![]() ![]() If you are not pregnant, there is a possibility that your darkened nipples and darkened areolas are caused by a serious medical condition such as Paget’s disease, a rare form of cancer. ![]() If the color change is accompanied by pain, redness, or bleeding, then your healthcare provider should be notified. In some cases, skin darkening can be a sign of a serious problem, although generally this is not the case. Other Possible Causes of Darkened Areolas and Dark Nipplesĭarkened areolas and dark nipples in women can also be caused by aging, menstruation, or certain medications. It is believed that darkening and widening of the darkened areolas and dark nipples during pregnancy and breastfeeding may be an evolutionary adaptation-newborn infants have blurry vision, and a larger, darker areola and dark nipples are easier for them to see and distinguish from the rest of the breast. These hormones also cause widening of the areolas, breast tenderness, breast swelling, leakage of colostrum, dark nipples, and all the other changes that happen to the breasts. This is why many women see splotches and patches of darkened skin all over their bodies. Progesterone and estrogen cause the body to produce more pigment. The main cause of darkened areolas and dark nipples are hormones. They are normally invisible to the naked eye-which is why some women become alarmed at the sudden appearance of mysterious bumps around their nipples during pregnancy-although many women report that Montgomery’s glands also become visible during states of sexual arousal.Ĭauses of Darker Areolas and Dark Nipples Some women have as few as four of them, while others may have upwards of twenty or more. The number of Montgomery’s glands around the nipple varies greatly from one woman to the next. Some scientists believe that the oil secreted by Montgomery’s glands may also have an odor that stimulates the appetite of a newborn infant, thereby encouraging healthy feeding. Their purpose is to secrete a kind of oil that protects and lubricates the sensitive skin around your nipples while you are breastfeeding (the constant pressure, abrasion, and drying of the skin that occurs during breastfeeding might otherwise become quite painful, and for some women it still does). They are caused by the swelling of oil glands called the “glands of Montgomery,” named after William Montgomery, the Irish doctor who first discovered them in 1837. These bumps are nothing to be concerned about. In addition to your darkened areolas and darkened nipples, as your pregnancy progresses you may also experience Montgomery’s tubercles, which are tiny bumps on the areolas. Darkening of the skin-known as hyper pigmentation-is also common in the external genitalia and around the anal region during pregnancy. The darkened nipples may also grow in size or stand out more prominently. ![]() The color of your nipples and areolas may begin darkening or changing as early as the first or second week, and some women also find that their darkened areolas and darkened nipples grow larger in diameter, especially as the breasts begin to swell. Because of the increase in hormones during pregnancy, many women see their areolas darken or nipples darken, and continue to darken as their pregnancies progress. Soon after conception expectant mothers begin to notice breast tenderness, swelling of the breasts, stretch marks, and darkened areolas (the skin around the nipples) or dark nipples. ![]() Some of the most common physical changes (and not just darkened areolas or dark nipples, but often darker areolas can be the most visible) to occur during pregnancy are seen in the breasts. ASK THE DOCTOR: What causes darkening of the areolas or darkened areolas, sometimes referred to as dark nipples? ![]()
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