Dry nipples during pregnancy: The causes, prevention, and management tips

Dry nipples during pregnancy aren’t the most common symptom that all mothers-to-be expect to deal with. Yet, it’s pretty common and often normal.

Dryness, itchiness, and general discomfort in nipples can be caused by multiple reasons:

• Hormonal changes
• Skin changes
• Dehydration
• Physical irritation from friction
• Allergy
• Reaction to aggressive hygiene products

In some cases, nipple dryness can also result from an underlying skin condition, such as Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP) or eczema. Luckily, it’s possible to prevent or manage discomfort through basic hygiene tips and topical hydration.

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In pregnancy, women go through numerous changes. As your body shifts the hormones to accommodate a baby, you can experience a diversity of related symptoms, from nausea and swollen breasts to the growing bump and back pain. Yet, while many of these symptoms are well understood and expected by mothers-to-be, others might catch you by surprise.

One of such symptoms is dry and itchy nipples. Although this symptom is often normal and temporary, it can cause a lot of discomfort and frustration.

In this article, we’ll delve into the common causes of dry nipples during pregnancy and explore the most effective prevention and management techniques that can help you feel comfortable and confident during the entire pregnancy.

Do Nipples Get Dry During Pregnancy?

Before we move on to what can cause this symptom, let’s answer the big question first: Is it normal to have dry nipples during pregnancy?

The short answer is “yes.” Dry, itchy, and flaky nipples are normal during pregnancy, though expectant mothers mostly expect this symptom to show later, in the first months of postpartum.

At the moment, there is insufficient research to tell how many women are facing this problem during pregnancy. But it’s often a natural occurrence as your body prepares for labor and breastfeeding.

What Can Cause Dry Nipples During Pregnancy?

If you experience any kind of discomfort, including soreness, itching, and dryness, in your nipples while carrying a baby, it’s most commonly caused by two factors:

Hormonal Changes

When you get pregnant, your body alters the normal hormonal balance to support pregnancy development and baby growth. The two essential hormones that fluctuate, estrogen and progesterone, are known to significantly impact different systems and processes in your body. In particular, these changes affect your mammary glands and nipples as well, to prepare you for breastfeeding.

Together, estrogen and progesterone cause hyperplasia in breast lobules and ducts. This term refers to the overgrowth of cells. And it might affect your nipples and the areola area in general due to their natural tenderness. The most common symptoms that can arise due to these hormonal changes include:

• Areola swelling.
• Darkening in the areola.
• Increased sensitivity in the areola and nipples.

Skin Changes

Due to big hormonal shifts, pregnancy also alters your normal skin barrier. According to studies, it affects such skin-related factors as:

• Epidermal thickness
• Skin roughness
• Water loss

In simple words, pregnancy makes your skin more fragile and prone to sensitivity, irritation, and increased dryness. These skin changes might also explain why you have dry nipples during pregnancy. It’s a normal response to a thinning skin barrier and fast transepidermal water loss.

Other Possible Causes

When your skin becomes more sensitive, it’s also possible to worsen irritation and dryness through your everyday routine and habits. First and foremost, general dehydration might be the leading added cause of nipple dryness. When your skin loses water quickly, failing to hydrate yourself properly can make it even drier and itchier.

Apart from dehydration, it’s possible to cause additional irritation by friction from bras and clothing. Also, it’s possible that dryness and irritation get worse from harsh soaps and fragranced products. Even if you don’t normally get skin irritation from these, you’re much more sensitive in pregnancy.

Possible Medical Causes of Dry Nipples During Pregnancy

While nipple dryness can be a normal response to hormonal fluctuations and skin changes, it can also result from an underlying issue.

The most common causes include:

• Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP). This is an intense, pregnancy-specific skin condition that typically causes a rash with itchy red patches in different areas of the body. It affects roughly 1 in 200 single pregnancies, with the highest prevalence rate in twin (2.9%) and triplet (14%) pregnancies.
• Eczema. Eczema or atopic dermatitis is one of the most common pregnancy-related skin issues. Studies show that it accounts for up to 50% of dermatoses cases in pregnancy. And many females face it for the first time in their lives during pregnancy. This happens due to hormonal fluctuations and a generally weakened immune system. Other contributing factors include added stress and sleep disruptions.

How to Prevent Dry Nipples During Pregnancy

Although dry nipples during pregnancy aren’t rare, it’s possible to prevent this issue through proper hygiene and self-care.

Here are a few prevention tips that should help:

• Change your underwear and shirts regularly. This can help you keep your nipples cool and dry, preventing infections from spreading.
• Don't wear the same bra or shirt after you finish a workout. This also prevents your nipples from getting damp.
• Avoid wearing excessively tight bras and clothes that can cause rubbing and physical irritation.
• Maintain proper hydration at all times.
• Avoid aggressive hygiene products, such as harsh soaps or fragranced products.
• Keep an eye on your skin’s reaction to different products and fabrics. If you notice even a slight allergic reaction, you need to detect the allergen and stop using it.
• Hydrate your nipples using gentle topical products.

Bonus tip: These prevention techniques have been proven to be effective not only during pregnancy. They can also help you prevent dryness and discomfort postpartum, when you begin breastfeeding. And they can potentially prevent the development of different skin conditions, such as yeast infections.

How to Manage Dry Nipples During Pregnancy

If you didn’t know about this possible symptom and failed to prevent it, dry nipples during pregnancy can cause a lot of discomfort in your everyday life. Luckily, there are some things you can do to feel more comfortable:

• Start with hydration. Drink plenty of fluids every day to replenish the moisture your skin loses.
• Get rid of anything that causes rubbing. This includes tight tops and bras that can make irritation worse. Also, opt for soft bras made of natural fabrics to ensure breathability and prevent moisture trapping.
• Switch to gentle cleaning. Avoid using aggressive and fragranced hygiene products and choose gentle products that prevent skin from overdrying.
• Moisturize your nipples. Applying specialized nipple creams can help you treat dryness and prevent issues like cracking. Apart from creams, you can also use natural moisturizers, such as pure coconut oil. But be aware of allergens and choose your remedies wisely.

When to See a Doctor

In most cases, dry nipples during pregnancy are a normal symptom caused by hormonal fluctuations and skin changes. However, there also might be a medical reason for this. And that's when you might want to get professional help.

To understand when to see a doctor, watch out for the following red flags:

• Persistent symptoms. If you experience severe dryness, itching, or redness that doesn’t improve with home care, it might indicate an underlying cause.
• Skin texture changes. After you notice dryness, keep an eye on the skin condition on your nipples. Thickened, flaky, crusty, or scaly skin might indicate a skin disease.
• Unusual oozing. If you notice any unusual discharge from your nipples, for example, yellowish or bloody, it’s a sign to talk to a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
• Other unusual symptoms. Pay attention to anything unusual that you see or experience, such as pain, a suddenly flattened or inverted nipple, bumps, lumps, etc.

Talking to a healthcare provider about these issues will help you diagnose the problem early and find effective treatment.

FAQ

Why are my nipples dry and flaky during pregnancy?

Often, dry, irritated, or itchy nipples are caused by major shifts in estrogen and progesterone levels, as well as pregnancy-related changes in your skin barrier. However, additional symptoms, such as discharge, pain, or unusual skin texture, could also indicate an underlying skin condition.

How to tell if I have dry nipples during pregnancy because of a natural or medical cause? 

In most cases, dry nipples during pregnancy are just the result of pregnancy-related hormonal and skin changes. However, there also might be a more serious, underlying skin condition that causes it. In order to tell the difference, you need to keep an eye on your symptoms. Some of the key red flags to watch out for include persistent or severe dryness accompanied by crusting, oozing, lumps, or redness. If you notice any of these, it’s recommended to see a doctor.

What to put on dry nipples during pregnancy?

It’s recommended to use special, pregnancy-safe nipple creams. Creams can help you moisturize the sensitive skin on your nipples and areolas to prevent further drying or cracking. It’s recommended to pick a nipple cream based on your individual needs, paying attention to ingredients, allergens, and smell/texture. Some of the best options to consider include Motherlove Nipple Cream, Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter, and The Honest Company Calm Your Nip Balm.

Conclusion

So, is it normal to have dry nipples during pregnancy? As you now know, nipple dryness and irritation are not rare in pregnancy. Although most mothers-to-be typically expect such symptoms to appear postpartum, it’s also possible to face them way before you give birth and begin breastfeeding. This can result naturally due to hormonal shifts and skin changes. But it can also indicate an underlying problem.

Luckily, in most cases, dry nipples during pregnancy are absolutely normal and shouldn’t be a cause for concern. However, it’s important to keep an eye on your symptoms to know when to see a doctor. And it’s also important to use hygiene and self-care tips to prevent discomfort or manage it in a timely manner.

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