Causes And Prevention Of Sore Nipples

In addition to pain and bleeding, sore nipples can also lead to infections. It is therefore important to prevent this and treat the complaints properly. Read on to find out what you can do!

Sore nipples are a common injury among runners from constant rubbing of clothing during exercise. It is more common in men, although it affects some women and children as well. The problem is, since the nipples are a sensitive area, it can be quite a nuisance. Unfortunately, the symptoms can get worse and even lead to infection.

What exactly are sore nipples?

Sore nipples are an injury caused by the friction of clothing, mostly while walking. In most cases it occurs on both sides and consists of small cracks in both nipples.

Mostly this is found in people who run or do marathons a lot. As you know, the nipple protrudes slightly in men and more prominent in women. This can easily cause friction with clothing while running, regardless of whether you are wearing a t-shirt or bra.

The fabric of clothing is therefore one of the most important triggers. For example, nylon is often associated with chafed nipples. But other factors, such as temperature, also play a role in the development. Because the nipple tends to straighten up more in the cold, which leads to friction.

In women, this type of injury is much more likely to occur around the menstrual cycle. This is because the breasts swell and become more sensitive during this time.

A study published in the journal Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia found that sore nipples affect nearly 35% of people who walk more than 38 miles a week. For those who walked less than 61 kilometers per week, however, the frequency was less than 5%.

Symptoms

According to an article in the Revista Médica de Chile, the main characteristics of a chafed nipple are painful injuries. As already mentioned, these are usually bilateral and can even lead to bleeding.

The same study suggests that athletes are generally more prone to certain infections. This is because moisture, sweat, and other factors make it easier for bacteria to multiply in such wounds.

In addition, such an injury has similarities to dermatitis. First there is redness and discomfort in the nipple area. Unfortunately, if you keep walking and friction from your clothing will worsen the injury. This can lead to further wounds.

Because of this, the main symptoms are pain, redness, and bleeding. The nipples, like the breast itself, are more sensitive than other parts of the body. Therefore, lichenification of the skin can occur in some cases. This means that the skin thickens after constant rubbing or scratching.

Ways of prevention

There are a few simple things you can do to prevent chafed nipples, which we’ll explain below. The main aim is to protect the nipples during exercise.

Choose the right fabric

The fabric of the clothes you wear when exercising is important, especially for runners. This is because some materials increase friction or prevent perspiration.

Nylon jerseys, for example, tend to rub against the nipples. Your clothes should ideally be smooth and have no seams or embellishments that could rub against your chest. In addition, the fabric should be breathable and cool.

Wear the right sports bra

Most women wear a sports bra when exercising. Since this is in direct contact with the nipple, it is important to choose the right material here.

Choose a well-fitting bra that offers enough support so that the chest doesn’t move too much with every step. As described above, the fabric should be breathable and not rub.

It should also have no seams in the middle of the chest. Likewise, the size should be appropriate and the bra straps should be wide. This will keep them from getting too tight.

Avoid long distances

We’ve already explained that chafed nipples are more common in people who walk long distances. Therefore, those who run less than 10 kilometers are less likely to be affected, unless the injury is due to the material of the clothing.

Therefore, experts advise limiting yourself to short jogging sessions until the injury has healed. But if you just can’t stop, then you need to properly protect this area of ​​your body in such a case.

Use lubricant or petroleum jelly

Certain products can prevent friction and thus prevent damage to the nipples. Applying petroleum jelly to this area works for a lot of people. It moisturizes the skin and also protects it.

Talcum powder can also reduce the risk of a new injury as it dries the area, reducing irritation. Many people also use it in other places to prevent chafing – the inner thighs, for example.

Prevent sore nipples while running

In addition to the above remedies, there are other ways to protect the nipples while exercising. For example, you can buy a nipple protector – a kind of strip that even adapts to your body shape.

You can also make such a protection yourself at home. Just make sure that it doesn’t peel off in sweat or chest hair.

Treat sore nipples as soon as possible

If you notice chafed nipples, see a doctor, as infection can easily make it worse. You may need an antibiotic. However, you should only take this on the advice of a doctor.

It is also important that you clean this area properly. Ideally, you should dry your nipples completely after washing them and apply another moisturizing cream or petroleum jelly. Always wear clean clothes to reduce the risk of infection.