What Are Puffy Nipples & How Do You Get Rid of Them?

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Understand why your nipples are puffy and what you can do about it
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Are your nipples swollen or extended more so than usual? If so, you may have puffy nipples. Puffy nipples can be the result of imbalanced hormones or genetics. They’re most commonly seen in men around puberty, during stressful times, or while taking steroid medications. Puffy nipples aren’t something to be too concerned about—they’re usually harmless—but they could affect your self-confidence. In this article, we’ll break down the causes of puffy nipples and how you can get rid of them.

Why are your nipples puffy?

Puffy nipples are often a sign of a hormone imbalance commonly seen in men. A higher level of estrogen can cause the nipples and areolas to swell and mound away from the natural curve of the breast. Puffy nipples aren’t an immediate medical concern, but they could indicate an underlying problem or affect self-esteem.

Section 1 of 5:

What are puffy nipples?

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  1. Puffy nipples are when the nipples and areolas “puff up” and mound away from the natural curve of the chest. [1] Often associated with gynecomastia , an imbalance of hormones that causes enlarged male breast tissue, puffy nipples are medically harmless but can be damaging to self-esteem. [2] Men and women can get puffy nipples; however, it’s most prominent and noticeable in men.
    • How do you know if you have puffy nipples? Look in the mirror. Is the area around your nipples and areolas puffy and/or extended? If so, you may have puffy nipples.
      • In men, gynecomastia usually looks and feels like a button-sized lump underneath the areola and may be tender to the touch. [3]
    • Do puffy nipples go away? Yes, puffy nipples typically go away with the proper treatment and lifestyle changes.
    • Can puffy nipples be fixed? Yes, puffy nipples can be “fixed” or treated by making healthy lifestyle changes or with surgical procedures like liposuction.

    Meet the wikiHow Expert

    Mohammad Dar, MD , is a Health Policy Director with over seven years of experience in the medical field. He received the Golden Stethoscope Award for his residency training at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

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Section 2 of 5:

What causes puffy nipples?

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  1. 1
    Hormone imbalance An imbalance of hormones is the main cause of puffy nipples, specifically an imbalance between estrogen and testosterone. Stress, aging, puberty, and medication or steroid use can all cause a fluctuation in hormones and fat storage, which can then result in puffy nipples. [4]
    • If you believe you’re experiencing puffy nipples, visit your doctor. They’ll be able to properly diagnose and assess your symptoms.
  2. 2
    Weight gain A sudden change in weight could create the appearance of puffy nipples. Fatty tissue may form under the nipple, making the breasts change shape or protrude more.
    • A poor diet and sedentary lifestyle could also cause puffy nipples, as weight gain can increase the chances of a hormonal imbalance.
  3. 3
    Medications and steroids Some medications, specifically steroids, can cause an imbalance in hormones, which can then cause puffy nipples. Chances are, if a medication has a side effect of weight gain or is an artificial hormone, it’s more likely to cause fat buildup under the nipples.
    • Talk to your doctor if you’re worried that your medication is causing puffy nipples. They’ll be able to assess your symptoms and adjust or change your dosage as needed.
  4. 4
    Genetics Some men naturally have rounder or fattier breasts, and that’s entirely normal. Many studies have found that fat distribution in the body is controlled by genetic factors. [5]
  5. 5
    Gynecomastia Puffy nipples are often associated with gynecomastia, a condition in men where the breast gland tissue is enlarged due to an imbalance in hormones. While the condition is not serious, it may cause discomfort or pain in the breast in some cases. [6]
    • Know that puffy nipples aren’t 100% a sign of gynecomastia. The conditions are often associated with one another, but they’re not always linked. As health policy director Mohammad Dar, MD, explains, “In gynecomastia, the breast gland tissue is enlarged. This is usually seen with a rubber-like dense area of a circular amount of tissue centrally located around the nipple.” [7]
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Get Rid of Puffy Nipples

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  1. Getting rid of puffy nipples doesn’t have to involve lengthy procedures. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is simply take care of your body. These non-surgical ways are ideal for treating puffy nipples if they’re caused by hormonal imbalance, weight gain, or medication use:
    • Changing your diet. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help balance your hormones and promote weight loss. Focus on eating whole foods rich in nutrients and avoiding processed foods and added sugars.
    • Exercising. Target your chest muscles to help increase muscle and reduce fat around your breasts. Focus on cardiovascular exercise (swimming, running, dancing) to lose fat and chest strength exercises (chest flies, pushups, bench presses) to build muscle mass.
    • Taking supplements. Balancing your hormones could be as easy as taking a vitamin. Talk to your doctor about adding a herbal supplement like ashwagandha to boost your testosterone levels.
    • Changing medications. If a certain medication is causing puffy nipples, it may be recommended to switch medications or change dosage to help alleviate and treat swelling around the nipple. [8]
  2. 2
    Surgical Ways to Get Rid of Puffy Nipples If you can’t seem to get rid of your puffy nipples naturally with lifestyle and dietary changes, it may be time to look into more permanent solutions. In severe cases, a doctor may recommend one of these treatments to treat and remove puffy nipples:
    • Liposuction. Surgically remove the fat around the breast tissue to minimize the puffiness of the nipple and flatten the chest. [9]
    • Gland excision. If puffy nipples are the result of excess breast gland tissue behind the areola, the gland may be surgically removed to prevent puffy nipples from returning. [10]
      • A combination of liposuction and excision may be used, depending on the case.
    • Mastectomy. In men, a mastectomy (surgery to remove all breast tissue from the breast) may be performed to treat and remove severe gynecomastia. [11]
    EXPERT TIP

    Mohammad Dar, MD

    Board Certified Internist & Health Policy Director
    Dr. Mohammad Dar (MoDar) is a board certified Internist based in Boston, Massachusetts. With over seven years of experience in the medical field, he is skilled in epidemiology, healthcare, and health policy. Dr. Dar has had a myriad of experiences in healthcare, including working on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act at the White House Office of Health Reform, volunteering in rural Uganda with public health initiatives, and leading policy and on-the-ground COVID-19 operations during the pandemic. He has also worked on a number of innovative public health and insurance reform initiatives in Massachusetts. Dr. Dar received a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology and History from The University of Michigan and an MD from The University of Michigan Medical School. He completed his residency training at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, from which he received the Golden Stethoscope Award.
    Mohammad Dar, MD
    Board Certified Internist & Health Policy Director

    If your breasts or nipples feel different, contact a doctor. Lumpiness, tenderness, and rubberiness around or under the nipple and areola may be a sign of an underlying condition (such as cancer) and shouldn’t be ignored. It’s best to see a doctor just to be safe.

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Section 4 of 5:

How to Accept Your Puffy Nipples

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  1. Challenge negative self-talk to accept your puffy nipples. Having puffy nipples may be lowering your self-esteem, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can accept and embrace your body for where it’s at right now, even with puffy nipples! The best way to do that is by reframing your thoughts and challenging negative self-talk. Here’s what you can do to improve your body image : [12]
    • Avoid comparing yourself to others. Your body is unique to you—just think of all it can do! Try your best not to value your worth based on how you compare physically to others. [13]
    • Do activities that make you feel good. Do things that interest you and bring you joy to distract your mind from thinking about your body.
    • Think of all the things your body can do. Rather than focusing on what you want to change about your body, focus on what it allows you to do right now.
    • Reframe negative thoughts into positive ones. Try your best not to think negatively about your body. Think of how you can spin a negative thought to be positive.
Section 5 of 5:

In Conclusion

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  1. Puffy nipples are when the nipple and areola swell or “puff up” and mound away from the natural breast. This is most commonly seen in men (often associated with gynecomastia), but it can also happen to women. If you have puffy nipples, know that they’re entirely normal and no reason to be medically concerned. Lifestyle changes can help minimize their appearance, but know that you’re beautiful just the way you are.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://millennialplasticsurgery.com/what-are-puffy-nipples-millennial-plastic-surgery/
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/16227-enlarged-male-breast-tissue-gynecomastia
      3. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/16227-enlarged-male-breast-tissue-gynecomastia
      4. ↑ https://millennialplasticsurgery.com/what-are-puffy-nipples-millennial-plastic-surgery/
      5. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24632736/
      6. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gynecomastia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351793
      7. ↑ Mohammad Dar, MD. Board Certified Internist & Health Policy Director. Expert Interview
      8. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/16227-enlarged-male-breast-tissue-gynecomastia
      9. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24022-gynecomastia-surgery
      1. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24022-gynecomastia-surgery
      2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mastectomy/about/pac-20394670
      3. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/accepting-your-body#embracing-yourself
      4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201201/how-to-accept-and-embrace-your-body-once-and-for-all

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