While pregnancy is wonderful yet challenging, raising a newborn comes with its own set of difficulties. Of course, they are lined with immense joys too, but some of them can be painful. Particularly issues like cracked nipples or what are known as nipple fissures. A natural outcome of breastfeeding, and easy to treat with a nice nipple cream, they are generally nothing to worry about. However, they can be extremely uncomfortable. So the sooner you find ways to heal them, the better.
In today’s guide, you will learn everything you need to about breastfeeding and sore nipples, including how to treat them safely and gently.
Why Do Nipples Crack During Breastfeeding? Definition, Causes & Symptoms
The joys of feeding your baby are incomparable. But sometimes, they come with issues such as painful cracks on either one or both of your nipples. These cracks are known as nipple fissures and they are generally caused by improper latching, high suction settings on breast pumps, frequent comfort sucking instead of feeding, and swollen breasts due to excessive milk build-up.
If that sounds like too much, don’t let it get to you because as we said before, it is completely normal and generally, not a cause for concern. However, you should still watch out for the following nipple fissure symptoms to understand exactly the type of treatment options that might work best for you:
- Crusts or flakes around the nipples
- Red or darkened inflamed skin
- Dryness around the area
- Raw, chafed skin that might be painful or itchy or both
It is important to bear in mind that if left untreated, normal nipple fissures may turn into an abscess or mastitis, which is why promptly treating them with the help of an effective nipple butter is important. It can prevent more serious issues from developing such as open wounds or bleeding, which can cause either mastitis or an abscess
How To Care For & Treat Nipple Fissures
While there are plenty of nipple butters and creams available in the market, it is better to choose one that targets your symptoms. For example, if soreness is your main concern, find a topical ointment that helps heal that. The following list of ingredients and their use cases might help you find the best nipple butter for you.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate For Itching & Soreness
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate is actually widely used in a number of topical ointments for its healing properties. This well-researched ingredient is a derivative of licorice root and can actually be called nature’s most potent antihistamine because of how effective it is against symptoms such as itching and soreness! It can also minimise redness and irritation, thus reducing a significant portion of the discomfort commonly associated with nipple fissures.
Furthermore, it also has anti-inflammatory properties and works tremendously well as a skin-soothing ingredient when paired with the Ayurvedic powerhouse of Turmeric.
Turmeric & Sodium Hyaluronate To Prevent Germ Attacks
Turmeric is actually a great ingredient to have in your fight against nipple fissures for a number of reasons! As we mentioned before, abscesses or mastitis are a real risk of untreated nipple fissures. Both of these generally arise due to the entry of germs into your system via open or bleeding wounds around your nipples. Turmeric, when combined with Sodium Hyaluronate, can stop microbes and other germs in their tracks by strengthening your skin barrier. This keeps secondary infections at bay while soothing dry and irritated skin.
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Ghee & Sodium Hyaluronate For Cracks, Flakes & Dryness
Cracks, dryness, flakes – these three are the most common symptoms of nipple fissures, and also luckily the easiest to combat. All you’ve got to do is find a nipple butter that contains intensely hydrating ingredients such as Ghee and Sodium Hyaluronate, for example.
Ghee has been a desi remedy for skin dryness forever, and for good reason. This natural emollient restores your skin’s moisture by healing dry and flakey skin. Its high fatty acids and antioxidant content can also reduce redness and speed up the healing process overall. As for Sodium Hyaluronate, it locks moisture in, preventing future instances of dryness, flakiness, and cracks.
The good thing about all of these ingredients is that they are completely safe. So new moms don’t have to worry about side effects or any kind of transfer to your baby – especially as long as you follow best application practices. This includes cleaning the area gently before application and applying right after breastfeeding. Keep the cream on for 30 to 60 minutes before wiping it away carefully and gently to resume feeding. You can apply a nipple butter 3 to 4 times a day for maximum relief.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is a wonderful bonding exercise that can bring mothers and babies closer while ensuring the consistent nourishment of your child. However, to make it a truly joyful experience, you must ensure it remains pain-free by using the right natural nipple butter. That’s all it takes to prevent fissures and associated issues.
