Canker sore on nipple?

[guestmama9911]

I have what looks like a small canker sore on my aereola (sp?). What is it and what can I do about it? It's horribly painful.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

Are you BF a toddler? If so treat both of you, if your bf a new born...have some one take a look to figure out what it is. If it is a sore it could be HSV-1 which needs immiadiate attention. When ds was 1y/o, he bit me and i got the same looking thing on the base of my nipple. I put antibiotic ointment on it for a few days and when he latched on i made sure his mouth was wide open. Good Luck

[Aura_Kitten]

i have no idea what that could be.

if it were me i would get (another ) round of STD tests *ASAP.*


that's really scary. i hope it's nothing serious.

[RootSnort]

There's a number of things it could be. I would see a dermatologist AND a lactation consultant. The derm should do cultures and possibly a little biopsy to see if this is infectious, and if so, what it is. They should also do blood tests for plain old inflammation (sed rate, C reactive protein, white blood cells). The lactation consultant can tell you if this is something that she has seen before.

I have an autoimmune disease that causes sores in my mouth, other less pleasant places, and across open skin. I've had the sores on my breasts, but never on my nipples. However, another friend with the same autoimmune has had nipple problems. I think a comprehensive approach as soon as possible is in order. Keep this in mind - once you know what you're dealing with, there are some good treatments.

In the mean time, I might put Neosporin with pain relief ointment over it. Wash off before feeding.

Keep us posted and let us know what is up.

[guestmama9911]

Originally Posted by Mamato3wild ponnie

Are you BF a toddler? If so treat both of you, if your bf a new born...have some one take a look to figure out what it is. If it is a sore it could be HSV-1 which needs immiadiate attention. When ds was 1y/o, he bit me and i got the same looking thing on the base of my nipple. I put antibiotic ointment on it for a few days and when he latched on i made sure his mouth was wide open. Good Luck

I am bfing a toddler and he does sometimes bite.

None of your posts are encouraging!!

OK, I don't have any doctors I trust around here, but I guess a visit is in order. I'll also call my LLL leader tomorrow, see if she knows anything.

It's so tiny, but it really makes nursing on that side painful.

[guestmama9911]

Got this from WebMD:

Breast Herpes
If you've been exposed to the herpes simplex virus (HSV), you can develop herpes sores on your nipples. Most doctors will be able to determine if you have a herpes simplex sore (called a vesicle) just by visual inspection, but a culture will confirm it.

HSV I or II can now be associated with sores above the waist. (In the past, HSV II was the dreaded genital herpes, but now it's seen above the waist, too.) Anytime you have a cold sore or fever blister, it's a sign that HSV is active. In this case, the nipple and areola can also be sites for these sores. If this is your diagnosis, you may need to wean your baby until the virus has cleared up, pumping your breasts and feeding the baby your milk with another feeding tool (see chapters 5 and 6).

The symptoms of breast herpes are characterized by extreme pain during breastfeeding. The sores must be kept dry, however, and in this case, dusting them with cornstarch and blow-drying them may be helpful. So long as the baby has been breastfeeding exclusively until now, the antibodies in your milk should provide protection from the virus. There is no cure for herpes, but the sores will go away and will reappear less and less frequenlty, until you will simply not be bothered by them anymore.