6 Tips to Lighten Your Dark Nipples

Nipple’s color is generally darker than body. It is completely natural to experience dark nipples throughout lifetime for various reasons like puberty, breastfeeding, or pregnancy. You shouldn’t be concerned about it.

Yet, if you want to lighten your dark nipples then you can try the methods below though they are not scientifically proven. Oils and skin lightening creams are usually used.

1. First, find out what are causing your nipple dark

During puberty darker nipples are common: A girl may pass her puberty first time around 8-9 years. This time she has no prior experience about the situations that may happen. Moms or other women of her family assist her about various changes thorough this time.

This time, a girl may get darker or larger nipples. Even you may face different shapes, sizes, and colors of nipples during puberty. This basically occurs for adolescent hormonal changes. Don’t be ashamed of facing the situation. It is normal and goes off naturally.

Earlier pregnancy may cause darker nipples: If you face abnormal color of your areolas then you can also check your pregnancy. Buy a pregnant checker and test your pregnancy in the earlier morning for getting the accurate result. If you see the test says you are pregnant then the changes of your nipples are for it. If not, then underlying reasons may be there. See your doctor as soon as possible.

Aging may cause darker nipples: Women body go through different hormonal changes in different ages like puberty, menopause, or pregnancy. If you experience menopause or go through menopause, then it is simple your nipples become darker.

Some medications like estrogen or progesterone that contains hormones and you may notice discolored nipples for these medications. Every woman should check breast and mammograms monthly to check any unusual changes of their breasts.

See if your nipples have tiny hairs: Men have generally hair on or around their areolas while women don’t. Sometimes very few women may have small hairs around their nipples that are generally unnoticed. See carefully your nipples if they have hairs. Nipples have small dark hairs that grow from the follicles.

Anyway, you shouldn’t be worried due to this hair as it is normal and nothing to do. But, if you don’t like those hairs then you can remove or trim them finely using scissors. Avoid shaving or plucking because it may cause painful ingrown hairs.

Remember that it is very common to change nipple’s color throughout lifetime.

2. Coconut oils brighten and soften the skin of the nipples

Coconut oil has anti-aging, moisturizing, and lightening substances. This oil is also very cheap and available at our home. Coconut oils help lighten dark nipples naturally and add a deep moisture to the skin.1-2 months you may need to see visible result by using coconut oils. Be patient and carry on the oil daily.

Coconut oil is safe to almost every skin type. And it can be used to lighten, reduce and minimize dark spots, wrinkles, and dry patches anywhere of the body.

Apply one teaspoon of coconut oil on each nipple and let time to soak it well.

3. All-purpose nipple caring cream

Nipples may look darker than your usual skin color because of dryness and dead skin cells deposited on them. During breastfeeding, nipples become chapped, dry, and toneless.

Using a breastfeeding cream can hydrate and condition the skin around areolas. Follow the directions of the product. Go to your doctor and ask him for a good nipple caring cream, balm, or ointment. He will suggest you the most effective cream that can nurse your breastfeeding nipples and prevent them from darkening, drying, and dullness.

4. Commercial nipple lightening cream

To achieve a quicker result, you may also opt to a commercial nipple lightening cream. Find out the products that are gentle for sensitive skin and can prevent inflammation or rashes.

Of course, most of the commercial lightening treatments are safe for short-term topical/cosmetic use. Avoid using a lightening cream not more than 6 weeks otherwise it may cause chemical buildups in the body.

If you feel itchiness, tingling, or redness then wash your areolas thoroughly with water and talk to your dermatologist.

5. Avoid harmful bleaching products

Products made with compounds like mercury or hydroquinone or a more than 2% concentration of the ingredients are harmful for the skin. Prolonged use of these products may create side effects like skin cancer.

Before buying any product, be sure about the ingredients it contains. Maintain the law of your country which ingredients it allows to produce products.

6. Consulting a doctor

Tell the doctor your nipples didn’t become normal after pregnancy: Generally, the color of the nipples and areolas get normal after 2-3 months of breastfeeding or pregnancy. If not, then tell your GYN/OB to diagnose the matter carefully.

Dark nipples may be existed even after breastfeeding due to hormonal imbalance. It can be treated easily. Through pregnancy the changes of nipple’s shape and size are normal and it can’t be reversed without cosmetic surgery.

Ask your doctor for a nipple lightening cream: Visit a doctor if no methods could lighten your dark nipples. Tell him details about the methods already you tried. He analysis them and prescribe you a lightening product that generally is made with kojic acid, hydroquinone, and azelaic acid. These products are safe for short-term use. These lightening and moisturizing products can be used only under a dermatologist prescription.

Visit a doctor ASAP if you notice discharge or itching on nipples: If you notice other symptoms along with nipple color like itchiness, dryness, yellow or white discharge then it may be a sign of certain breast cancer (rare) like Paget Disease. If you frequently see these signs, then make an immediate appointment for an emergency room treatment. Doctor will take a sample of your breast tissue to see if it is cancer or other diseases.

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