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Symptoms
Cracked nipples

Cracked nipples

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Soaps and harsh washing or drying of the breasts and nipples can cause extreme dryness and cracking and should be avoided. Some experts recommend leaving milk on the nipple after feeding and allowing it to dry and protect the nipple. Keeping the nipples dry is important to prevent cracking and infection. For cracked nipples, apply 100% lanolin after feedings.

Dr. Keegan Duchicela reviewed this

16 year experience in family medicine

How long it usually lasts:

Medium-term (lasts weeks to months)

How common it is:

Common

Body locations

Chest

Is Symptom of

Breast cancer
Condition
Raynaud phenomenon
Condition
Mastitis
Condition

Related questions

A 31-year old asked:

What can be done for very dry and cracked nipples.?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 32-year old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: Cracked nipples?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 37-year old asked:

Help with cracked nipple! what works?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 81-year old female asked:

Are cracked nipples within breastfeeding normal?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 35-year old asked:

Is it bad for my baby if he accidentally swallowed some of my blood from my cracked nipple?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 36-year old asked:

What to do if I have severe cracked nipples and its not from breastfeeding, please help on cures?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 22-year old female asked about a 20-year old female:

My friend has cracked nipples on both breasts. She is around 20 years old and was always too embarrassed to tell anyone about this. What could she do?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 31-year old female asked:

What dose it mean when you have not very noticeable cracked nipples if not pregnant?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 28-year old female asked:

I am breastfeeding my baby.He's a month old but I have cracked nipples.It bleeds sometimes. What can I use? It hurts to breastfeed.

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 20-year old female asked:

But that mole like cracked nipple i think i can strip(cut) it. Can it be defect im 18 y old? U said i shouldnt have thing like that?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 20-year old female asked:

I breastfeed & today I tried on 15 different bras as well as a baby carrier w/out a bra on(naked) The carrier had a red stain on it and didn't notice until after I took it off. my breasts have cracked nipples. If this was blood could I get HIV? Risk?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old female asked:

Is it okay to feed my baby my expressed breast milk that has a drop of my blood in it? (it's from my cracked nipple) thanks!

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 20-year old female asked:

I suffer bad eczema i am 20 not pregnate but i have bad cracked nipples n bad dry skin around my brests i cant stop scrtching it wil this cause cancer?

3 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

A 23-year old female asked:

I have 2 day old infant (2nd child) and I have extremely sore cracked nipples.I pumped milk and right breast milk had blood clots. Help please. ?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A member asked:

Should I stop breastfeeding until my cracked, scabbed nipples heal?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 20-year old female asked:

Right nipple cracked itchy swollen red and peeling with yellow discharge.Been 3-4 months.Got checked anitbiotics didn't work. Pagets disease possible?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 30-year old female asked:

I'm pregnant and HIV+, haven't attended lactation class yet, and willing to breastfeed my baby, so what are the chances of transimitting the virus to him? What happens to cracked or sore nipple ?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 25-year old female asked:

Good day I just gave birth on the 8 of February I have been having problems with nipples cracked since I am a mother who is Hiv with a suppressed viral load that is <40 my nipples are not bleeding but that is worrying me having low milk supply?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 36-year old male asked:

Breastfeeding, nipples are cracked, raw, bleeding and yellowish pus formed. Very painful to feed and to express with pump. What can we do?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old female asked:

Breastfeeding 22mnth old still&nipple has started bleeding LOTS w/every feed.nipple is cracked w/skin tag on it.5 day break didnt help.need to stop?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 27-year old female asked:

Hd my period 12 days late.lumps in both breasts but one obvious on left,nipple is cracked and tip is longer with a painless cut.dimple when raise arm?

1 doctor answer • 9 doctors weighed in

A 27-year old female asked:

Why is one of my nipple sore and cracked?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 33-year old asked:

What would cause my nipple to crack? Not breastfeeding

1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in

A 36-year old asked:

What can I do if my nipples crack and bleed while breastfeeding?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A female asked:

My partner pinched my nipple so hard it's a bit cracked at the base and swollen. I've been using neosporin which helped. Will it go back to normal??

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 21-year old female asked:

21y/o female,my nipples have skin that can b removed by rubbing,not itchy,no exudate,no pain,also cracked i've had it since 3 years or more,paget's??

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 25-year old female asked:

When my baby begins sucking on my right nipple it hurts badly for one minute. It isn't dry cracked or red and she is latching great. Other nipple fine?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 19-year old female asked:

I have a nipple crack that it required stitches? Problem is, they aren't healing closed,Kind of like they're healing & not any pain but opened(very small cut). Will they ever get back to normal that way?can it leads to get off nipples from my body?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 36-year old female asked:

Breast is throbbing with pain well after breastfeeding. The nipple is sore and it looks like theres a crack on it. Nipple creams arent helping.

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 21-year old female asked:

My boyfriend broke the skin while sucking/biting my nipples, the skin is cracked and very sore and painful, what should I do?

3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

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