A nipple bleb is a blister on the

nipple The nipple is a raised region of tissue on the surface of the breast from which, in females, milk leaves the breast through the lactiferous ducts to feed an infant. The milk can flow through the nipple passively or it can be ejected by smooth m ...

that can be filled with

serous In physiology, serous fluid or serosal fluid (originating from the Medieval Latin word ''serosus'', from Latin ''serum'') is any of various body fluids resembling serum, that are typically pale yellow or transparent and of a benign nature. The flu ...

or other fluid. It may be pink or light yellow. It is thin-walled and may appear as a small blister, more than 5 mm in diameter. It can also be referred to as a bulla. Some clinicians may also include milk blisters as a type of bleb. In addition, a blocked Montgomery gland may also be called a nipple bleb though its cause is different than a milk or serous-filled bleb on the nipple. In some cases the bleb may be associated with an adjacent blocked sebaceous cyst. It may be caused by a blocked pore that leads to seepage of milk or

serous fluid In physiology, serous fluid or serosal fluid (originating from the Medieval Latin word ''serosus'', from Latin ''serum'') is any of various body fluids resembling serum, that are typically pale yellow or transparent and of a benign nature. The fl ...

under the epidermis. This causes a white 'bump' that appears opaque and shiny. If the bleb continues to block the flow of milk out of the

breast The breast is one of two prominences located on the upper ventral region of a primate's torso. Both females and males develop breasts from the same embryological tissues. In females, it serves as the mammary gland, which produces and sec ...

it may develop into a blocked milk duct or even

mastitis Mastitis is inflammation of the breast or udder, usually associated with breastfeeding. Symptoms typically include local pain and redness. There is often an associated fever and general soreness. Onset is typically fairly rapid and usually occurs ...

. A nipple bleb is often treated by the woman herself since a warm saline soak and gentle washing may open the blister and cause it to drain.

Symptoms

Shapeless raised, smooth, shiny,

pimple A pimple is a kind of comedo that results from excess sebum and dead skin cells getting trapped in the pores of the skin. In its aggravated state, it may evolve into a pustule or papules. Pimples can be treated by acne medications, antibioti ...

-like, tiny bumps filled with water/fluid formed on

s or in and around the nipple pore might appear. The colour of these fluid in nipple blebs may vary from white, yellow or transparent. They become flat when pressure is applied on them or punctured with hands. This can cause discomfort or pain to the lactating mother while

breastfeeding Breastfeeding, or nursing, is the process by which human breast milk is fed to a child. Breast milk may be from the breast, or may be expressed by hand or pumped and fed to the infant. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that br ...

. However, this may or may not be painful in general.

Treatment

In case of slight or painless blebs, it is advised to continue the breastfeed to unclog the milk duct or prevent it from clogging altogether. Breastfeeding mothers should make the baby

latch A latch or catch (called sneck in Northern England and Scotland) is a type of mechanical fastener that joins two (or more) objects or surfaces while allowing for their regular separation. A latch typically engages another piece of hardware on t ...

properly. In case of pain after breastfeeding one can try wet, warm

heating pad A heating pad is a pad used for warming of parts of the body in order to manage pain. Localized application of heat causes the blood vessels in that area to dilate, enhancing perfusion to the targeted tissue. Types of heating pads include electri ...

s before and after each feeding.

Ice pack An ice pack or gel pack is a portable bag filled with water, refrigerant gel, or liquid, meant to provide cooling. They can be divided into the reusable type, which works as a thermal mass and requires freezing, or the instant type, which cools ...

s can be soothing as well. One can

massage Massage is the manipulation of the body's soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet or a device. The purpose of massage is generally for the treatment of body stress or pain. In E ...

the area applying gentle pressure around the duct to help loosen up the blockage. Tight-fitting

bras A broadband remote access server (BRAS, B-RAS or BBRAS) routes traffic to and from broadband remote access devices such as digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAM) on an Internet service provider's (ISP) network. BRAS can also be refe ...

should be avoided; if the cloth of the bra is rubbing against the

s, a nursing pad can be used to ease the

friction Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and material elements sliding against each other. There are several types of friction: *Dry friction is a force that opposes the relative lateral motion of ...

. A doctor or lactation consultant should be consulted regarding the use of lecithin-based treatments or painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

References

Bleb Exocrine system Glands Secondary sexual characteristics Mammal anatomy {{womens-health-stub

Symptoms

Treatment

See also

References