Brown spots on nipples are often harmless, caused by hormonal shifts (pregnancy, puberty), genetics, or sun exposure, but can sometimes signal underlying issues like eczema or, rarely, Paget's disease (a type of breast cancer) if accompanied by redness, itching, scaling, or discharge, making a doctor's visit important for diagnosis.
If your brown spots are appearing on your nipples, the area looks darkened, it's unrelated to pregnancy, and especially if you're over 50, definitely make an appointment: There is a rare form of breast cancer called Paget's disease that starts with nipple discoloration.
It is normal to have small bumps on the flat, brown part of your breast called the areola. These bumps are called Montgomery glands. They secrete oil that helps to lubricate the areola.
Pimples on the nipple can result from a blocked pore, an ingrowing hair, and other factors that usually cause pimples. They typically respond to home treatment but people may need medical treatment, in some cases. Causes for a pimple to appear on the nipple include: acne.
Nipple colour can vary all the way from light pink to dark brown, while the texture can be smooth or slightly bumpy. This may also change day to day depending on your hormones and other factors. The areola (the pigmented skin surrounding the nipple) can also vary in size, colour, and texture.
Milk blebs are small white, yellow or clear dots on your nipple. They're a sign of ductal inflammation.
Areolas can vary in shape, size, and color depending on the person. “[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.
Montgomery tubercles, also known as Montgomery glands, are raised white bumps that look similar to goosebumps on the nipple and surrounding areola. They are named after William Fetherstone Montgomery, an Irish physician and obstetrician who first described them in 1837.
How do you even out your skin tone on the chest?
You should consider seeing a dermatologist if you notice new brown spots, changes in the size, shape, or color of existing spots, or if a spot becomes itchy, painful, or starts to bleed. These could be signs of a more serious condition that requires prompt attention.
Contact a healthcare provider if: The nipple pain is persistent or doesn't go away. You have nipple pain associated with breastfeeding or pumping. There are changes to your skin color or texture anywhere on your breast.
The areolae can range from pink to red to brown to dark brown or nearly black, but generally tend to be paler among people with lighter skin tones and darker among people with darker skin tones. A reason for the differing color may be to make the nipple area more visible to the infant.
These small, pigmented spots develop when melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) cluster together instead of spreading evenly throughout the skin. The breast area, including the chest, under-breast region, and around the nipples, can develop moles just like any other part of the body.
HNA is a rare skin disease characterized by dark brown patches in the nipple and areola with thickening and pigmentation, primarily affecting women during puberty or pregnancy. Currently, the etiology of HNA is unknown, and may be closely related to factors such as estrogen, genetics, and infections.
Symptoms of mastitis
Milia are usually very small, white or flesh-coloured bumps which are firm to the touch. They have a different appearance to a pimple or spot as they don't have a head and cannot be squeezed. They are generally not red or inflamed (except for milia en plaque) and should not feel uncomfortable or painful.
It may be tempting to squeeze them, especially if they have yellow or white heads, but resist the urge. It can introduce bacteria that may lead to infection. You can wash Montgomery glands along with the rest of your nipple with soap and warm water, but avoid harsh cleansers.
A seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is a common noncancerous (benign) skin growth. People tend to get more of them as they get older. Seborrheic keratoses are usually brown, black or light tan. The growths (lesions) look waxy or scaly and slightly raised.
While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As it grows, the colors red, white or blue may also appear. D is for Diameter or Dark.
Hyperkeratosis of the nipple and areola is an uncommon but benign skin disorder characterized by warty thickening and pigmentation of the nipple, the areola, or both. The condition does not resolve spontaneously and can persist without intervention.
What are the early warning signs of nipple conditions?
Areolae. The areola is the circular darker-colored area of skin surrounding your nipple. Areolae have glands called Montgomery's glands that secrete a lubricating oil. This oil protects your nipple and skin from chafing during breastfeeding.
The raised bumps a person may notice on the areola are part of the glands. According to the National Health Service (NHS), these are normal. They produce an oily fluid that helps keep the nipple moist and protected. This can be especially important during breastfeeding, and it helps protect the nipple from bacteria.
There are usually no obvious signs of thrush on your nipples. However some signs may be present and include: your nipples may appear bright pink; the areola may be reddened, dry or flaky. Rarely a fine white rash may be seen.