Sore nipples can also happen for other reasons. Some of which may not occur until the baby is older. These can include:
Irritated skin
Thrush in the nipples
Infected nipples
Incorrect use of breast pumps
Milk under the skin
'White nipples'
Physical problems with the baby's mouth
Irritated skin. Women with long term skin conditions and/or irritations are often a little hesitant about the thought of breastfeeding their baby. However, even for women with chronic dermatitis, breastfeeding should still be possible, and if the baby learns how to latch correctly, it should be a smooth process, with few problems. You may wish to discuss your concerns with your hospital's
Lactation consultant during the pregnancy.
Occasionally, a woman will develop a skin irritation of her nipple (or breast), for the first time while breastfeeding, or mild dermatitis can be aggravated. This can happen in the early weeks after the birth, or several weeks, or months later. Skin irritations can be caused by a number of things and will usually make the nipple and areola look reddened or pink, or have dry, flaky or shiny skin, feel itchy and/or have a burning sensation.
To avoid skin irritations when breastfeeding it is important to: