Why Do My Nipples Hurt When Touched

If you’re a woman, you’ve probably noticed that the skin on your breasts is more sensitive than other parts of your body. The nipples are especially sensitive, so much so that they can even be painful when touched or pinched. This sensitivity makes them prone to inflammation, irritation, and infection — which may lead to sores, cracked nipples, and nipple discharge (a condition called milia).
Sore nipples are most common among nursing moms, but many people experience this uncomfortable sensation at some point. Other factors like tight clothing, rashes, and post-inflammatory conditions can also cause discomforting sensations from a sore nipple.
The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to treat the problem yourself without seeing your doctor or going through expensive medical procedures. First we’ll look at what causes these problems, then we’ll examine why it hurts so much when you touch your nipples. After reading about nipple troubles, feel free to try self-care remedies to see how well they work for you.
Let’s start with a quick anatomy lesson first. Your nipples are made up of two types of tissue: an outer layer called epidermis and inner layers including dermis and hypodermis. These tissues contain sweat glands, hair follicles, nerve endings, blood vessels, and lymphatic channels. They protect themselves from injury by producing a mucus-like substance called “nipple wax.” It keeps bacteria out while allowing water vapor to escape.
The Epidermal Layer
The epidermis is the outermost layer of your skin. The epidermis contains dead cells shed from the top layer of living skin cells known as keratinocytes. Keratinocytes produce new skin cells continuously, making the epidermis thick and tough. As a result, the epidermis has little fat content. In fact, it’s one of the thinnest layers of skin.
Your nipples are covered by a thin film of epithelial tissue called stratum corneum. Stratum corneum is composed primarily of hardened keratin proteins. It protects the underneath layers of skin and helps keep harmful substances away from the deeper layers of skin, nerves, and muscles. This layer also provides waterproof protection for the next layer of skin, the horny layer.
Stratum corneum is produced by a type of cell known as keratinocyte. There are several kinds of keratinocytes, each responsible for different functions within the epidermis. One kind produces melanin, another produces collagen fibers, and still others produce enzymes needed to break down protein molecules into smaller pieces. All keratinocytes are similar to each other, however, because their main purpose is to create protective coverings for the deeper layers of skin.
Inner Layers
There are three internal layers beneath the epidermis: the subcutaneous layer, the muscle layer, and finally the dermis. The dermis is the deepest layer of skin. It begins just below the surface of the epidermis and extends downward toward the bone. The dermis is divided into three sections: superficial, middle, and deep. The upper portion of the dermis closest to the skin’s surface is called the superficial dermis. Its primary function is to provide support for the overlying epidermis. Superficial dermal layers contain elastic connective tissue and collagen structures. Collagen is a fibrous material composed of bundles of long strands of amino acid chains. Elastin strengthens collagen fibers, giving them elasticity.
Collagen production occurs naturally in the dermis, but it’s stimulated by trauma or injury. Skin injuries involving broken capillaries will trigger angiogenesis, or formation of new blood vessels. Angiogenesis leads to increased levels of oxygen supply to injured areas. Oxygen is necessary for collagen production. Without sufficient amounts of oxygen, collagen becomes brittle instead of flexible. Softening of collagen gives the dermis its supple appearance.
Another important component of the dermis is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is found in our bodies, but only in small quantities. It was discovered in 1937 by pathologist Karl Meyer von Bergmann. He isolated the compound from rooster combs. Even though he didn’t know what it was used for, his discovery earned him a Nobel Prize in medicine in 1942. Today scientists believe that hyaluronic acid acts as a lubricant between cells. It holds moisture in the extracellular matrix of the skin’s structure. A lack of hyaluronic acid can contribute to dryness, wrinkling, and rough texture.
Muscle Layer
Just below the dermis lies the muscle layer. The muscle layer is attached to the dermis and serves as a framework for the following layers of skin. Within the muscle layer lie tiny fibrils arranged in parallel rows. Fibrils are cylindrical protein filaments that give muscles strength. Muscle fiber cells surround those fibrils, forming individual muscle units. The spaces between muscle fibers are filled with a fluid called interstitial fluid. Interstitial fluid carries nutrients and waste products throughout the body.
Fat Cells
Below the muscle layer lies the third layer of skin: the hypodermis. Fat cells are embedded here. Hypodermal fat pads serve as padding for the underlying layers of skin. Between the pad and the hypodermis sits the subcutaneous layer. It connects the hypodermis to the muscle layer. Subcutaneous fats are not meant to move around; they’re fixed firmly against the hypodermis. The space between the pad and the hypodermis is called the subcutaneous space.
Now let’s return to the topic of nipples. How does this information help us understand why your nipples hurt? We know that the epidermis is extremely sensitive and that there are multiple layers of skin covering the nipple. But did you know that the secret to avoiding sore nipples isn’t simply to avoid touching them? Let’s take a closer look now.
When your nipples become irritated, swollen, red, or infected, it could be due to poor hygiene. You should wash your hands thoroughly before handling your nipples. If you wear nail polish, you need to remove it before putting lotion on your nipples. To avoid spreading germs and bacteria, don’t share personal items such as brushes, combs, sponges, or tampons. Don’t use cotton balls or swabs to cleanse nipples. Instead, gently wipe them with moistened paper towels or disposable wipes. Dispose of any old towels, liners, or sanitary napkins. Soap residue left behind after washing can irritate nipples. Avoid using harsh soaps, alcohol, deodorants, and chemicals on nipples. Also avoid sharing bras, underwear, sports equipment, and swimsuits. Finally, don’t expose your nipples to extreme heat, cold temperatures, excessive sunlight, and windy weather.
Next we’ll discuss why touching your nipples might hurt you, and then learn about ways to prevent sore nipples.
Touching your nipples can cause them to swell. Swelling occurs when fluids accumulate under the outer layers of skin. The swelling increases pressure inside the breast, causing fluid to build up in the chest cavity. Swollen breasts often occur during menstruation and lactation, when estrogen levels increase. Excess amounts of estrogen affect the amount of sodium and water retained in the body. Sodium normally moves freely across membranes, but hormone changes alter normal movement patterns. During breast development, women retain more sodium and water. Breastfeeding stimulates milk production, which causes excess salt and water retention. Menstruation also triggers sodium and water retention. Menopausal women lose less sodium and water, causing dehydration.
How Does Touching Cause Pain?
Our eyes and ears tell us what is happening around us. Our sense of sight and hearing alerts us to dangers. But our sense of feeling tells us how hot or cold something is. If something feels warm, we intuitively reach out and touch it. However, sometimes our feelings aren’t accurate. For example, if someone touches your elbow and it burns, you won’t automatically put your hand near fire. Your mind takes time processing the signals sent by your senses to figure out exactly where the burning pain is coming from.
This process works differently for your nipples. Unlike the rest of your skin, your nipples never encounter foreign objects. Because of this, the nerve endings in your nipples don’t receive feedback from outside stimuli. Instead, your brain relies completely on tactile sensors located in your nipples to tell you when something is wrong. What happens when you touch your nipples?
As mentioned earlier, the skin covering the tip of your nipples consists of several layers. Beneath the outer layer is a layer of soft fleshy tissue containing nerve endings. The most sensitive part of the nipple is right at the very tip. Here the skin is thinner and more susceptible to damage. The area surrounding the tip of the nipple is densely innervated with mechanoreceptors, specialized nerve endings designed to detect pressure, vibration, and motion. Sensory receptors in your fingertips also help you identify textures and temperature differences.
Nerve endings in your nipples send messages directly to the somatosensory cortex in your brain. Somatosensory cortex interprets sensory data and relays this information to your motor cortex.

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