A milk bleb (milk blister) is a clogged pore in your nipple that occurs during breastfeeding. It happens when your pore gets blocked by a piece of skin or a small amount of hardened breast milk. You can treat most milk blisters at home with warm compresses and frequent nursing or pumping.
A milk bleb, or milk blister, occurs when your nipple pore gets blocked by a piece of skin or a small amount of hardened breast milk. It creates a blocked duct at your nipple, causing milk to back up behind it. It’s common in people who are breastfeeding (chestfeeding). Milk blebs restrict milk flow from your nipples, which can lead to clogged milk ducts or mastitis (a breast infection).
Milk blebs can be painful – both at the site of the blister (on your nipple) or further back on your breast. The pain intensifies during breastfeeding or pumping. Some people don’t feel pain but notice a raised area of skin on their nipple.
Milk blebs usually resolve on their own after at-home treatment. In rare cases, your healthcare provider may need to drain it.
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A milk bleb looks like a small pimple. It can be white, yellow, clear or flesh colored. The skin around the blister or bleb can be red or swollen.
Yes, you can and should continue to nurse with a milk blister.
Milk bleb spots can be confused for spots caused by thrush. Thrush is a fungal infection that causes a burning or stinging sensation in your breasts, along with itchy, red or pink nipples. Your nipples may also appear dry and cracked. Contact your healthcare provider if you suspect you or your baby has thrush.
The following factors cause milk blebs:
Yes, a milk bleb can cause a clogged milk duct if left untreated.
Your healthcare provider doesn’t need to diagnose a milk bleb because you can treat milk blebs at home. However, if you’re unsure if the bump on your nipple is a bleb, contact your provider for an evaluation.
Some telltale signs that you’re dealing with a milk bleb are:
Milk blebs tend to resolve themselves within 24 to 48 hours. This isn’t always the case — some people experience pain from a bleb for several days or weeks until the skin peels off the pore. If a blocked nipple pore is causing pain, you can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for relief.
There are things you can do to help speed up the healing process:
You may need to repeat these steps several times to loosen or soften the milk bleb.
You may notice a thick, stringy piece of milk come out of the blocked pore once the skin is loosened. If this happens, you can pull it out with clean hands. You may also notice the white pimple is gone, and you don’t feel pain anymore. You may need to apply antibiotic ointment or keep the area clean and dry for several days to let the pore heal.
Contact your healthcare provider if none of the above at-home treatments work to clear the milk bleb. If left alone, it could progress to mastitis. Mastitis is a breast infection caused by a blocked milk duct. It requires antibiotics.
No, you shouldn’t pop a milk blister. In rare cases, your healthcare provider may recommend draining a milk blister. This should be done by your provider using a sterile needle in an office setting. Don’t attempt to drain or pop it on your own, as it can lead to infection.
Yes, milk blebs can heal themselves. When your baby keeps nursing from the nipple with the bleb, the layer of skin can sometimes come off. This frequent nursing releases the milk and unclogs the pore. Using the other at-home treatment methods outlined above can also help.
Most milk blebs are gone within 48 hours. If you have a milk bleb, you’ll want to clear it up before it causes a clogged milk duct. If the milk duct gets clogged, it can lead to mastitis.
The best way to prevent milk blebs is to make sure your breasts are fully drained. Letting milk sit or get backed up in your ducts can cause them to get clogged or cause blisters to form. Some other ways to prevent milk blebs are:
If you keep getting milk blebs or clogged ducts, it may help to talk to a lactation consultant.
If the milk bleb has gone away, your nipple pore is still susceptible to infection because the skin may be broken. Keeping your nipple clean and dry or using saline on the area for a few days should help.
You can take steps to prevent recurring milk blebs, like making sure your breast is fully drained and avoiding direct pressure on your breasts.
Most people who unclog a blocked nipple pore feel relief almost immediately and don’t need to take any further action.
Call your healthcare provider if a milk blister:
A milk bleb can lead to a clogged duct. A clogged duct can cause mastitis. Mastitis is an infection that causes flu-like symptoms.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
It’s very common to struggle with breastfeeding, even if you’ve done it before. A milk blister is one common struggle that may cause you pain and frustration during your breastfeeding journey. Luckily, you can treat most milk blebs at home with warm compresses and frequent nursing or pumping sessions. If unsuccessful, your healthcare provider may need to open the blister for you. You can prevent future milk blebs from forming by changing your baby’s position on your breast, keeping your nipples clean and ensuring your breasts don’t become too full.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/15/2022.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy