Yours will undergo a number of changes throughout your lifetime specific to you and your body. From their development in puberty through pregnancy, breastfeeding, and beyond, your nipples may darken or change in a variety of ways. Even different medical conditions, like diabetes, may make your nipples darker.
A person's breasts will change over time due to natural events that include puberty and pregnancy. The nipples themselves do not change color, but the circular area of skin that surrounds each nipple, which is known as the areola, may change. Most of the time, color changes in the areola are benign.
Nipples color can temporarily change due to things like normal hormonal shifts, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. The same goes for nipple size and texture. Permanent changes of the nipple can also occur and are often seen with breast surgeries, weight loss, and aging.
Changes also occur in the nipple. The area surrounding the nipple (the areola) becomes smaller and may nearly disappear. The nipple may also turn in slightly. Lumps are common around the time of menopause.
Common breast changes
downward pointing nipples. an elongated, stretched, or flattened appearance. wider space between the breasts. lumpiness, which may be due to benign fibrocystic changes in the breast or serious conditions like breast cancer.
In addition, low estrogen may cause changes in your nipples and areolae. During menopause, you may notice that your nipples start to turn slightly inward. Your nipples and areolae may also start to shrink. However, some studies suggest that hormone replacement treatment may help prevent these changes.
Dark nipples may be a sign of medical conditions like diabetes or they may mean you are pregnant. You should also see your doctor if you experience any signs of infection, including fever, pain, redness, or warmth.
After menopause, your nipple area may become smaller and paler. This is perfectly normal and one of the many common changes that can affect your breasts over time. Changing hormone levels. Your hormones can have a lot to do with the darkening or lightening of your nipples and areolae.
Something you may not have known: Your nipples can clue you in to some serious health problems. If you notice sudden puckering or dimpling of the skin around or on your nipple—particularly if it occurs around just one nipple—call your doctor. This could be a warning sign of breast cancer.
Just like with breasts, there's no one way that nipples are supposed to look. Both nipples and areolas (the circular skin around your nipple) come in different sizes and colors, from light pink to brownish black. The color of your nipples usually relates to your skin color.
Nipples and areolas can range from pale pink to a deep brown. It's also possible for nipple and areola color to change throughout our lifetime. Hormonal fluctuations, especially during pregnancy, can cause the area to become lighter or darker.
Normal hormonal fluctuations can trigger nipple soreness. If the pain is not severe or only lasts a few days, the discomfort is likely due to hormonal changes.
Breasts can get smaller over time. As estrogen levels decrease, your breast tissue changes. The tissue in your breasts gets dehydrated and isn't as elastic as it used to be. This can lead to a loss of volume, and your breasts may shrink as much as a cup size.
Breast pains are a common part of the menopause transition, although they are experienced in different ways. For some women, it's an experience of tenderness, burning or soreness as they go through the perimenopause and into the menopause. For others, it's a stabbing, sharp or throbbing pain.
Why do areolas change color? This is common during puberty and pregnancy when levels of estrogen are changing. Additionally, during pregnancy, the blood vessels in the areolas become more prominent, darkening the color of the areolas.
During breast development, trans women and others taking estrogen also notice changing nipple sensations. The nipple grows larger and more sensitive, and breast ducts appear on the nipple.
Perimenopause can begin in some women in their 30s, but most often it starts in women ages 40 to 44. It is marked by changes in menstrual flow and in the length of the cycle. There may be sudden surges in estrogen. Late Stage.
A lump in the breast may be visible to the eye or felt with your hands during a self-breast exam. But lumps or areas of swelling around the breast, under the armpit or near the collar bone may also be signs of cancer. A breast cancer lump often feels like a pea- or marble-shaped mass just under the skin.
The skin on your breasts should naturally be more or less flat and smooth. Again, consistency is key. Bumps and birthmarks that are always present are not a problem. A sudden change in the skin on your breasts should be reported to a doctor.
Fluctuating hormone levels during the menstrual cycle can cause breast discomfort and areas of lumpy breast tissue that feel tender, sore and swollen. Fibrocystic breast changes tend to be more bothersome before your menstrual period and ease up after your period begins.
Causes of Darker Areolas and Dark Nipples
Progesterone and estrogen cause the body to produce more pigment. This is why many women see splotches and patches of darkened skin all over their bodies.
They Get Bigger
Thanks to the triple whammy of weight gain, swelling from estrogen spiking, and inflammation (which increases in the body in your 40s), you might have a sudden need to go bra shopping.
One is indirect: Stimulating the nipples, as in breast-feeding, releases the hormone oxytocin. This hormone, which is also released during labor, triggers uterus contractions.
Use coconut oil to naturally lighten the nipple and add moisture. Coconut oil is commonly used to make skin brighter and lighter, and it's safe for use on most skin types. Apply about 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of coconut oil to each nipple, and let it soak into the skin.