How to tell if you have flat or inverted nipples. Flat nipples1 don't protrude very far from the areola (the darker area surrounding them), even when stimulated. An inverted nipple dimples inwards at the centre. It may look like this all the time, or only when stimulated.
Summary. Although most people have protruding nipples, they can vary in appearance. Flat and inverted nipples are variations that people are born with or that can develop due to aging. During puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, hormonal fluctuations can affect nipple appearance and sensitivity.
A flat nipple is smooth next to the breast tissue. Inverted nipples withdraw below the surface of the nipple. If you think your nipple may be inverted, try placing your thumb and finger on opposite sides of the areola (the darker area of skin surrounding the nipple) and squeezing gently inwards.
It is caused by tight connective tissue or other problems with the ductal system connected to the nipple. Although many people have inverted or retracted nipples since birth, they can also occur late in life. That is known as acquired nipple inversion or retraction.
It's common for nipples to become smaller, and the area around them, called the areola, almost vanishes. Lumps. Older breasts may be more prone to lumps or bumps.
Rolling, pulling, and sucking the nipple may help encourage nipple protrusion. Don't force anything to the point of pain, though – remember: firm, but gentle. Roll your nipple between thumb and forefinger several times a day. Pull on the nipple gently when it is erect to encourage it to stay so.
What Are Flat Nipples? Flat nipples are not raised. They appear to lay even with the areola and the surrounding skin of the breast. Flat nipples do not stick outward from the breast, but they don't turn inward either (those are called inverted nipples).
Surgical treatment for inverted or flat nipples
One effective solution is surgery on the inverted nipples. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and, depending on the age of the patient, it is able to preserve the lactiferous ducts to enable breast feeding in the future.
In some instances, you may be able to correct Grade 1 inverted nipples nonsurgically using the Phillips AVENT Niplette. The Niplette uses gentle suction to pull the nipple out into a small thimble-like device. After wearing the device daily for several weeks, your nipples will remain projected outward.
Just like with breasts, there's no one way that nipples are supposed to look. Both nipples and areolas (the circular skin around your nipple) come in different sizes and colors, from light pink to brownish black. The color of your nipples usually relates to your skin color.
Nipple Shape
When it comes to shape, there are several different shapes of nipples, with some of the most common including protruding, flat, inverted, and puffy. Some women may have two different types of nipples – for example, one inverted and one protruding.
2. Breast development during puberty. 2.1 Stage 1 This stage begins at about 8-12 years old, the nipples just begin to pop up, pink circle appears. This process takes quite a long time.
Can you breastfeed with flat or inverted nipples? The good news is that your nipples' outward appearance has no effect on your breasts' ability to produce milk. The bad news is that a flat or inverted shape might make it harder for your baby to get a good latch and remove the milk efficiently.
Inverted nipples are a hereditary condition where your nipples point inward. It usually appears at birth but can develop later in life. This condition can affect men and women and is usually caused by underdeveloped tissue or the structure of the nipple itself. However, some may develop this condition over time.
A flat nipple does not extend length-wise at all, or very little. An inverted nipple doesn't extend either, and the areola is drawn around it. It can be challenging to pump or breastfeed with inverted or flat nipples, but it's certainly possible.
Nipple changes during puberty
Don't worry – this is completely normal! Just like breasts, nipples come in all shapes and sizes: some girls have “outie” nipples that stick out when they're cold, and others have “innie” nipples that stick inwards. Having inverted nipples is totally normal and nothing to worry about.
The areola also gets bigger and darker and the nipples may stick out. By the age of 17, a girl's breasts will usually be fully developed, although this may take a bit longer. You'll probably notice that you and your friends grow in different ways.
Bumps on the Nipples
Your nipples normally become erect when touched or exposed to the cold. The areolas may become more firm as well. During pregnancy, Montgomery glands enlarge in preparation for breastfeeding.
Alexis Oakley, a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Kris Jenner, Demi Lovato, and more, previously told POPSUGAR that yes, this fabled beauty theory is indeed a “fact.” “Generally, your natural lip shade is the same colour as your nipple.
We conclude that areolar pigmentation, as well as breast size, plays a significant role in men's judgments of female attractiveness. However, fine-grained measures of men's visual attention to these morphological traits do not correlate, in a simplistic way, with their attractiveness judgments.
Flat or inverted nipples may make it difficult for your baby to attach to your breast. However, it is still possible to breastfeed using nipple shields. Nipple shields are thin silicone covers that can be placed over the nipple to assist with breastfeeding.
Bumpy nipples.
The areola contains numerous lubricating glands, called “Montgomery glands.” These show up as areola bumps and are completely normal.
Your nipples are very sensitive little organs! When they are stimulated either by touch, cold temperatures or sexual arousal, they harden (actually become erect) and part of that response is for the brown part (the areola) to shrink and wrinkle. It is kind of like a muscle contraction.
This discharge of fluid from a normal breast is referred to as 'physiological discharge'. This discharge is usually yellow, milky, or green in appearance, it does not happen spontaneously, and it can often be seen to be coming from more than one duct. Physiological nipple discharge is no cause for concern.