There are many reasons that you might have a bump that looks like a pimple on your nipple.
In general, a pimple on or around your nipple is not something to worry about.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment for a pimple on your nipple.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
However, that is not correct.
The nipple is the small, raised area in the center of the breast.
It is surrounded by a larger, pigmented area called the areola.
It is far more common to get pimples and other bumps on the areola than on the actual nipple.
Breast anatomy is very similar regardless of a person’s sex.
However, anyone can end up with pimples or other bumps on and around the nipple.
These include:
Acne
Some people do get acne pimples on their nipples.
Pimples occur when sweat, bacteria, and dirt get trapped in your pores.
Then those pores may swell.
Ingrown Hairs
Most people have at least some hair follicles on their areolae.
That means there is a risk of getting aningrown hair.
An ingrown hair is a shaved or tweezed strand of hair that grows back into the skin.
Ingrown hairs can cause bumps that look very similar to pimples triggered by acne.
Subareolar Abscesses
Asubareolar abscessis a small pocket of pus underneath the areola or the nipple.
It is because of a local infection.
Subareolar abscesses can be painful, and you may experience swelling of the surrounding area.
Sometimes an abscess may be accompanied by a fever or a general feeling of being unwell.
They can be resulting from a number of different types of bacteria.
Herpes
An extremely rare cause of nipple pimples is aherpes infection.
Herpes infection generally appears initially as small, fluid-filled blisters that may resemble a pimple.
Warts are generally resulting from infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
It is possible that someHPV vaccinesmay reduce the risk.
Friction from clothing may irritate hair follicles and cause ingrown hairs.
Can Pregnancy Cause Pimples on the Nipple?
The Montgomery glands (also called areolar glands and Montgomery tubercles) make secretions that lubricate the nipples.
They are a pop in ofsebaceous gland(oil-producing gland).
During pregnancy, the glands may become more numerous and prominent.
Sometimes, they will become clogged and start to resemble a pimple.
This can also occur at other times when hormone levels are changing.
It is possible for a clogged Montgomery gland to become infected.
If that happens, you may experience pain as well as an enlarged bump on the areola.
Infected Montgomery glands (or cysts) are most often seen in females aged 1020 years.
Are Pimples on the Nipple a Sign of Cancer?
In extremely rare cases, bumps on the breast may be a symptom ofbreast cancer.
Skin irritation or dimpling may be an early sign of inflammatory breast cancer.
If your symptoms dont improve after a week or so, you should see your healthcare provider.
How Are Pimples on the Nipple Diagnosed?
Most bumps and pimples on the nipple will go away on their own in a few days.
However, if you are experiencing pain or discharge, talk to your healthcare provider.
This is generally done as a nipple biopsy.
In rare cases, you may also need diagnostic imaging.
Most bumps or pimples on the nipples will go away in a few days.
Specific treatments depend on the cause of the bump, and often no treatment is needed.
This might be an antifungal treatment if you have a yeast infection.
In some cases, an abscess may need to be drained and/or treated with antibiotics.
These are most often because of acne, ingrown hairs, clogged glands, or abscesses.
A bump or pimple on your nipple usually isn’t something to worry about.
Toussaint A, Simonson C, Valla C. Herpes mastitis: Diagnosis and management.Breast J.
2019;98(16):e15109.
doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000015109
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Adult acne.
doi:10.1093/jscr/rjt052
American Cancer Society.Breast cancer symptoms: what you should probably know.
Lyons D, Wahab RA, Vijapura C, Mahoney MC.The nipple-areolar complex: comprehensive imaging review.Clin Radiol.
2021;76(3):172-184. doi:10.1016/j.crad.2020.09.013
