What to do if a little girl has inverted nipples

The maturation of breasts is one of the important signs of a little girl's transition to a mature woman. Breast development is inseparable from the development of nipples. Nipples are part of the breast structure. Most women's nipples protrude forward when they are thirteen or fourteen years old. However, there are also abnormal situations in which little girls have retracted nipples. Although retracted nipples are not a serious disease, if parents do not pay attention to it or use the wrong methods, it may cause problems such as bleeding and erosion, and may also cause difficulties in future breastfeeding. Therefore, inverted nipples should be taken seriously, treated correctly and treated in a timely manner during girls' puberty.

1. Distinguish between normal nipples and inverted nipples:

A normal nipple is cylindrical, protruding about 1.5-2 cm above the surface of the breast skin and appearing as a nodule. If the nipple does not protrude above the breast skin and does not protrude when pulled, it is called inverted nipple.

2. Causes of inverted nipples:

The smooth muscles of the nipples and areolas of girls during development are poorly developed; the lactiferous ducts themselves are not fully developed; there is a lack of support tissue under the nipples; genetic factors, etc.

3. Classification and degree of nipple inversion:

There are three types of nipple inversion: true nipple inversion, inverted nipple, and false nipple inversion. There are three degrees of inverted nipple: the first degree is partial inverted nipple, with a nipple neck that exists and can be easily squeezed out. After squeezing out, the nipple is similar in size to that of a normal person; the second degree is completely inverted nipple into the areola, but it can be squeezed out by hand. The nipple is smaller than normal and most of the time there is no nipple neck; the third degree is completely buried under the areola, and the inverted nipple cannot be squeezed out.

4. Treatment methods:

So what should little girls do if their nipples are inverted? Here are a few ways:

1. Manual traction: Mild nipple retraction can be treated conservatively first. Mothers can wash their daughters with warm water twice a day, and then gently pull the inverted nipples outwards. Do not use excessive force when pulling to avoid damaging the nipples. You can also gently pull your nipples outwards and repeatedly when rubbing them in the bath. If you still can't pull it out, you can use your thumbs to push back and forth on both sides of the nipple, 3 times a day, 5 times up and down and left and right each time, and pay attention to the strength;

2. Choose comfortable cotton underwear, change and wash it frequently. Little girls should not wear underwear too early. Choose loose underwear and change the habit of lying on your stomach.

3. Mechanical traction: that is, using a manual or electric breast pump to suck out the nipple using the principle of negative pressure. The nipple can also be sucked and pulled continuously or intermittently for 30 minutes each time, alternating between the two sides, 3-5 times a day. However, this method is more powerful and should be used with caution for little girls.

4. Surgical correction: Irreversible nipple inversion, that is, severe nipple inversion, can only be corrected through surgical operation. The surgery is performed by completely loosening the muscle fiber bundles that pull the nipple inward, filling the surrounding tissue under the nipple to enhance the support of the nipple, make the nipple protrude, and reshape it. The surgery is performed within the areola and will not leave obvious surgical scars. Under normal circumstances, the sensory nerves of the nipple will not be damaged. The surgery generally does not destroy the mammary ducts, so it will not cause lactation problems. But you have to choose a regular hospital, or you can wait until the little girl is older before having the surgery.

Note: Do not believe in folk remedies that say squeezing the nipples with your hands to squeeze out water when the baby is born can prevent inverted nipples; pay attention to the hygiene and cleanliness of the nipples.