ROAR. painful cracking rash in half moon on areola.. ?

[GingerNinja]

Man oh man.. this all started a couple of weeks ago when I thought that my dear, adorable almost 10 month old DS had scratched me with a talon on the areola.  It hurt a little but I didn't bother to look at it (the underside of my nipple and lower 'half moon' of my areola), thinking it was a fingernail scratch yet again. Then it started to burn like crazy! It was a bright red rash where his gums rub/sit and so I chalked it up to teething (but there aren't any teeth through yet).

I kept it clean and dry and used the Lansinoh liberally for a few days.. poof.. good as new.

NOW IT"S BACK WITH A vengeance. 

We had some undiagnosed evil troubles with what I assume was yeast many months ago.. treating with gentian and dietary changes cured the 6 weeks of pain, and all was well. (no visible signs of 'cottage cheese' in the least.. only pain and slight redness on my part). 

Could this be it again? It's only on one side..  and only on the bottom half of the areola (we mostly nurse lying down.. this is where his gums go) and the nipple.

advice? 

[woodchick]

I had the exact same half moon rash about a month ago.  I also thought it was teeth related or bad toddler latch, in my case,  so I didn't do anything until the pain got so bad I couldn't breath when she latched on.

I called my midwife and chatted with her and she prescribed the "all purpose nipple cream".  Four days later it was gone! Never a better feeling in the world.   So I guess it was Thrush or yeast or something. The baby had no symptoms and it was only on one breast... I'm not expert.

[GingerNinja]

whoa. WHOA! 

A friend indeed... this must be a common thing then... ;)

Now, when you say "all purpose nipple cream"... ?

[woodchick]

Here's some info about the cream.   My prescription was filled by a compounding pharmacy in our town, but I was told that CVS would do it, but it would take a few days.

[GingerNinja]

Sweeeeeeeet. I've just emailed the 'recipe' to my closest compounding pharmacy (50 min. drive away.. but so worth it) and hopefully I'll get an affirmative response. Hopefully they can do it without a prescription... *fingers crossed*

[woodchick]

Good luck!  That pain is the worst I've ever felt, and I had two unmedicated births!  I hope you heal soon :)

[GingerNinja]

no kidding.. I'm sitting here imagining these microscopic razorwire evil beings multiplying in my nipple and then frolicking on my areola like it's a disco party.

(going to go find some funky soul train tunes to appease them)