“My best hack is if you don't have nipple covers just laying around you can use regular, medical, or silicone tape and criss-cross it over your nipples,” says Brooklyn-based stylist Joiee Thorpe. “Lay the two pieces very flat so they don't show — smoother tape will work better.
Cover your nipples with pasties, which are available in multiple sizes, shapes, and colors. Try silicone nipple covers for an easy option that you can reuse multiple times. Apply bandages or medical tape in an X shape to conceal your nipples in a pinch.
The solution to not seeing your undershirt through your dress shirt: wear a gray undershirt. The darker tone stops your nipples from showing through a white dress shirt, without advising its presence. It's a simple answer, too.
Help yourself with nipple shields: If your problem persists and you think you want it to be seen even more, do not hesitate to resort to nipple shields that will stick to your skin. They will help to hide the nipples and reduce their visual impact on your body.
In most cases, inverted nipples in men are caused by the same issue as inverted nipples in women. The milk ducts (yes, men have these too!), are shorter and tighter than normal. This creates an imbalance between the strong inward pull of the milk ducts and the relatively weaker outward pull of the muscle in the nipple.
Duct Taping Them
Katz: "It can irritate your skin and cause a rash, especially around your nipples, which are particularly sensitive." Ouch. You could even develop an allergy to substances in these adhesives, and end up breaking out in eczema every time you use duct or masking tape in the future, Dr. Katz adds.
Sticking a band aid on your areola will help to stop nipples from sprouting — which can be quite noticeable when not wearing a bra. For the fashionistas, using nipple covers — like the one famously worn by rapper Lil' Kim at the 1999 MTV VMAs — are a fun alternative.
Myth: Unlined bras won't hide your nipples.
Busted—sort of. That depends on the fabric that's used to make your unlined bra. If the fabric is sheer then you'll see your nipples through the cups. Depending on the fabric, you may see a light outline of your nipples under your clothes.
Clear, cloudy, or white discharge that appears only when you press on your nipple is usually normal. The more the nipple is pressed or stimulated, the more fluid appears. Yellow, green, or brown discharge is not normal and may be a symptom of an infection or other problem.
Small, discreet and practical, nipple covers remain an essential way to wear a bareback top or dress without a bra. Thanks to nipple covers, your nipples won't show, and they will perfectly camouflage your chest if your top is slightly transparent. Adhesive, they stick easily to the skin and are reusable.
Anything Denim. In addition to garments with smocked bodices, Valiente says denim dresses and jumpsuits or rompers are also awesome for not wearing a bra because the material is “dense yet stretchy; the perfect combination for bralessness of all sizes.”
Determine the ideal placement of your breast, then begin applying smaller strips horizontally from the bottom of the breast toward the nipple or top to create what Montes calls a “mermaid cup.” Again, pull the tape slightly upward and inward to create cleavage and lift.
Products like Vaseline or lanolin can help with dry or cracked nipples (although there's little evidence to show what really works well). After each feed, let your nipples dry before getting dressed – change your breast pads after every feed. Avoid using soap, as this can dry out your skin.
Nipple inversion can occur in both males and females and often affects both sides instead of just one. It is caused by tight connective tissue or other problems with the ductal system connected to the nipple. Although many people have inverted or retracted nipples since birth, they can also occur late in life.
There are hundreds of nerve endings in each nipple and while men and women have roughly the same number, women's are more spread out and are generally more sensitive to stimuli thanks to our hormones. Because of this Patt says they're easily irritated or stimulated by lots of things, clothing included.
The areola is one of the most sensitive areas of the body, and it can be stimulated in both men and women. In addition to their being sensitive to cold, nipples can also become made erect as a result of breast-feeding or sexual arousal.
Men also tended to look at a woman's chest and hip regions if they were showing romantic interest, which Bahns noted aligns with previous research that says this is due to men's evolutionary focus on women's ability to reproduce.
Gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is the enlargement of male breasts that commonly occurs in older men as testosterone levels progressively drop with age. In addition to the general swelling of breast tissue, gynecomastia can trigger the enlargement of the nipples and surrounding areolas.
Geneticists have discovered that all human embryos start life as females, as do all embryos of mammals. About the 2nd month the fetal tests elaborate enough androgens to offset the maternal estrogens and maleness develops.
The Bottom Line
Shapiro, there are no known health risks associated with not wearing a bra. “There is no 'wrong' answer,” Dr. Shapiro says. “If you find that you're the kind of person who's comfortable and confident without a bra, that's fine.”
The bottom line: "Generally speaking, wearing or not wearing a bra really won't have a significant impact on your overall health," Dr. Sahni said, adding that it's entirely a personal choice.