Itchy, scaly nipples
‘Jogger’s nipple’ is another possibility. This is caused by friction from clothing, especially during long-distance running. Protect your nipples with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or surgical tape (Micropore, from pharmacies) before exercising. A silk running vest is less abrasive than synthetic fibres.
Very rarely, eczema of a nipple can signal a cancerous growth beneath. This is uncommon, but it is why you should see your doctor if you have eczema on only one nipple. It occurs mainly in middle-aged or elderly women. It is not usually itchy, but there may be a pricking or burning feeling.
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Monday, January 16th 2012
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Comments on this article
Posted by lilkitty on 15/05/2012 at 12:18
In reply to OMGHELPME580, Is it after you've been scratching that your nipples turned red and has missing skin or is this before you scratched?
Posted by OMGHELPME580 on 10/05/2012 at 02:11
Well lately I've had itchy nipples and they have started to go red and have some skin missing! What is it and what an I do to fix it
Posted by lilkitty714 on 09/05/2012 at 10:00
Following on from my previous post. Ever since that incident my nipples have been prone to rips and tears, sometimes when it tears too deep the skin will heal but the rip line will still be there. I don't know what to do. Im a bit worried
Posted by lilkitty714 on 09/05/2012 at 09:56
Hi... im 24years old and first started having really itchy nipples on both breasts 3 or 4 yrs ago which i think was due to humidity. I couldn't help but scratch it and caused the skin of my nipples to bleed and leak pus. My bra wasn't helping the situation since it kept rubbing against my wounds and didn't allow the blood to clot. i decided to block the friction of my bra against my nipples by getting hold of some cotton wool buds, placed it on both nipples covering all da affected areas and kept my bra on so that it can help the cotton wool to stay in place and allow the blood and white blood cells to clot attaching the cotton wool to the nipples. When this happens make sure u do not remove the cotton wool or let it get wet by water until 2 or 3weeks after, depending on your recovery rate. By then your skin should have fully recovered and da cotton may fall of by itself or u can gently rip it of to see whether the skin has healed. If it hasn't then replace the part that u ripped with new cotton wool as the old one will not reattach since it won't b able to absorb any kind of liquid. And yes ur nipples may still itch but just gently scratch out side the nipple area or scratch it outside ur clothes. Hope this helps
Posted by Optional on 09/05/2012 at 12:31
My right nipple is bit painful after running. Is it any disease or any sign? Please comment...
Posted by Optional on 01/05/2012 at 11:12
why the nipples have iching at night ??
Posted by Optional on 21/03/2012 at 07:27
My left nipple has been itching since last 3 months..I chnaged my bra, but still itchiness persists.. Though it is lesser..Is it due to the weather change? Pls guide me..
Posted by moera on 08/03/2012 at 12:07
you seem to get a lot of complains about this particular problem. i am 16 and i sometimes get an itch in my left breast but i have come to see that it was the type of clothes i wore.
Posted by Optional on 21/02/2012 at 09:14
hi i have very itchy nipples with flakey skin and redness and weeping what could it be
Posted by Optional on 04/02/2012 at 07:42
i am experiencing a scaly, dry occassionaly itchiness on my nipple, hav been to a dr and a cortozone based ointment was prescribed, used this for 4 months but this problem still persists.is this a sign of a more serious problem? pls advise
Posted by Optional on 10/01/2012 at 02:14
My left nipple is flaky and peeling. I know my bras are already tight and I didn't yet have the chance to buy new ones in the right size. Since it is tight, my nipple kinda sticks to the bra and leaves a dried yellow discharge when I remove it. I'm 16 and not very comfortable showing my nipple to the doctor nor telling my mom.
Posted by Emily on 29/12/2011 at 03:14
My nipples have clear but kind of white discharge and my nipples are itchy alot please help
Posted by Optional on 05/10/2011 at 06:38
my nipple is scabby right around the actual tip of the nipple when i itch it i remove the scab and it gets tender any ideas?
Posted by ls on 24/09/2011 at 02:12
i was in the bath and i looked down and my whole boob was flaking off. im very scared right now, does it mean i am pregnant?
Posted by kloralee on 24/09/2011 at 06:06
My right nipple is always irritated and itches. I noticed that my right nipple is bigger than my left too. i haven't been to a doctor about this but planning soon to go. Also it get little cuts on the side of the nipple, very sensitive, i know i have eczema so that could possibly be why it itches but still worried.
Posted by Optional on 20/09/2011 at 03:37
Hi,pls i need help,i have a fungal infection on my right areola for 3 months now and its discharging a watery substance that leaves mark on my bra..i was given fluconazole and a cream bt the problem is getting worse help.thanks
Posted by nomoreitch on 18/09/2011 at 12:27
i've had this problem before. my nipples sometimes itch & crak-sometimes just one, but sometimes both at the same time. I couldn't prevent myself from scratching them, thus making them irritated & painful. i've suspected a lot of things that might have caused them, from body soaps, to detergents, germs, infection, & yes, even the possibility of cancer. I searched the internet for solutions & I found this site w/ info about it. avcording to what i've read, when our skin is dry, it's just normal for it to crack & become itchy. somebody recommended a topical cream called HYDROCORTISONE. since in my country we can buy this w/o prescription, I immediately tried it. actually I was a bit skeptical at first so I just bought the cheapest one in the drugstore. but after maybe 3days of using it worked!
Posted by simply me. on 15/09/2011 at 08:44
I have eczema on my skin but just recently its been affecting my nipples its unbearable. help?!
Posted by Tracy on 01/08/2011 at 12:03
Hi! I have a sore nipple. It was started at first just the outside from wearing bra. it sore but sometimes. the sore is like going inside. Please Help
Posted by Optional on 17/07/2011 at 07:59
My nipples get quite red, and sometimes weep and get stuck to my bra. The skin gets itchy as, and flaky so it ends up peeling off and being weepy. When my nipples are hard, the red area makes the nipple bit go hard too, so it looks weird. I'm really embarrassed. What should I do?
Posted by Optional on 05/07/2011 at 06:56
Hi Im 20 years old and have noticed what seems to be slightly yellowish crust on the middle of my nipples. They seem to be quite dry or maybe cracked. However they dont hurt at all. My nipples are also pierced but the crust is not near the piercing just in the middle. What could this be I'm starting to get worried!
Posted by Carolina Marie on 29/06/2011 at 08:57
I have itching on my right nipple and I haven't really noticed a pattern between one time that it itches and the next time, but it itches like crazy and I can't get rid of it. There's no scaly patches, but it just itches. There was even a time when I got so tired of itching it that my boyfriend had to itch it for me. It's embarrassing when I'm with him and his family and I can't just itch it in front of them. I have to go to the ladies' room. What do I do?
Posted by Optional on 28/06/2011 at 09:32
Ok so I'm 12 and like u no the nipple but z the whole of the small circle in the middle z completely BLACK !!!! I'm sooo scared and I told one of my best friends and she said to touch it but I don't no why but I just CAN'T touch it !! And I haven't told my mom and I'm afraid and my right nipple has this well z normal but it has this teeny tiiny lump but z exactly the same colour as my nipple. And Im scared coz I think it could be cancer so could someone PLEASE tell me wat to do !!!????!?!?!?
Posted by Optional on 22/06/2011 at 07:29
i have been having a tender breast and itchy right breast. i am scared if i can be pregnant since i had a string of blood in my vaginal discharge would this be implantational bleeding?. My boy friend has been rubbing my vagina and clitoris without inserting his figure inside my vagina, he told me that he didnt touch hiself before doing so. please tell me if i am pregnant, and what is the reason for itchy nipples. I forgot to mention i had fibroadenoma in the same breast and i have removed i surgically.
Posted by Hannah on 04/06/2011 at 12:14
I am 16 had a few problems with both my nipples, but my left one is very itch and very dry and if i scratch it too much it goes sort of watery and then my bra sticks to it and makes a mess of my bra, i been to the doctors before and she gave me some cream to put on it and it got better but its gone back to the way it was help!?
Posted by ChrissieB on 17/05/2011 at 09:27
I've had partially inverted nipples since childhood. I've always had a bit of a crust on the outside and been too embarrassed to do anything about it. I've tried creams but nothing seems to work and not sure what's causing this.
Posted by Optional on 19/04/2011 at 05:43
hey m 26 years i have mole type on my nipple it gets sometimes itchy,little blending,n other discharge also dry flaks on it.. i checked ti the doc she said its nothing to worry n no pain at all plz reply wat should i do
Posted by Optional on 08/04/2011 at 12:28
on om left breast i have dry and a bit hard skin ...sometimes its itch a lot ..if i apply powder or some cream then its fine...how to get cure of it
Posted by Optional on 30/03/2011 at 03:46
Im still confused im a 13 year old girl and my left nipple gets itchy but my right doesnt , my left gets more itchier on occaissions and sometimes it flakes skin, should i be worried?
Posted by - on 27/03/2011 at 09:44
The skin of the tips of both my nipples are peeling off - this morning, the skin on top of my left nipple came right off and now I see the pale stuff underneath. I'm worried - will the skin grow back?
Posted by Optional on 15/03/2011 at 08:56
Hello Im a 16 year old that just woke up & found out her nipple felt dry & scaly. My nipple is not itchy but it boob is. ?!
Posted by Anonymous on 14/03/2011 at 01:25
Hi, I am a 16 going on 17 year old and i have crust on my left nipple as well. I've read some of the comments & it seems to be common in the left breast for a lot of teenage girls as well. I'm not sure if it is eczema, but I have had this nipple crust since I have first started puberty at the age of 12. Sometimes both of my nipples itch (not at the same time), but I always felt like it was just an itch because I don't have nipple crust on my right breast. If this sounds familiar then should I ask my doctor about the steroid cream?
Posted by Optional on 01/02/2011 at 10:42
hello i am a very overweight black woman, i have had 3 biopsys on my breats over the last 10 years. the lumps were found to be harmless. A few days ago my right nipple started itching, i hope its nothin serious but i am a bit worried given my history of lumps, any suggestion?
Posted by Optional on 05/01/2011 at 08:34
this is very embarrasing for me.both my nipples are cracked and they itch and im only 13? also the areola is peeling if i itch it. i havnt told anyone as i am to embarrased.could this be dangerous as i'm so young or is tis normle?
Posted by CurlyLobbe on 29/12/2010 at 02:43
Both of my areolas are scaly, cracked and sometimes itchy. When it is scaly and rough there is no discharge but when it's cracked, and bits (rough scaly skin) falls off it discharges. This happens in a cycle and it's been almost a year now. Also, the skin around my areola feels hard, and has darkened in colour.
Posted by M.U on 14/09/2010 at 01:34
Hi. I m 23 yr Old, not married . From past 5-6 days i have noticed slight itching on my left breast nipple. its not exactly on nipple, infact its around it (peri areolar region) Now there is a bit of skin peeling off and underlying skin is pinkish. once the small piece peeled off the itching stoped. i dunno what is it. please reply.
Posted by Optional on 02/09/2010 at 02:28
i have a spot on my left nipple and it is really itchy i am only 13 help!
Posted by jesse on 31/08/2010 at 01:32
hiya ino some of the answer to some of my problem is here but its really crusty and part of my left nipple is going black nd if its starting to fall off it gets really sore ... i am not pregnant .. and the crust is actually on the nipple not surrounding .. and some days it gets extremely painful for no reason and i have never had eczema .. can u help ??? worried jesse
Posted by Optional on 07/08/2010 at 04:37
im a 21 year old mum of 2 for the last 6 weeks my nipples and the skin surroundin it has becum very itchy i dont think there is a lump but i cant really tel there is no rash or dry skin around it im very concerd because my nipples seem very hard all of the time and that is not usual im embarrased to go to the doctors what should i do???
Posted by Optional on 27/07/2010 at 01:47
17. Very helpful info. I was worried for a bit. Lol. But I already know I have eczema, so it was obvious when I read it could be eczema. Kthnx(:
Posted by Optional on 26/07/2010 at 12:49
My nipples have been itchy and cracked with dry skin for about 2 months now...they don't itch as much anymore but i have 1 little bump (spot like but isn't) on one nipple and a couple on the other. I think these are normal but not sure. I am 21 and i went to the doctor but didn't show them, he gave me some canastan in case it was a fungal infection but i do get exzema on other parts of my body so it might be that...does anyone know what it is?
Posted by Optional on 31/05/2010 at 03:22
I have what looks like egzema on my left nipple only, im 16 but im not comfortable with showing the doctor because my nipples are inverted too, what shall i do?
Posted by Jennifer on 27/04/2010 at 08:31
both of my nipples are scaly and cracked sometimes they itch I hate that they look like that because it makes my breasts look ugly they been like that since I was younger now I'm 26 I've never had a breasts exam I need to go have them checked out but I'm afraid to.
Posted by Optional on 20/04/2010 at 01:44
Hi,i have this condition and the doctor has give me some cream for it,i was just wondering if i could still breastfeed with this condition?
Posted by A on 06/04/2010 at 04:36
Hello, I am 16 and my left nipple has little cracks in it, it gets tiny flakes of pealing skin in it, and for a while there has been this scale on my nipple that is slightly darker than the rest of my skin, and recently I was rubbing it because it was a bit itchy and I got this tiny bit of clear liquid? My left boob is a bit smaller than my right could that be why the left nipple is like this?!
Posted by Optional on 02/04/2010 at 03:35
hi, im sixteen years old and my nipples are peeling and they itch. I want to know if this is normal
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Itchy, scaly nipples
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