What causes cracked nipples?

Many parts of the human body are prone to the skin problem of chapped nipples. For example, women who are breastfeeding are particularly prone to chapped nipples. There are some small home remedies to solve this problem in life. For example, you can apply egg yolk on the nipples. Applying it 4 to 5 times a day will have a very good effect. In addition, you should take good care of your nipples, learn to regulate your diet, etc. The following introduces the many factors that cause chapped nipples.

What causes cracked nipples?

Breastfeeding is the best way to feed a child, but many mothers will encounter a problem, that is, nipple cracks. The main reason for this is that the nipple skin is thinner than the skin of other parts, and the nipple skin is tough. If it is damaged, it is prone to cracks and fissures. The main reasons for nipple cracking during breastfeeding are:

Incorrect breastfeeding method

Some mothers do not put the nipple and most of the areola into the baby's mouth when feeding, and the baby sucks the top of the nipple for a long time and repeatedly. Some babies have teeth, and the mothers do not let the baby hold the entire areola in their mouths when breastfeeding, which may cause the baby to bite the nipple and cause nipple cracks. Repeated friction can cause nipple cracks.

Too much milk

Some mothers have plenty of milk, and their babies cannot finish it, which often causes milk overflow. Over time, this can cause the nipples and surrounding skin to become eroded and very moist. If not treated in time or the treatment is not ideal, it can lead to nipple cracks.

Inverted or small nipples

Inverted nipples and small nipples are mainly caused by congenital factors. In mild cases, the nipple is sunken into the areola and can be squeezed out by hand. In more serious cases, the nipple is completely buried under the areola, making it impossible to squeeze out the inverted nipple. These two situations can easily lead to difficulty in sucking for the baby. Excessive force when sucking milk may cause nipple damage. If the damage is not handled properly, it may cause nipple cracks.

Nipple rupture will often recur, so protective measures should be taken. 1. After feeding, press the baby's lower jaw with your index finger, and when the baby opens his mouth, take the opportunity to pull out the nipple. Do not pull the nipple out of the baby's mouth abruptly.

2. Inverted or flat nipples will greatly affect breastfeeding and should be corrected actively. Every time you clean your nipples, gently pinch them out with your hands; or gently pull them out with your fingers while twisting them, and then wipe them with 70% alcohol. Once the nipple skin becomes tough, it will no longer be easily inverted.

3. Wash the nipples and areola with warm water before and after each feeding, including the hard scabs on the nipples, keep them dry and clean, and prevent cracks on the nipples and areola skin.

4. Do not let your child sleep with the nipple in his mouth, otherwise the nipple will become soft and easy to crack.

5. When the fissure is very painful, do not let the baby suck for the time being. Use a breast pump to extract the milk in time, or squeeze out the milk by hand to feed the baby to reduce the inflammatory response and promote the healing of the fissure. But do not give up breastfeeding easily, otherwise it will easily reduce milk supply.