Maybe you have suddenly felt itchy nipples. Itching can be mild and severe. Here are some of the causes of itchy nipples and how to overcome them.
Itching is caused by several factors. Can be due to dry skin, or the most severe due to cancer. The itching that arises can be different in severity, the intensity of the desire to scratch can come occasionally or continuously.
Even if you really want to scratch, you should be careful. The reason is that scratching too often can damage the skin around the breast area, so that the skin in the breast can experience problems, such as redness, cracking, thickening, or inflammation and swelling.
Causes of Itching Nipples
Some causes of itching on the nipples are;
Mastitis
A common problem experienced by nursing mothers is mastitis, which is inflammation of the breast tissue. This condition can occur due to blockage of the ducts or bacterial breast tissue. Mastitis can make the nipples itchy, swollen, red with pain or a painful sensation while breastfeeding.
Eczema makes the skin dry, itchy, scaly, red, cracked, and hardened. If scratched to the wound, infection can occur by a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus. This skin disease will often recur and disappear if not treated properly.
Breasts will usually enlarge during pregnancy. Stretching on the skin of the breast can trigger itching accompanied by flaking skin. Breast enlargement and nipples occur due to hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Friction with clothes
If you run regularly, itching may be caused by friction between the nipples and clothes. Skin irritation in the breast can also occur if you use a bra that is too narrow. If left unchecked, it will cause injury, cracked nipples, even bleeding.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is a dangerous disease that generally occurs in women. Symptoms caused include redness of the skin on the breast, lumps on the breast, nipples flat or interested, discharge from the nipple, and changes in the skin of the nipple or breast. Sometimes breast cancer can also cause symptoms of nipple to feel pain or itching.
Itching on the nipples can be exacerbated if the area is in contact with perfume, soap, and clothes made of wool or artificial fibers.
Ways to Overcome Breast Nipple Itching
How to deal with itching on the nipple depends on the cause. If you experience eczema, it is recommended to maintain the skin's natural moisture by using a moisturizer. In addition, avoid substances that can irritate the skin, such as soaps containing perfumes, detergents, or dyes. For treatment, this condition is usually treated with ointments containing emollients and corticosteroids.
For those who like to run, you can use a cream that can protect your nipples from friction, such as petroleum jelly. It is also recommended to use a bra that is comfortable and not too tight.
Whereas for pregnant and lactating women, you can wear a bra made of cotton so that the flow of air in the breast is smooth, and avoid the use of hard soap. Other ways can also be by smearing the nipples with soft white paraffin or pure lanolin, and giving a cold compress to the nipples to reduce itching.
For further treatment, it is recommended to consult a doctor, especially if the itching on your nipples does not improve or the condition worsens, such as causing fever, severe pain, nipple pulling in, blood or yellow or brown liquid, there is no obvious cause of weight loss, and skin changes resemble orange peels.