What is the cause of nipple inversion?

A woman's breasts are not only a representation of her beautiful curves, but also a sign of her health. It is not enough for women to have big breasts. Healthy breasts are not outward-spreading, have no accessory breasts, and look firm and strong. This is a sign of healthy breasts. However, there are many problems surrounding women’s breasts, the most common of which is inverted nipples. What is going on?

The nipple does not protrude but is sunken inward, which is called inverted nipple. The degree of nipple inversion varies from person to person. In mild cases, the nipple may only be flat or retracted to varying degrees. The nipple may bulge out or be squeezed out after stimulation. In severe cases, the nipple is completely sunken into the areola and cannot be pulled out, forming a crater shape, and is often accompanied by secretions or odor. Even if the inverted nipple is squeezed out, it is generally smaller, often without an obvious nipple neck, and appears split. The incidence of inverted nipples in women is 1% to 2%, usually bilaterally but may occur on only one side. The degree of nipple inversion may be inconsistent. Inverted nipples affect the appearance of the breasts. In addition, since inverted nipples can accumulate dirt or grease, causing infection or odor, what is more serious is that inverted nipples make it difficult for babies to suck milk and lose the breastfeeding function.

The depth of nipple inversion can be divided into three degrees:

1. Partial nipple inversion, nipple neck exists, can be easily squeezed out, after squeezing out the nipple size is similar to that of normal people;

2. The second degree is that the nipple is completely sunken in the areola, but it can be squeezed out by hand. The nipple is smaller than normal and most of the time there is no nipple neck;

3. The third degree is that the nipple is completely buried under the areola and the inverted nipple cannot be squeezed out.

The occurrence of inverted nipple is generally caused by congenital development, shortening of mammary ducts, fibrosis and contracture of some tissues, and hypoplasia of nipple smooth muscle. Among them, mammary duct shortening and tissue fibrosis and contracture are the main causes of nipple inversion.

Secondary nipple inversion (acquired nipple inversion) is caused by the nipple being pulled by pathological tissue in the breast or compressed by a bra or breast binder. It is often seen in diseases such as inflammation and tumors, which invade the ducts, ligaments, fascia of the breast and cause the invaded ducts, ligaments, and fascia to contract. Unreasonable breast binding or wearing too tight bras occurs in adolescence. Due to tight breasts and poor blood circulation, it causes breast hypoplasia and inverted nipples.

Clinical manifestations

According to the depth of nipple inversion, it can be divided into three degrees:

1. Partial nipple inversion, nipple neck exists, can be easily squeezed out, after squeezing out the nipple size is similar to that of normal people;

2. The second degree is that the nipple is completely sunken in the areola, but it can be squeezed out by hand. The nipple is smaller than normal and most of the time there is no nipple neck;

3. The third degree is that the nipple is completely buried under the areola and the inverted nipple cannot be squeezed out.

Inverted nipples can easily cause diseases such as nipple and areola inflammation and mastitis. Severe inverted nipples can lead to mucosalization of the inverted skin accompanied by eczema. Bleeding and erosion may occur, leading to chronic inflammation. The mammary ducts are connected to the inverted area, and the inflammation can spread retrogradely into the mammary gland, causing mastitis. If nipple inversion is not corrected in time, long-term inflammation will cause the mammary ducts to shrink due to chronic inflammation, making nipple inversion more serious and easily forming a vicious circle.

Inverted nipples seriously affect breastfeeding. Whether the nipples are flat or inverted, they will inevitably affect the baby's sucking, making breastfeeding difficult or even impossible after delivery. On the other hand, milk accumulation due to the inability to discharge milk may cause secondary breast infection.