Sore Nipples

What does it mean to have sore nipples?

There are many reasons why your nipples might hurt. Most often, it’s due to hormone changes or something irritating your skin. But nipple soreness can also be a sign of a serious disease like breast cancer. See a healthcare provider right away if you have nipple soreness along with other signs, like discharge or breast lumps.

What do they feel like?

Everyone’s experience is a little different. Some may describe their nipples as:

• Tender
• Hard and sore
• Very sensitive to the touch
• Aching
• Itchy
• Burning
• Throbbing or stabbing

Why do my nipples hurt?

Possible causes of sore nipples include:

• Hormonal changes, including those during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause
• Skin irritations and rashes
• Friction from clothes
• Breastfeeding or pumping breast milk
• Infection
• Trauma
• Breast cancer

Let’s take a closer look at each of these causes.

Hormonal changes

Changing levels of certain hormones — like estrogen and progesterone — can trigger a range of symptoms. Here are some times when your hormones might be in flux, causing pain or sensitivity in your nipples and breasts:

• Puberty
• Menstruation (your nipples are most likely to be sore in the week leading up to your period)
• Pregnancy (nipple and breast soreness may be an early sign of pregnancy due to the sharp increase in hormones)
• Perimenopause, which is the first stage of menopause
• When you’re taking hormonal birth control

Skin irritations and rashes

Your nipples might hurt, itch and develop a rash in response to certain substances, like:

• Laundry detergents
• Soaps or body washes
• Lotions
• Perfume

This type of skin reaction is called contact dermatitis. It means your skin came into contact with something that irritated it or caused an allergic reaction.

It’s also possible to develop eczema on your nipples. This can make your nipples hurt, itch and burn.

Friction from clothes

Bras or shirts can rub against your nipples and cause soreness and pain. It’s especially common in runners (jogger’s nipple) and athletes. The friction from clothing or poorly fitting bras can cause your nipples to get dry, discolored, chapped or raw.

Breastfeeding or pumping breast milk

Breastfeeding or pumping can lead to nipple pain, itching and rashes. This can happen if:

• Your baby isn’t latching onto your breast correctly. A good latch means your baby’s mouth covers your entire nipple and areola. If they’re sucking on just your nipple, it can make breastfeeding extremely painful.
• Something irritates your nipple. Common culprits include breast pads, soaps and breast pump parts.
• You develop a condition like nipple blebs, mastitis or nipple vasospasm (narrowing of the blood vessels around your nipple).

Infection

Several different types of infections in your breast area can cause nipple pain, including:

• Bacterial mastitis: Mastitis is breast inflammation. But the condition can progress to a bacterial infection. Lactation and breastfeeding increase your chances of getting mastitis. But you can also get it if you’re not breastfeeding.
• Breast abscess: This is a pocket of pus in your breast that feels like a hard, painful lump. It’s a complication of mastitis. Sometimes, an abscess can form directly beneath your areola. This is called a subareolar abscess.
• Infections from ingrown hairs: Hairs around your nipple that you pluck can grow back into your skin, causing pain and irritation. The area around the hair can also get infected.

Trauma

Trauma to your nipple during sex or from nipple piercings can cause pain and irritation. If you have a piercing, check for signs of infection like swelling or pus.

Breast cancer

Sore nipples usually aren’t a sign of something serious. But in rare cases, it can point to a type of breast cancer called Paget’s disease of the breast. This condition often causes pain, burning, itching, discharge or changes in how your nipple looks, like flattening or turning inward.

Contact a healthcare provider right away if you have nipple soreness along with any of these symptoms.

How are sore nipples treated?

Treatment for sore nipples depends on the cause. Your healthcare provider may recommend:

• Medication: Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can treat nipple pain from menstruation. You’ll need antibiotics to treat certain infections, like mastitis.
• Home remedies: Wearing a bandage over your nipple during exercise or applying a petroleum-based ointment can help prevent nipple chafing.
• Avoiding friction or irritants: If bras or shirts are causing your nipple soreness, try changing fabrics or sizes.
• Lactation support: If you have sore nipples while nursing or pumping milk, see a lactation consultant. They can help with your baby’s latch or feeding positions and make sure your breast pump fits correctly. You can also try using organic nipple balm.
• Topical anti-inflammatory cream: This may help with pain caused by an allergic reaction. (But if you’re breastfeeding, only use this if your provider recommends it.)
• A procedure or surgery: If you develop a breast abscess, you’ll need a procedure to drain it. Providers treat Paget’s disease of the breast with surgery (and sometimes, additional therapies).

When should sore nipples be treated by a healthcare provider?

Contact a healthcare provider if:

• The nipple pain is persistent or doesn’t go away.
• You have nipple pain associated with breastfeeding or pumping.
• There are changes to your skin color or texture anywhere on your breast.
• You notice a discharge from your nipple that isn’t breast milk.
• You feel lumps in your breast.
• You have sore nipples and also have a fever or feel generally unwell.

Your provider may ask you questions like:

• What does the nipple pain feel like?
• When do your nipples hurt?
• Do you have any other symptoms?
• Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
• Have you recently started using any new laundry products or cosmetics?
• Do you have any skin conditions or allergies?

All these details can help your provider find the cause so you can find relief.

Why are my nipples sore to the touch when I’m not pregnant?

Pregnancy is just one cause of sore nipples. Hormonal changes at other times, like the week before your period and when you’re in perimenopause, can also cause nipple discomfort. Common reasons for nipple soreness unrelated to hormones include clothes rubbing against your nipple, infections and various forms of dermatitis.

Does ovulation cause sore nipples?

Ovulation can cause sore nipples due to hormonal changes that occur during your menstrual cycle. But it’s more common to experience nipple tenderness in the days just before your period.