Why do nipple sizes vary

If pregnancy does not occur, the breasts revert to their normal size and shape once the person gets their period. Having large areolas is perfectly normal, but some people want to reduce them for cosmetic reasons. People who wish to reduce the size of their areolas should speak to a doctor. The most effective option for areola reduction is surgery, which can be expensive. During the reduction procedure, the surgeon will make an incision and remove a circular piece of the outer areolar tissue.

They will then stitch the skin surrounding the areola to the new areolar border. The surgeon can often perform the procedure using a local anesthetic to numb the breast area.

However, in some cases, they may have to put the person under a general anesthetic. A person can have an areola reduction as standalone surgery or as part of another breast procedure, such as a breast reduction or implant placement. As breast tissue comprises mostly fat cells, some people may find that losing weight helps reduce breast, and therefore areola, size.

For people who wish to reduce their areola size but do not want to have surgery, losing weight may be another option. The areolas come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. It is also normal for the areolas to change in size and color over time. These changes can occur as a natural part of aging as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Learn about tubular breasts, a condition where the breasts appear irregularly shaped. A breast may be long in shape or have a larger areola than usual. Inverted nipples are relatively common in both males and females, and nipple inversion is not a cause for concern.

Though no treatment is usually…. Discharge, pain, or itching are common problems that affect the nipples and can occur in anyone.

Most nipple conditions are not serious and are easily…. A person's nipples can change color at different times in their life.

There are many different reasons why this might happen, most of which are…. Itchy nipples are a common complaint, especially in the initial weeks of breastfeeding. In this article, learn about the causes of itchy nipples and…. The areola is a circular or oval area of skin on your breast that surrounds the nipple. It is darker in color than the rest of your breast or chest skin—usually a shade of red, pink, or brown.

There is no "normal" size for areolas; they vary from person to person. They can also change in appearance and size over your life, including during pregnancy, your period, and while you are taking certain medications. They also play an important role in breastfeeding because they affect the way your baby latches on while feeding—and latching on to a good portion of the areola is crucial for the continued stimulation of breast milk production.

When you're breastfeeding, how your baby attaches to your breast is an important part of the process. This is called the latch. Suckling on just the nipple can cause injury and won't actually stimulate the flow of milk. Since the milk sinuses and the milk ducts are below the areola, your baby needs to squeeze the areola itself while breastfeeding in order to pull breast milk out of your breasts. A correct latch involves your baby taking in the entire nipple, plus approximately 1 inch of the surrounding breast tissue.

In other words, they'll either take in part—or all—of your areola into their mouth, depending on its size. If you have an average-sized areola, your child should have most of your areola in their mouth when they latch on to breastfeed.

There should only be a small amount of areola visible around your baby's mouth. An areola that is smaller than average is generally under 1 inch across. As a result, it should fit entirely in your baby's mouth while they breastfeed, and you should not see any of your areola if they have a good latch. If you have a small areola, and you can see most of it when your baby is breastfeeding, break the suction of the latch , remove your little one from your breast, and try again. A larger than average areola is generally more than 2 inches across.

If you have large areolae, you should still be able to see some of it while your baby breastfeeds. In fact, depending on how large they are, you might be able to see half—or more. It can be difficult to know if your child is latching correctly if you have large areolae because it can be unclear whether your baby is latching onto more than just the nipple. If you can, get some help in the beginning so you can feel confident that your baby is latching on well. It's important to understand how the size of your areola relates to your baby's latch.

Diagrams or descriptions of correct latches often generalize because no two people have the same areola size. This lack of diversity can cause people to be unsure of whether their baby is latching correctly, potentially leading to pain and other difficulties.

It can be helpful to get guidance from a lactation counselor because they can show you what a correct latch looks like with your breasts. They can also teach you ways to hold your breastfeeding baby in order to help them latch correctly. If your baby isn't taking in enough of your areola when they're latching on, it could cause challenges for both you and your baby. A poor latch can cause sore nipples , breast engorgement where your breasts become swollen and heavy with milk , plugged milk ducts where the ducts become clogged with thickened milk , and even a breast infection because your baby may not fully drain the milk from your breasts.

Over time, a poor latch can lead to a low breast milk supply because your baby may not be effectively stimulating your body to make more. A poor latch can also cause your baby to gain weight slowly or even lose weight because they are not feeding enough to grow at a healthy rate.

One or all of these factors can ultimately lead to early weaning. If you are worried your baby isn't latching correctly, try the "hamburger technique. If they latch correctly , you shouldn't feel any pain and you should hear or see swallowing. Normal discharge is white or clear-ish, and can happen due to hormonal changes, she says. So there you have it—nipples are cool and weird and wonderful. Keep an eye on them and if something changes, let your doctor know.

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. There is no "normal" nipple. You can still breastfeed with inverted nipples. It's actually possible to get acne on your nipples. Nipple discharge happens—even if you're not breastfeeding.

Korin is a former New Yorker who now lives at the beach.