Under normal circumstances, the nipple size is about 0.8~1.2 cm, and the areola diameter is about 3.5~4.5 cm. If it is smaller than this, it means the nipple is inverted. It is common for female nipples not to protrude from the plane of the areola or to be sunk under the skin. Breast deformity. Nipple inversion is divided into congenital and acquired. The former refers to the underdevelopment of the nipple and areola, and the latter refers to always wearing tight underwear, suffering from breast tumors and post-mastitis fibroplasia. Nipple inversion not only affects the appearance, but also causes a series of problems.

Does inverted nipple only affect appearance?

Nipple inversion not only affects the aesthetics, but also causes local infection. Nipple inversion will increase the difficulty of local cleaning, and it is easy to accumulate dirt and induce secondary infection, leading to chronic inflammation. There will also be a large amount of local exudate accumulation, accompanied by an obvious foul smell, and it can also easily lead to local skin erosion. In addition, inverted nipples can affect normal breastfeeding, causing milk accumulation and failure to be discharged normally, often leading to acute mastitis due to secondary infection.

What should I do if my nipples are inverted?

1. Stretching techniques

Puberty is the prime time for breast development, and it is also an important stage for correcting inverted nipples. Usually, you can gently pull the nipple with your hands, 3 to 5 times a day, to make the nipple protrude, which can increase the supporting force of the surrounding skin, thus It has a shaping effect, but it must be adhered to for a long time to see the effect. The specific method is to place two thumbs parallel to both sides of the nipple, gently and slowly open from the nipple to both sides, gently pull the areola skin and subcutaneous tissue, repeat about five or six times. Then put two thumbs on the upper and lower sides of the nipple and let the nipples stretch up and down.

2. Negative pressure suction

Use a breast pump to continuously apply negative pressure to the nipple. You can also fasten the empty barrel of a 10 ml syringe directly to the female areola. The syringe nipple is connected to a rubber tube, and then connected to another syringe. The second syringe piston is sucked. This can generate negative pressure to help suck out the syringe. nipple.

3. Wear appropriate underwear

Choose appropriate underwear according to breast size. When wearing underwear, the nipple must be placed in a fixed indentation and cannot be squeezed. At the same time, you should adjust your diet and eat more foods containing high-quality protein, such as fish, eggs, beans or chicken, etc., and also consume starchy substances such as rice or potato noodles, because protein and starch can produce energy for the body. .

4. Undergo surgical treatment

If the above methods still cannot improve the situation of inverted nipples, under the premise of ensuring the complete development of female breasts, nipple inverted repair surgery can be performed.

Warm reminder

Any female in the immediate family who has inverted nipples must take preventive measures. After a girl is born, parents can gently pull the nipples outward, but they must be gentle. In addition, you need to choose pure cotton and loose underwear, and the underwear needs to be changed and washed frequently. As long as the nipples are red or cracked, the underwear needs to be steamed and sterilized. Girls should not put on underwear too early. Choose underwear of the appropriate size, not too tight, and promptly correct the bad habit of sleeping on your stomach to avoid nipple squeezing, otherwise it will aggravate the degree of nipple inversion. In addition, women with inverted nipples must pay attention to the health and hygiene of their nipples, clean the area frequently and actively prevent infection. Especially for women who are breastfeeding, they need to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible if they find red and swollen nipples to avoid mastitis.