Most pimples on the nipple should be left alone. The body will clear them without outside help, and popping them can make them worse. This is especially true on sensitive skin areas, including the nipple.
You should avoid squeezing, popping or trying to unclog Montgomery glands because this could lead to infection or skin injury. Sometimes, Montgomery glands can become blocked, inflamed or infected. The signs would be a painful swelling or inflammation around the nipple and areolar area.
Montgomery glands can become filled with a waxy substance. The gland then resembles a pimple with a white or yellowish head. These spots are known as Montgomery tubercles. Women do not have to be pregnant or breast-feeding for this to occur.
Montgomery tubercles may pop up because of several reasons, such as: Arousal of the nipple. Changes in body weight. Changes in hormones.
Depending on the cause, you may be able to get rid of bumps on your nipples. If the bumps are from an infection, certain skin conditions, or an ingrown hair, you can try these remedies. Applying a warm compress to the affected area. Using over-the-counter creams or ointments with hydrocortisone or tea tree oil.
Irritated Montgomery's glands appear red and slightly swollen. Infected Montgomery's glands may look pimple-like with a “white-head” at the tip. Irritated or infected glands can be painful to touch. Montgomery's glands may be inflamed by ointments, bra fabrics, breast pads, soaps, etc.
Montgomery glands
The darker area of skin around the nipple is called the areola. On the areola there are some little raised bumps. These are quite normal and are called Montgomery glands. They produce fluid to moisturise the nipple.
Avoid popping: Even though these glands may look like pimples on your breast, they are not pimples. You shouldn't try to pop them. Do not treat with acne medication. Not only can acne medication dry out your areola, but many acne treatments are dangerous.
Squeezing Montgomery glands
Although they look a bit like small pimples that could be popped, they're a normal part of your breast anatomy and should be left alone. Attempting to remove the tubercles by squeezing or picking might make them even more noticeable, or cause them to become infected.
Nipple discharge can be normal in women or people assigned female at birth (AFAB). It's always abnormal in men or people assigned male at birth (AMAB). Hormones, lactation or sexual arousal can be normal causes for nipple discharge. Abnormal causes could be from tumors, infection or rarely, breast cancer.
Nipple discharge that contains pus may indicate an infection in your breast. This is also known as mastitis. Mastitis is usually seen in women who are breastfeeding. But it can develop in women who are not lactating.
What to do if Montgomery glands get swollen, blocked or infected. Unfortunately, these glands can become infected, which is why it's so important to take a hands-off approach and not squeeze or pick them. If you notice signs of infection such as redness, pain and swelling, see your doctor.
Montgomery glands may become more enlarged in some circumstances, such as pregnancy, and then go back to normal size without causing a problem. But if bacteria gets into the gland, they can cause a clog and infection.
The nipple and areola can be the site for painful bumps and pimples. These are most often caused by acne, ingrown hairs, clogged glands, or abscesses. If the bump doesn't go away on its own in a few days, a healthcare professional can be consulted for diagnosis and treatment.
During puberty: Montgomery's tubercles may appear during puberty and certain phases of your menstrual cycle, as activity in areolar glands increases with the amount of estrogen in your body. 3.
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.
“[Areolas] contain small, sensitive bumps called Montgomery's glands, which secrete a fluid that keeps the nipples lubricated,” explains Dr. Aliabadi. So bumps are kinda part of the anatomy. Note that these oil glands can also become blocked, which may make them look larger or similar to a pimple.
Areolas can also change in size as you age, gain or lose weight, or experience hormonal changes during puberty, periods, pregnancy, or menopause. While most of these changes are normal and perfectly harmless, certain changes may warrant an examination by a healthcare provider.
Swollen Montgomery glands
Every person has Montgomery glands, though they are more apparent in some than others. These glands secrete oil to help keep the skin lubricated. At times, this secretion may resemble the pus that comes from a pimple.
Montgomery's glands are large sebaceous glands capable of secreting milk; they represent an intermediate stage between the sweat and the mammary glands. Fascial tissues envelop the breast; the superficial pectoral fascia envelops the breast and is continuous with the superficial abdominal fascia of Camper.
What does a cracked nipple look like? Crusty, with flaky skin or scabs on or around your nipple. Red and dry, sometimes with more pronounced redness at the tip.
This colostrum may leak in droplets that then dry out and form a slightly crusty layer over the nipple. This is perfectly normal and happens to a lot of women during pregnancy and beyond.