Pale pink, brick red, dark brown: Nipple pigment has to do with a woman's ethnic background and the hue of the rest of her skin. Just as nipple size changes when you have a baby, so does nipple color, and that shift in shade is often permanent.
If the change bothers you, rest assured that your dark areolas and nipples will more or less go back to their normal size and color, Zore says, although it's not unusual for the areolas to stay slightly darker than they were pre-pregnancy.
Again, areolas may also be the same in colour. The nipples, or areolas, often turn darker with sexual excitement. But in some cases, when nipples turn darker to black, it can be because of certain things like breastfeeding, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, hair around nipples, etc.
Sometimes the nipples will go back to normal after pregnancy, but not always. Some women may experience permanent changes to their nipples after pregnancy, such as an increase in nipple size or a change in nipple color. Additionally, genetics can play a role in the extent of nipple changes after pregnancy.
For women who don't choose to breastfeed, the color and size usually go back to normal fairly quickly because your body stops producing hormones. Breastfeeding moms will find that their nipples stay darker, longer, but begin to lighten once they stop.
Color Changes
The hormones in your system may change the way your breasts look while you're pregnant. Many women find that the areola -- the area around the nipple -- gets darker during pregnancy. This is normal. The color may or may not lighten after you give birth.
The nipples and the area around the nipples (areola) become darker and larger. Small bumps may appear on the areola. These bumps will go away after you have your baby. You may notice a yellowish discharge, called colostrum, from your nipples as early as the 16th to 19th week.
Nipple 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.
“Generally, your natural lip shade is the same colour as your nipple. If you are using this method to search for a nude lipstick, it will give your the perfect nude lip for your skin tone.” Since the nipple/lip hack has made the TikTok rounds, there's been a reported spike in “nipple shade” lipsticks.
Also, hormones can stimulate pigment-producing cells, so expect the nipple and areola to get darker, particularly if you already have a deep skin tone. Fortunately, within a few months postpartum, most nipples return to their original appearance.
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. Breast lumps are common around the time of menopause.
After you go through menopause, your nipples may become paler in color. During this time, levels of estrogen are falling.
Some people are simply born with big areolas, while others have smaller ones. Neither is an indication of any health concern. Areolas can also change in size as you age, gain or lose weight, or experience hormonal changes during puberty, periods, pregnancy, or menopause.
Stimulating, caressing or simply holding breasts sends nerve signals to the brain, which trigger the release of the 'cuddle hormone' called oxytocin, a neurochemical secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland in the brain.
When does breast development begin and end? In general, breast development begins between the ages of 8 and 13. A girl's breasts are typically fully developed by age 17 or 18, however in some cases they can continue to grow into her early twenties.
The color of a person's nipples do not change over time, but the areola — the circular area around the nipple — may darken in color. Hormonal changes can cause this, for instance, during pregnancy.
Throughout the course of pregnancy, your body will change in ways you probably could not have imagined and in ways that you probably did. (Hello, new stomach shelf to rest snacks on!) But even after pregnancy your body can continue to change, and one of the most common changes people see is with newly-sagging breasts.
The treatment usually lasts around three to five years and is carried out in line with strict health and safety protocols. The pigment does not go as deep into the skin as tattoo ink, which is why it fades over time. The chosen colours will replicate your natural nipple and areola after your breast reconstruction.
You may have some milk leak from your breasts, and your breasts may feel sore and swollen. This is called engorgement. It usually gets better after several days. Over time, your body will stop making milk if you don't breastfeed or pump.
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.
There are several reasons your nipples or areolas change color. Common reasons for color change include general aging and/or pregnancy. However, one of the more overlooked reasons for changes in nipple color is associated with the presence of breast cancer.
Breasts usually start to develop around the age of 9 to 11, but it's normal for them to start earlier or later. If a girl's breasts start to develop at a younger age, this doesn't mean she'll have bigger breasts than someone who starts to develop later. The rate at which breasts grow is different for everyone.