The document outlines various causes for hard nipples, emphasizing that while they can be a normal occurrence due to stimuli like temperature changes or physical sensations, they can also indicate underlying health issues like infections, hormonal changes, and sensitivities. It details several factors contributing to hard nipples, including exercise, allergies, ovulation, and breastfeeding, as well as when to seek medical advice for symptoms indicating potential health concerns. Overall, the document aims to inform readers about both the benign and more serious causes of nipple hardness and discomfort.

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April 21, 2020
Why Do I Have Hard Nipples? – 20 Weird Causes
thecradlerocks.com/hard-nipples
When somebody experiences painful, hard
nipples, their first concern could be whether or
not that is proof of extreme well-being or
health drawback. The excellent news is that
nipple ache isn’t a symptom of cancers or one
other critical illness.
It’s regular for nipples to get irritated during
certain actions or activities, such as sports
activities. This could normally be resolved with
easy treatments or way of life adjustments.
Why do nipples get hard?
Nipple erection can happen anywhere. Imagine you are standing within the checkout line
at a grocery retailer when you suddenly have erect nipples. You don’t know why it
occurred, and you could be a bit frightened. Don’t be! Random hard nipples are
completely normal every now and then.
The nerves within the nipple react to stimuli, both physically and psychologically. So an
arousing thought, change in temperature, or one thing as simple as the material of your
shirt brushing in opposition to your pores and skin may cause one or both of your nipples
to erect, causing long hard nipples

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Nevertheless, there are some underlying health issues that may additionally result in hard
nipples. Studying the indicators might help you acknowledge when it’s time to see your
physician.
Here we cover frequent causes of hard nipples, symptoms management, and when to see a
physician.
In lots of circumstances, related ache may be averted or managed.
Causes for hard nipples include:
1. Exercise and sports activities
Sports activities could cause nipple friction and ache. That is very true for girls who train
and not using a sports activities bra or with a poorly fitting sports activities bra. This kind
of friction could cause soreness, dryness, irritation, and bleeding.
Lengthy-distance runners who train excessively and surfers who don’t put on rash guards
could experience related signs.
2. Allergic reactions and sensitivities
The nipples are among the most delicate and sensitive parts of the body and can react in a
different way to stimuli. Sensitivities to climate change and some fabric materials or wool
could cause ache and itching in the nipples, giving rise to hard nipples.
Soaps, lotions, and laundry detergents could cause allergic reactions in addition to
itchiness. They can additionally trigger the nipple to seem red or chapped.
The truth is Nipple hardness is just one sign of an allergy or sensitivity. Different signs
you must look ahead to embrace are:
redness

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itching
chapping
rash
3. Ovulation
The fact is, ovulation is completely different for every lady. Not everybody will experience
signs that would tip you off that you’re ovulating. Breast tenderness is one of the signs of
ovulation and it will possibly result in hard nipples or erect nipples. This occurs due to a
surge in estrogen levels.
Other methods you may use to let you know when you’re ovulating are:
Changes in your cervical fluid
A slight shift in your cervix’s position or firmness
a slight dip in your body temperature when at relaxation
Spotting
pelvic ache or cramping
bloating
elevated libido and urge to have sex.
4. Sexual Arousal
Robust and forceful friction throughout the sexual exercise, together with intense oral
stimulation, could cause hard nipples or cause the nipples to be tender and sore. This is
normally momentary and will probably resolve by itself.
You’ll already know that nipples are one heck of an erogenous zone for lots of females.
That’s because the tingling sensation felt by the nipples travels to the identical part of the
brain that receives signals directly from your genitals. Whenever your nipples are
stimulated, your nerves inform your muscle groups within the area to contract, thus
hardening your nipples. You can also have hard nipples or erect nipples when you have
sexually arousing thoughts.
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In fact, hard nipples are only one symptom of arousal. It’s possible you’ll be sizzling and
bothered — even subconsciously! — if:
your heart is beating very fast.
Your breathing is faster
You seem flushed
Your vagina turns wet or swollen
5. Breast-feeding

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Breast-feeding could cause a situation known as mastitis, which is comparatively
common. Signs are nipple chafing and cracking, which can trigger breast tissue to turn
inflamed and infected. Anybody who experiences this could seek the advice of a physician
for analysis and remedy.
Making use of a lanolin cream between feedings can assist the pores and skin to retain
moisture. It’s also a good suggestion to maintain nipples clean and dry.
Your child could have a tough time finding your nipple if they’re flat or inverted. That’s
why erect nipples are important to breastfeeding — they assist your child. You may also
experience hard nipples when your child feeds due to the stimulation.
However hard nipples during breastfeeding are also an indication of a condition known as
mastitis. In actual fact, breastfeeding is among the most typical causes of breast tissue
infections in moms.
Mastitis often occurs to breastfeeding moms within the early days of childbirth, either due
to clogged milk ducts or microorganisms that snuck into the breast via a chapped nipple.
6. Thrush
Nipple ache is usually a symptom of nipple thrush, a kind of candidiasis brought on by
Candida yeast. That is additionally frequent in people who find themselves breastfeeding.
Other signs may include burning, stinging, cracking, and soreness.
Thrush may be transferred between the breastfeeding mum and little one. Each ought to
be treated. Breast-fed infants with thrush could have white patches in their mouths.
7. Pregnancy

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Soreness and tenderness of the nipples and breasts are typical when pregnant, especially
during the first trimester, although related signs could happen within the third trimester
as well. A well-fitting assist bra can assist decrease chafing, ache, and itchiness.
Changes in breast shape and pregnancy go hand in hand. Fluctuating hormones and an
uptick in blood provide may cause your breasts to go haywire. To be sincere, you will have
big hard nipples.
You may additionally experience:
Your breasts and areolas increasing in size.
Your areolas turning darker
Your breasts feeling tender and very sensitive.
Thick, yellowish liquid often called colostrum leaking out of your breasts
8. Menstrual cycle
Nipple tenderness and soreness occur when there is an increase in the level of
progesterone hormone. These rises happen a few weeks earlier than when a period begins.
Ache, sensitivity, and different signs will subside when hormone level normalizes.
9. Postmenstrual syndrome
Postmenstrual syndrome is rather like premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but on the
opposite end of menstruation. Most of the signs are identical, just like breast swelling and
tenderness. And in some females, this could mean they’ll have hard nipples once in a
while.
Throughout postmenstrual syndrome, you could experience the identical modifications to
your mood, habits, and urge for food, together with some similar symptoms that you
would with PMS.
This includes:
Muscle ache
Bloating
Feeling tired.
Having an absence of energy
Headaches
Cramps
low libido
Constipation or diarrhea
Acne flare-ups
Meals cravings
10. Perimenopause and Menopause

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As ladies begin to undergo perimenopause and enter menopause, breasts and nipples can
turn into very sore, tender, or in any other case sensitive. It results from hormone shifts.
There are a lot of changes that go through your body during perimenopause and
menopause, it’s hard to maintain. Breast tenderness is a typical sign of perimenopause.
This is because there’s a decrease in your estrogen level as you get nearer to menopause.
It’s uncommon, nevertheless, it’s possible you have hard nipples due to the modifications
in your breasts.
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You can even experience the following during that stage of life:
irregular menstruation
Insomnia
Hot flashes
Mood changes
Dryness of the vaginal.
Trouble peeing
Changes in libido
Decreased fertility
11. Contraception
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Some unwanted side effects of birth control tablets are just like signs of early pregnancy.
They have an inclination to resolve as soon as the body gets accustomed to the
medication, which normally takes some months. If these unwanted side effects don’t
resolve with time, contact your physician.
12. Piercings
Your nipples can become less or more sensitive after you may have pierced them. This
means that you can have more hard nipples if you don’t give it some bling. They could
react faster to stimuli like material or somebody’s touch.
Though nipple piercings could look cool, they do include some dangers. Primarily,
microorganism can enter your breast from the outlet created by the piercing, even if you
remove the jewelry and let the piercing heal. The microorganism that enters your breast
can result in mastitis, an infection of the breast tissue that causes nipple hardness.
Different signs of mastitis that you must watch out for include:
breast ache
swelling

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heat
redness
fever
chills
13. Some medicines and herbs
Drugs prescribed for depression or anxiety have been linked to ache and different signs
within the breasts and nipples. Some herbal treatments, together with those used to
enhance breast milk, may also trigger nipple ache, sensitivity, and tenderness.
14. Breast abscess
A breast abscess is a collection of pus inside the breast and could also be linked to breast-
feeding or mastitis. Abscesses may also be an outcome from nipple piercings or different
breaks within the pores and skin that permit the microorganism to enter breast tissue.
A microorganism that enters the breast both via a cracked or pierced nipple may cause a
buildup of pus, resulting in a breast abscess. It is a very painful situation that may set off
hard nipples. Abscesses often type within the breast when mastitis is left untreated.
Breast abscesses could cause nipple ache, redness, heat, swelling, and fever. A healthcare
skilled ought to drain them. Small abscesses can typically be drained with a needle and
syringe, whereas bigger ones require an incision.
Different signs of a breast abscess to look out for are:
tender, crimson, sizzling, and painful breasts
fever
muscle ache
loss of energy
nausea
headache
15. Temperature
We’ve all been there: We’re bundled up, able to courageous the winter air, and bam, hard
nipples arrive, our nipples come out. The remainder of you could be somehow warm,
however, that doesn’t imply your nipples can’t catch a chill.
In actual fact, chilly climate is among the most common causes of nipple erection. That’s
because a decrease in temperature simulates particular nerve cells in our nipples — the
same ones that trigger goosebumps. Scorching climate, although, doesn’t trigger fairly the
identical response with our nipples.
16. Duct ectasia

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Duct ectasia tends to happen most frequently in women close to menopause, based on the
American Most cancers Society. The situation will not be associated with breast cancer
and doesn’t enhance a lady’s danger of developing cancer.
Duct ectasia happens when a milk duct turns into enlarged and blocked, inflicting changes
within the nipple that result in tenderness, redness, itchiness, ache, and thick discharge.
The situation could grow to be mastitis or one another kind of breast infection. Antibiotics
could also be used for administration. In uncommon circumstances, blocked ducts require
surgical procedures.
17. Eczema
Eczema could cause itching and ache in one or both nipples.
Nipples with eczema are inclined to look flaky, crusty, and purple, and discharge is
feasible.
This eczema may be handled with topical hydrocortisone, however, earlier than making
an attempt to buy over-the-counter medicines, see a physician for analysis. Other
circumstances, together with most cancers, can mimic eczema.
18. Reynaud’s phenomenon
Reynaud’s phenomenon is frequent in individuals who breast-feed. Nevertheless, it isn’t
caused by breast-feeding, and anybody can develop its signs.
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In folks with Reynaud’s phenomenon, the arteries that supply blood to the nipples spasm.
Restricted blood move causes numbness, burning, and ache and the pores and skin’s
coloration adjustments to white and blue. It then turns reddish when the blood move is
restored.
19. Paget’s Diseases
Sore and tender nipples are additionally a symptom of an uncommon situation known as
Paget’s disease, which happens with 1 to 4 percent of all breast cancers.
Early signs involving the nipple include redness and crusting. Any of these might also be
present:
itching
tingling
sensitivity
ache

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burning
change in nipple form
bloody or yellow-tinged discharge
When different areas of the breast are affected, the most typical remedy includes surgery
and radiation combination. Nevertheless, chemotherapy and different remedies could
also be obligatory, regarding on the extent of related most cancers.
20. Breast most cancers
Nipple ache does not often signal breast cancers, however, this and different nipple signs
can point out the presence of the illness.
Ache, redness, scaling, thickening, and discharge from the nipple are all possible
symptoms of breast cancer, based on the American cancers Society.
Painful or hard nipples in men
Both males and females experience hard nipples or nipple pain. Males generally
experience this pain following accidents, typically from sports activities or accidents. Men
may also develop irritated nipples after exercising, because of friction. Males are also in
danger of breast mastitis.
Men are at much less danger of growing breast cancers, however, the American Cancer
Society estimated that in 2018, there were roughly 2,550 new circumstances of breast
cancers in males.
Males with breast cancers could experience the following signs in the nipple:
redness
scaly pores and skin
retraction
It’s important for males to be screened and preserve a healthful way of life, notably if they
have an excessive danger of growing this cancer. Family historical past could also be a
factor.
What if you want to hide your hard nipples?
Let’s be sincere: Seen nipples get a foul rep. That’s why the #freethenipple campaign
began about 7 years ago — to be able to have fun with our lovely nipples after they’re out
and proud. However, you must what helps you feel good snug in your skin, whether or not
that’s covering up your nipples or letting them stand out.
If you would like them to remain hidden, you may have loads of choices. Padded bras,
nipple covers, or Band-Aids might help hold nipples out of sight. You possibly can
additionally layer up or put on looser shirts if that feels higher.

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Treatment of Hard Nipples
Many home treatments have been used to ease sore and painful nipples.
These include:
therapeutic massage
chilly teabags
warm compresses
ice
moisturizers
There is no such thing as a proof that these treatments are constantly helpful, however
some could present reduction, depending on the reason for symptoms. In case of any
changes to the nipple, find proper medical remedy.
If signs happen after exercising, an individual can apply a topical barrier product designed
for athletes to the skin. Achieve this earlier than the following exercise, to cut out friction.
If symptoms follows using a brand new skincare product, together with shampoo, cease
utilizing the product and see if the symptoms resolve.
When to see a doctor
In case you randomly get hard nipples, it may be completely normal. It might occur every
now and then, utterly out of the blue. And typically, there’s no explanation for it.
But when hard nipples occur with different signs, like soreness or discharge, you must
schedule a visit to your physician to make sure there isn’t an underlying concern at play.
And in case your erect nipples are as a result of situations like PMS or postmenstrual
syndrome, menopause, or allergy symptoms, they’ll give you the option that can assist you
in dealing with other signs you’re experiencing.