What do healthy nipples look like?

A woman's good figure is not only reflected in long legs and a slim waist, but also in a firm chest. The average Chinese woman's breasts are not big, which has a lot to do with China's geographical location and our diet from childhood to adulthood. Because of this, we not only pay attention to the size of the breasts, but also whether the breasts are healthy, whether there is any sagging or inward depression, whether the size asymmetry is very serious, etc. So what do healthy breasts and healthy nipples look like?

1. Check whether the size is symmetrical, the position is normal, and whether there is any sagging. Generally, the breasts of adult women are hemispherical, protruding between the 2nd-3rd ribs and the 6th-7th ribs on both sides of the chest, and are symmetrical in size and shape. If one breast is swollen, pay attention to whether it is breast inflammation, milk stasis, abscess, etc. If there is a bulge in a certain part of the breast, it is mostly a breast lump, milk boil, etc. in the superficial part of the breast. The morphological changes of the breast are the most obvious, and regular observation is required to detect lesions as early as possible so that they can be treated in time. First, in a bright room, take off your shirt and observe your breasts. Use a mirror to carefully observe whether there are any changes in the color of the breast surface, whether the skin has any orange peel-like changes, whether the size of the two breasts is symmetrical, and whether the position is normal. There are three main aspects of breast skin changes: changes in skin color, edema, and the relationship between the skin and the lump (including the presence of adhesion, retraction, depression, etc.). In acute mastitis, if the skin is not red, it is often milk stasis mastitis or catarrhal mastitis caused by blocked milk ducts; if the skin is red and hot, it is mostly caused by combined Staphylococcus aureus infection; the skin of plasma cell mastitis is red but not bright, and the skin of inflammatory breast cancer may also be congested and flushed, but its color is often a special violet. Skin edema of the breast, commonly known as orange peel or pigskin appearance, is one of the signs of skin lesions of breast cancer. Plasma cell mastitis can also cause skin edema, so it is often misdiagnosed as breast cancer.

2. Lift your left hand to the back of your head, use your right hand to check your left breast, and press the breast with your fingertips to feel whether there are any lumps. Start from the nipple and check in a circular clockwise direction, gradually pressing outward for about three or four circles until the entire breast is checked. Use the same method to check the right breast. The following points should be noted during breast examination: (1) Location of the lump: According to statistics, 60% of breast cancers occur in the upper outer subareola, 12% occur under the areola, 12% occur in the upper inner subareola, 10% occur in the lower outer subareola, and 6% occur in the lower inner subareola. The upper outer zone is a common site for breast cancer. In addition, some patients have very small breast lumps, which may be missed by general examination methods. In this case, if the examination is carried out according to the patient's usual body position and the exact location shown, some findings may be found. Pay attention to this feature during the palpation. (2) Size of the tumor: that is, measuring the diameter and radius of the tumor. The specific date of palpation and the exact size of the tumor should be recorded to help understand the nature and growth rate of the tumor. It is worth noting that in clinical practice, it is common for some patients to have tumors located deep outside the breast and are relatively small, so it is difficult to reach a correct conclusion based on just one examination. After reading, you can touch your breasts with your fingertips. At this time, lie on your back, relax, and place your left hand behind your head. Place your left hand behind your head and use your right hand to check your left breast and left armpit, then feel your armpit and top of your collarbone to feel for any lumps. If so, it is also necessary to see whether it is swollen lymph nodes. (3) The mobility of the tumor: The mobility of a breast tumor is a very important basis for determining the nature of the tumor. Benign tumors have a large degree of mobility; malignant tumors not only have unclear boundaries, but are also relatively fixed. If the patient puts her hands on her hips and the movement of the tumor on the breast is limited, it means that the tumor has adhered to the pectoralis major muscle. If the tumor is fixed, it means that the tumor has involved the pectoralis major muscle. (4) Hardness of the tumor: Palpating the hardness of the tumor helps to determine the nature of the tumor. Breast cancer is generally hard, while abscesses and cystic lesions have a rubbery or fluctuating feel. (5) Number of lumps: How many lumps are there in the breast during palpation? Single or multiple shots? One breast or both breasts? Generally speaking, physiological cystic breast hyperplasia and breast fibroadenoma can often be multiple or bilateral; while breast cancer only occurs in one breast, especially in the upper outer area, and it is rare for both breasts to suffer from cancer at the same time.

3. Lie down flat, place a pillow under your right shoulder, bend your right hand under your head, and repeat the "touch" method to check the right breast. Place your right hand behind your head and use the fingers and palm of your left hand to firmly touch your right breast. Be careful not to pinch the breast with your hands, so as not to mistake normal breast tissue for a breast lump. Use your palm to gently press, touch, and slide in the following order: upper inside → upper outside → lower outside → lower inside → middle → armpit.

4. In addition to twisting the breast, you should also check whether there is swollen lymph nodes in the armpit. Finally, press and twist the nipple with your thumb and index finger, and pay attention to whether there is any abnormal secretion. Use your thumb and index finger to gently press the areola, then gently rub the nipple to see if there is any abnormal secretion. Through breast self-examination, you will often find some subtle changes, such as small lumps, swelling, scars, red spots, etc. Some of these are normal phenomena. Once you find changes in your breasts, such as obvious blood vessels in the skin, wrinkles, fluid flowing out of the nipples or even bloody secretions, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. How often should you examine your breasts? Gynecologists believe that self-examination should be done at least once every quarter (3 months), and it would be better if you can do it once a month. The best time to check your breasts is within 7-10 days after your period.