Question

Question

Are there any home remedies for cracked nipples?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Hi, here are few home remedies you can try for cracked nipples: 1. Cold Pack: Apply a cold pack to your nipples before nursing to enjoy temporary numbness that makes feeding your child less painful. 2. Gentle Cleansing: When cleaning your nipples, use a gentle approach. Rinse well with water to reduce the risk of infection in cracked nipples. Do not use alcohol, lotions, or perfumes on the nipples or you run the risk of further irritation. 3. Don't use soap: Following childbirth, a liquid called colostrum, emerges from the nipples. This substance acts as a natural lubricant that is removed when you use soaps that can also cause dryness and cracks. This is why you should opt for plain water when cleaning the nipples. 4. Coconut Oil: Some people have rubbed coconut oil on cracked nipples to encourage effective healing. 5. Wet Washcloth: A warm, wet washcloth can provide pain relief to cracked nipples before and after nursing. 6. Ice Cubes: Before allowing a baby to latch up, apply ice cubes to cracked nipples. This will help to decrease the pain that occurs while nursing. 7. Tea Bags: To enjoy soothing relief from cracked nipples, some women have applied warm, wet tea bags for a brief period of time after nursing. 8. Breast Milk: Containing vitamin E, breast milk can actually help a mother heal cracked skin. After feeding the little one, pat dry your nipples, and then express a bit of breast milk. Rub in the liquid. Do not follow this home remedy for cracked nipples if you have thrust or you run the risk of spreading a yeast infection. Also, do not use the oil from a vitamin E capsule on your breasts as this is toxic for your baby. 9. Aloe Vera: Having an aloe vera plant in the home can certainly come in handy. Break or cut open one of the leaves to extract fresh gel that helps speed up the healing process of sore, cracked nipples. 10. Petroleum Jelly: Coating affected nipples with petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) can help heal cracked skin. Runners can also apply the petroleum jelly as a lubricant before going out for a run to lessen the effects of chafing. 11. Olive Oil: Olive oil helps cracked nipples to heal naturally. Using your bare hand, apply the oil to your nipples two to three times per day over the course of a couple days. 12. Lemon Juice and Olive Oil: If you’re looking to prevent cracks in your nipples during a pregnancy, create a healing blend made out of pure lemon juice and olive oil. Rub the remedy on your nipples throughout your trimesters. 13. Honey and Olive Oil: A mixture of honey and olive oil can soften and moisturized damaged nipples. 14. Avoid Soap: When cleaning your irritated nipples, keep in mind that using soap can lead to further cracking. 15. Go Shirtless: Male joggers prone to cracked nipples should consider taking off their shirt to prevent irritating the skin. Anyone else should choose their clothing carefully. Opting for items made out of silk and Lycra will reduce damage to the nipples. Choose loose-fitting shirts for the best results. Women should wear a sports bra that properly fits and reduced movement of the breast. 16. Surgical Tape and Cotton: Protect a healing nipple by using a piece of surgical tape to cover a small amount of cotton over the damage. 17. Band-Aid: When running or participating in sports with cracked nipples, use a Band-Aid as protection during any activity. 18. Diaper Rash Cream: Soothing ointments, such as diaper rash cream, have been known to ease the pain of irritated skin.