Bumps on your nipples and areola can occur due to acne or ingrown hair. In some cases, they may be an early indicator of another health condition, such as breast cancer.
Your nipples are delicate areas that probably don’t top your list of places you want bumps to appear.
Most of the time, bumps on your nipples or areolae aren’t cause for concern, but there are some more serious conditions that can make bumps appear.
Before we dig into some of the reasons why you might see bumps from time to time (or all the time) on your nipples, here’s a quick anatomy refresher. The circle of darker pigmented skin on your breast is called the areola (areolae, plural). Your nipple is in the center of the areola.
This article reviews potential causes of bumps on your nipple and when to see a doctor.
Here are some potential causes of bumps on or around your nipples:
Acne
Pimples don’t just appear on the face. They can also develop in or around your nipple when sweat, oil, and dirt become trapped in your pores.
They’re usually whiteheads, which look like a bump with a white, circular top and red area underneath.
Breast cancer
Although not a common cause, it’s possible that the bumps on your nipples are a sign of breast cancer.
If your nipple starts to turn inward or has discharge coming from it, make an appointment to see a doctor as these might be symptoms of breast cancer.
Eczema
Eczema can form on your nipple or areola, usually as a reaction to laundry detergents, lotions, or irritation from clothing fibers. The condition causes itchy, scaly bumps that may occur on one or both nipples.
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a condition in which sweat glands become blocked, leading to inflammation, irritation, and infection in the skin.
While the condition commonly affects the armpits and groin, you can have the condition on your nipple area and under your breasts as well.
You’ll have red, irritated bumps and lesions where sweat glands are present.
Ingrown hair
Although they’re sometimes hard to see, small hair follicles surround your nipple. These small hairs can curl back in toward the skin and cause an ingrown hair.
The hair follicle can then become infected, causing an irritated bump that may swell and itch.
Milk blisters
Milk blisters are a medical condition that occurs when breast milk is trapped in the breast ducts. It can cause bumps that may look like pimples, but are actually blisters.
The blisters can be painful, but are typically not considered dangerous.
Montgomery’s tubercles
Montgomery’s tubercles are types of oil-producing glands that people have on their areolae. They appear as small bumps.
Doctors consider Montgomery’s glands to be beneficial because they produce oil that keeps nipples soft and protects against infection, which is especially helpful during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Montgomery glands may also produce a scent that helps lead a baby to the nipple to feed.
While these glands may enlarge in pregnancy, women naturally have them. Men also have Montgomery’s tubercles.
Paget disease of the breast
The condition causes the skin of the nipple and areola to look crusty, scaly and red, You may also have blood or yellow fluid coming out of the nipple.
Your nipple may look flat or inverted, and it might burn or itch.
See a doctor if you have these symptoms. They can often mimic eczema and your doctor can perform a biopsy to diagnose the condition.
Subareolar breast abscess
A subareolar breast abscess is an infection caused by a buildup of bacteria in a protein in breast tissue. It can occur in people who are breastfeeding and those who are not.
Symptoms include bumps and redness, along with pain, tenderness, and swelling.
Yeast infection
Women, especially women who are breastfeeding, may experience a yeast infection doctors call nipple thrush. The condition can cause reddened nipples that may crack, itch, or flake.
The condition often causes pain in the nipples and breasts during breastfeeding. You might also notice your baby has oral thrush, or white lesions inside their cheeks.
When should you see a doctor?
Nipple pain and discomfort isn’t a typical part of life. If you experience bumps on your nipples that are painful and irritated and don’t resolve after a few days of home care, see a doctor.
The following risk factors may also contribute to bumps appearing on nipples or surrounding tissue.
Breastfeeding
Women who are breastfeeding are at greater risk for a number of conditions that cause bumps on and around the nipples. These conditions include:
- blocked ducts
- blocked pores
- mastitis
- milk blister
- yeast infections
If you are breastfeeding and experience discomfort, swelling, redness, or other symptoms that may indicate you have an infection related to your breasts, call your lactation consultant, midwife, or doctor.
They can diagnose your condition and recommend the best course of treatment for you and your baby.
Nipple piercings
Nipple piercings are vulnerable to infections, especially in a newer piercing. You can also develop cysts or hematomas, which are collections of fluid or blood underneath the skin, due to nipple piercings. These can cause bumps on the nipples.
A person can also have scarring called keloids that develop after nipple piercing. This is an overgrowth of scar tissue that can turn into a hard, pimple-like bump.
You can expect some itching, redness, and even mild discharge as the piercing heals. But if the nipple becomes red, painful, or hot to the touch, call a doctor.
Do men also experience bumps on or around their nipples?
From pimples to ingrown hairs, men can also experience many of the same causes of bumps on the nipples as women. If men see small, yellow areas on the skin, they may be sweat glands, dry skin, or a skin disorder, like eczema.
Men can also get Paget’s disease and breast cancer. Talk with a doctor if you observe changes to your nipples, such as bumps that appear scaly, or are accompanied by discharge and swelling.
A doctor or medical professional will ask you about your symptoms and when you first started noticing them. They will assess your nipple and the surrounding breast tissue.
Often, a doctor can diagnose your condition by performing a physical exam and listening to your symptoms. In rare cases, they may recommend obtaining a tissue sample to send to a laboratory for evaluation.
If a doctor is concerned that the affected area may be cancer, they may refer you to a specialist to biopsy your breast tissue.
Treatments for bumps on or around the nipples depend on the underlying cause. Sometimes, as with Montgomery’s tubercles, no treatment is necessary.
Some general tips for treating bumps and irritation on your nipples include:
- Keep the skin on your breasts clean and dry. Wash your breasts daily with mild soap and warm water.
- Avoid using highly fragranced detergents or lotions on the breasts.
- Change sports bras or sweaty shirts immediately after exercising. Wipe your breasts off with a baby wipe or towel to remove excess sweat.
- Wear clothing that has all-natural fibers or sweat-wicking capabilities. These allow the skin to “breathe.”
- Apply a non-fragranced lotion — or one marketed for “sensitive skin” — to keep the skin soft.
If these steps don’t help resolve the bumps on your nipples, talk with a doctor. They can prescribe topical creams or oral medications to treat an infection or irritation.
At-home treatments can help reduce irritation and dryness that can lead to bumps on your nipples. However, don’t hesitate to see a doctor if the bumps are painful and don’t resolve after a few days of home care.
There are a lot of solutions that doctors can recommend, especially if the bumps are uncomfortable.