Nipple blisters can be caused by poor latch during breastfeeding, incorrect use of breast pumps or nipple shields, blocked milk ducts, or yeast infections. Treatment depends on the cause, but may include improving latch, using warm compresses, or using antifungal medications.
There are a few common causes of nipple blisters. They include friction on a woman’s nipple when a baby does not latch on properly while breastfeeding or when a mother uses a breast pump or nipple shield incorrectly. Sometimes blisters also develop because skin grows over a milk duct or because a milk duct is blocked from within. Yeast infections can also cause these problems. Treatment for nipple blisters depends on the type: Home remedies often work, but a doctor’s attention may be needed for more complicated cases.
One of the most common causes of nipple blisters is a problem with the way a baby latches on to his mother’s nipple while breastfeeding. When the position of the nipple in a nursing baby’s mouth is problematic, she can still get an adequate amount of milk, but the attachment problem can leave the mother with sore nipples. In addition to the pain she may experience during and after breastfeeding, the mother may also notice her nipples cracking and possibly even bleeding a little. At this point, a blister or two may form.
Often, a nipple blister that develops as a result of a poor latch is referred to as a blood blister. They are often red or brown in color and typically develop from friction caused by breastfeeding challenges. Sometimes, however, a woman will also develop this type of blister because she’s been using a breast pump but she can’t place it properly. Incorrectly placed nipple shields can also cause problems in some cases.
Another type of nipple blister that involves breastfeeding is called a milk blister. This sometimes develops when a milk duct becomes blocked by skin growing over it, and as a result, milk cannot exit the nipple from this duct and the blocked area begins to blister. The nipple blister is often whitish in color, although it can also be yellow or flesh-colored, and fluid can often be seen under the skin. Other milk bubbles can result from a blockage not on the outside of the milk duct but on the inside. For example, a whitish blister may form in the affected area due to drying of the milk in the blocked duct.
Sometimes an infection can also cause a nipple blister. For example, if a person has a yeast infection of the nipples, this can sometimes result in sores and blisters in the affected area. The other symptoms of a yeast infection affecting this part of the body include pain and itching in the area as well as redness and sometimes burning or shooting pain.
Treatment for a nipple blister usually depends on what caused it to develop. It often helps to improve the way a nursing baby latches and to pay more attention to using nipple shields or breast pumps. Some people also find that exposing sores to air helps them heal faster. Warm compresses and gentle exfoliation can help with milk blisters, or a doctor might use a needle to clear the blockage. Oral and topical antifungal medications usually help when the problem develops due to a yeast infection.
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