Living With Eczema: Nipple Care

Eczema is an uncomfortable condition no matter where it occurs, but certain locations on the body present additional challenges. Proper eczema nipple care is important for anyone affected by flare-ups in that area. Nipples and the tissue surrounding them are extremely sensitive, often amplifying the painful, itchy irritation associated with the condition.

Can You Get Eczema on Your Nipple

Yes, eczema is most often found around the face, neck, arms, hands, legs, and feet but can occur in other locations. Eczema on nipple isn’t a specific type of eczema, but it can be more uncomfortable than in other locations. It is also known as nipple dermatitis. Thankfully it’s fairly rare. If you’re faced with an eczema nipple, there’s plenty you can do to mitigate your symptoms. There is no cure, but with proper care, you can limit eczema’s impact on your life.

What Does Nipple Eczema Look Like?

The condition presents as an itchy, red, scaly rash on the nipple. It’s sometimes also found on the areola, the darker circle of skin surrounding the nipple. Some other common symptoms associated with it are:

• Dry skin on nipple
• Itching
• Burning sensation
• Red rash on skin
• Nipple discharge
• Small bumps on skin
• Bumps may ooze fluid.

Who Can Get Nipple Eczema?

People of every gender and age may face eczema on the nipple, though it’s common in children under five. For most kids, it usually clears as they grow up. It is also more common in women than it is in men. People experiencing the following medical conditions are more likely to develop it or experience flare-ups:

• Atopic dermatitis
• Asthma
• Hay fever
• Obesity
• Food allergies

Is Eczema on Nipple Contagious?

Eczema of the nipples and areolas isn’t dangerous, and it isn’t contagious. If you’re a breastfeeding mother, you don’t have to worry about passing the condition to your child.

What Causes Eczema?

Eczema appears to have both a genetic and an environmental component. If eczema, asthma, or hay fever runs in your family, or if you have a history of allergies, you’re more susceptible.

Eczema on nipples often flares up due to irritant contact dermatitis. When the skin comes in contact with certain irritants such as soap, body wash, perfume, lotions, or laundry detergents, it can cause itching, dryness, and irritation on the nipples.

Some other triggers for eczema flare-up are:

• Stress
• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Overactive immune system.

Learn more about eczema here.

Eczema Nipple Diagnosis

Many conditions can share features with eczema nipple, two of which are more serious. Paget’s disease of the breast and inflammatory breast cancer are two rare forms of breast cancer that can resemble eczema. Talk to your doctor if you suspect your nipple eczema might be something more.

Be sure to mention eczema on your nipple to your doctor if you’re actively breastfeeding. Your nipples are far more likely to crack and become infected because of the eczema-weakened tissue. This can lead to mastitis, an infection of the milk ducts, which brings with it breast pain, discharge, and other issues.

The dermatologist may perform certain tests to confirm what might be causing itching, dryness, and irritation on the nipple such as:

• Patch test
• Allergy test
• Swab test
• Skin biopsy
• Complete blood count (CBC)

Treating Nipple Eczema at Home

Even though there is no permanent cure for eczema on nipple it can easily be managed by proper skincare and taking precautions to prevent future flare-ups. The two important steps in the eczema skincare routine are:

Cleansing

Keep the affected area clean with a gentle cleanser or eczema shampoo. Cleaning the skin will remove dirt and outside irritants from the skin that can worsen the condition. 

• Wash the skin with an eczema shampoo and body wash at least once daily.
• Make sure to use lukewarm or cool water to wash the skin.
• After washing pat dry the area instead of rubbing.

Happy Cappy Daily Eczema Shampoo And Body Wash is a specially formulated shampoo and body wash that gently cleanses the skin without further irritating or drying it. It is free from fragrances, alcohol, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. 

Moisturizing 

The next step in the eczema skincare routine is moisturizing. Moisturizing will not only help in keeping the skin moist but can also soothe itching and irritation.

• Moisturize the skin at least twice daily with a hypoallergenic eczema cream.
• Make sure the moisturizer you are using is free from fragrances and harsh chemicals.
• Make sure to moisturize your skin after a bath especially when the skin is a little damp.

Happy Cappy Moisturizing Cream for Eczema is a great option to choose from. It is hypoallergenic and is free from any type of harsh chemicals that can further exacerbate the condition. It is infused with natural ingredients like licorice root extract that soothe the itching and irritation associated with eczema.

Prevention

In order to prevent future flare-ups you must:

• Avoid skin care products such as soaps, lotions, and body washes that contain harsh chemicals.
• Take shorter baths usually of 5 to 10 minutes and use lukewarm or cool water for your bath.
• Avoid scratching the rash and affected area.
• Wear loose breathable clothing and fabrics such as cotton. 
• Wash clothes with laundry detergents that are mild and free from harsh chemicals.

Consistent eczema nipple care isn’t a cure, but it can keep flare-ups to a minimum and speed healing.

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Dr. Eddie Valenzuela

Dr. Eddie Valenzuela is an award winning pediatrician and the founder and CEO of Pediatric Solutions, LLC.

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