping cup to suck outwards. You can also use The plastic jar is pinched flat and fastened around the nipple. It has suction when you let go, and it also plays the role of cupping.

Nipple inversion can be divided into three degrees, varying in depth

The first degree is partial nipple inversion. The nipple neck exists and can be easily squeezed out. After the nipple is squeezed out, the size of the nipple is similar to that of ordinary people. ;

The second degree is that the nipple is completely sunken into the areola, but the nipple can be squeezed out by hand. The nipple is smaller than normal, and most of the time there is no nipple neck;

The third degree is that the nipple is completely buried Below the areola, the inverted nipple cannot be squeezed out.

What are the symptoms of nipple inversion?

Nipple inversion can easily cause nipple and areola inflammation, breast inflammation and other diseases. Severe nipple inversion can lead to inverted skin and mucosa accompanied by eczema. Bleeding, erosion, and chronic inflammation may occur. The breast ducts are connected to the invagination, and inflammation can spread retrograde infection into the breast, causing mastitis. If the nipple inversion is not corrected in time, the inflammation will be stimulated for a long time, causing the breast ducts to shrink due to chronic inflammation, and the nipple inversion will become more serious, easily forming a vicious cycle.

Nipple inversion seriously affects breastfeeding. Whether the nipple is flat or inverted, it will inevitably affect the baby's sucking, making postpartum breastfeeding difficult or impossible. On the other hand, accumulation of milk due to inability to discharge milk may cause secondary breast infection.

How to prevent nipple prevention

If the nipple inversion is congenital, it is recommended that when the breasts begin to develop, you should insist on pulling the nipple every day to lengthen the nipple. In general, this method can effectively correct mild to moderate nipple inversion. It can also play a certain role in relieving severe nipple inversion. If the nipple is inverted due to secondary reasons, it is necessary to actively treat the primary disease, remove the cause of nipple inversion as soon as possible, and create conditions for surgical treatment.