Pregnancy could do a lot to your body. Indeed, as the body changes to adapt to a new function, you might experience some massive transformations.
One of the earliest signs of all is pregnancy dry nipples. If you also witness dry nipples in early pregnancy and wonder if that’s OK, today’s post is what you’re looking for.
We’ve also introduced the reasons behind pregnant dry nipples and several methods you can try at home to minimize the irritation. Thus, keep on reading.
Are Dry Nipples A Sign Of Pregnancy?
Yes, it goes with itchiness, tenderness, soreness, and discoloration.
Indeed, during the early weeks of pregnancy, your nipple might seem itchy, swollen, uncomfortable, dryer, and darker, plus your bra might no longer fit properly.
What Are The Causes Of Dry Nipples In Early Pregnancy?
There are several reasons you may have tingly or dry nipples during early pregnancy.
Eczema
According to the American Pregnancy Association, women may experience eczema, with itchy and chapped nipples being one of the most common signs of the prenatal stage. In addition, the skin surrounding your nipples might get dry and even crack.
The itchy feeling could be more noticeable throughout the first 3 weeks, as hormones are at their highest and your nipples enlarge.
If you notice parched and bumpy areas on the area of your breasts and other parts of your body, you may experience prenatal eczema. This is the most frequent type of skin issue in pregnant women.
Progesterone Production
The second most common explanation for itching and dry nipples is hormone fluctuations. A considerable rise in progesterone secretion is among the body’s ways of preparing for childbirth.
Progesterone is in charge of enhancing blood circulation to both breasts and the womb. Blood circulation surges towards your breast tissue as your milking glands begin to enlarge and swell in size.
This boosted blood circulation could induce puffiness and moderate skin discomfort surrounding the nipples, also known as dry breasts or nipple itch.
As a result, you may be suffering from soreness or itchiness. This leads to puffiness and an expansion in size, which is excellent news since it indicates that your milking glands are forming correctly. It’s painful, though, when your breasts get scratchy and dry due to swelling, making them irritating.
Likewise, your skin expands to meet the rapid weight growth as your breasts and body swell. As a result of this, stretch marks on your chest and tummy might also arise, which are sometimes uncomfortable and unpleasant.
Prurigo
Prurigo is a systemic immune reaction to the massive transformations your organism undergoes throughout pregnancy.
It generally appears as tiny, scratchy, and dry spots on the skin surrounding your breast region or different places of your body. Unfortunately, this problem has no treatment and could remain until you finish child delivery.
Interigo
If you develop an itching rash below your nipples, it might be intertrigo, a condition induced by the sweat, humidity, and friction beneath your expanding breasts. This is more frequent in warmer climates, and it could induce the skin to dry and itch.
Watch more about Intertrigo:
Pruritic Urticarial Papules And Plaques Of Pregnancy
There is a lot to discuss regarding PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy). It is also a prevalent cause of prenatal itchiness and parches.
In addition, patches on the skin surrounding your tummy and nipples may appear, which specialists do not know how to cure. PUPPP should fade away on its own as your body develops.
How To Relieve The Itchy Nipples During Pregnancy First Trimester
If your nipples are dry and scratchy or you have swollen nipples during earlier months, there are numerous old reliable methods to give comfort for yourself.
Use Loose-Fitting Clothes
To begin, think about using loose-fitting clothes, like a t-shirt, and if possible, don’t wear any bra or other underwear that press on your nipples. Excessively tight clothes can limit blood circulation to your nips, increasing irritation and dryness.
When sleeping, utilize a thin blanket to protect the air surrounding your nipples from becoming too cold.
Apply A Cold Pack
Using a cold pack on your nipples might also help alleviate irritation. Just be cautious not to take the pack with too much ice or too soggy since this might result in a new set of problems, including frostbite or cold rashes, both of which are pretty unpleasant!
Don’t Use Over-The-Counter Drugs
Stop using over-the-counter drugs. There are various over-the-counter drugs that are commonly utilized to address nipple itch and parches.
However, we advise seeking medical help first as some of these treatments might not have been licensed for expectant mothers. If you want to take these treatments, speak to a doctor about better options like nipple lotion.
Apply Lactation Lotion
Put on lactation lotion over your nips and around your breasts. In addition, there are a variety of synthetic creams that may be utilized during pregnancy to ease the irritating feeling and dryness on your nipples, which causes you to feel scratchy and harsh.
Use Cocoa Butter
You may consider rubbing cocoa butter onto your breasts and nipples to keep the surrounding skin moisturized and ease irritation caused by dryness. Many people believe that cocoa butter can also help minimize stretch marks. However, there has been little study done on this.
Apply Petroleum Jelly
Applying petroleum jelly to your breasts may also help reduce itching and dryness. Allow it to cool before using any underwear or clothes.
Should You Be Worried About Itchy Nipples At Any Point In Pregnancy?
Notice any abnormalities in thickness, discomfort, or pigment that you observe on the breast and nipples if your nipples are uncomfortable and dry throughout pregnancy.
Keep an eye on other parts of the body for symptoms of irritation or disease. Although sore and dry nipples may not be a red flag during pregnancy, you should still be aware of it.
Wrapping Up
That’s all we have for today’s post on dry nipples in early pregnancy. Hopefully, with our guide and explanations above, you’ve had a more detailed look at your body changes and how to deal with them. For better advice on specific situations, please consult your doctors. Good luck!
