Puffy Nipples – Causes And How To Get Rid Of Them

Puffy nipples are, in fact, quite common, especially among men. However natural and common they may be, many men feel self-conscious about them. They are caused by enlarged breast glands due to several factors, including excess fat, low testosterone levels, and the use of steroids.

This article covers several treatments to consider and lifestyle changes you can make to get rid of your puffy nipples.

Why Are My Nipples Puffy?

There are several possible causes of puffy nipples. The main causes tend to include the following:

• low testosterone levels;
• overdeveloped/enlarged breast tissue (gynecomastia);
• use of steroids and other medications;
• excess fat accumulation;
• obesity;
• genetics; or
• hormonal changes or imbalances.

Hormonal imbalances are a common cause of puffy nipples in men. Our body contains the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. Testosterone levels are higher in men and estrogen levels in women.

High levels of estrogen can cause mammary glands to grow, leading to puffy nipples in men.

Your thyroid may be overactive and produce too much thyroid hormone, which leads to hyperthyroidism. People who suffer from this condition may have problems with swollen breasts. Hyperthyroidism can disrupt your hormones and cause fat growth in the body.

Gynecomastia is the abnormal growth and development of breasts in men. The development of gynecomastia is unique for each patient and depends on the pattern and size of the affected glandular tissue.

Malnutrition can lead to a drop in testosterone levels in men, leading to puffy nipples. A balanced diet is also important for maintaining hormonal balance.

Being overweight and obese can cause an excess of fat in the breast tissue, giving the appearance of breasts and puffy nipples.

Obesity can also increase estrogen levels in some men, leading to swelling of the breast tissue.

It is possible to develop puffy teen nipples. During puberty, testosterone levels increase, which is caused by high estrogen levels and the conversion of testosterone into estrogen by the enzyme aromatase.

High levels of estrogen play an important role in the growth of breast tissue, leading to puffy nipples.

How To Get Rid Of Puffy Nipples

Although puffy nipples are quite common in men, they can cause a lot of discomfort and, in rare cases, even indicate a medical emergency.

You can get rid of puffy nipples in many cases by changing your diet and exercise routine. However, some cases may require surgery.

If you see no improvement after a few months of healthy eating and exercise, surgery may be necessary to reduce the swelling and restore the nipples to their former condition.

Healthy lifestyle changes and exercising can help reduce body fat and strengthen the breast muscles, creating a more sculptured and defined appearance.

Surgery may be an option for those who can not achieve desired results this way.

Diet

You should talk to a doctor or dietitian before making major dietary changes, especially if you are obese.

They will be able to instruct you on the most sustainable way to change your diet so you stick with it and do it healthily.

You should aim for a balanced diet, focusing on whole foods and essential nutrients. This is especially important if you are living with diabetes or another chronic disease.

A few dietary tips include:

• limiting sodium intake (salt)
• increase fruit and vegetable consumption
• eat whole grains instead of white bread and pasta
• swap full-fat dairy products for low-fat or plant-based alternatives (oat, soy, rice or almond milk)
• eat lean proteins like beans and fish
• avoid processed foods
• avoid foods with added sugar

Exercise

Cardiovascular training can help to lower total fat levels. In addition to improving diet and exercise, a targeted weight-lifting routine can help reduce the appearance of puffy nipples. This builds muscles in certain body areas, such as the chest.

The role of exercise and physical activity will increase the effectiveness of weight loss more likely if a person combines a reduced-calorie diet.

Physical activity and dietary changes lead to modest weight loss in many cases. Many programs promise rapid weight loss, but in general, people who want to lose and maintain weight should choose programs they can stick to over the long term.

Crash dieting only increases the risk of losing motivation and falling into unhealthy habits.

Cardiovascular exercises include running, jogging, walking, cycling, and swimming.

Cardiovascular training can help reduce overall weight, but people who want to reduce the appearance of puffy nipples should also consider incorporating targeted chest exercises into their routine.

These exercises focus on the chest ad breast muscles. Strengthening the breast and chest muscles can reduce the appearance of puffy nipples.

Examples of chest exercises that could be tried include breaststroke, push-ups, and bench press.

People interested in a specific program to strengthen chest muscles may want to talk with a personal trainer or another fitness professional about a routine that suits their needs and abilities. The guidance of a personal trainer can help to prevent injuries.

In some cases, increasing testosterone levels can help reduce the incidence of puffy nipples.

This can be the case if the person knows that swelling is due to low testosterone levels.

However, studies in this area are limited, and further research is needed to establish a clear claim. Speak to your doctor about hormone medications you can take.

There is little evidence that certain herbal supplements can help boost testosterone levels.

An herbal supplement that may have a positive effect on testosterone levels is Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). The effect of Ashwagandha on the nipple or breast tissue has not been proven.

Surgery

People should ask a doctor if surgical procedures can reduce puffy nipples syndrome.

Surgical options include:

• tissue excision (in which a surgeon makes a small incision to remove breast tissue)
• liposuction (in which fat that is not breast tissue is removed)
• mastectomy (breast removal for severe gynecomastia)
• noninvasive fat reduction (in which topical laser freeze is used to reduce the fat stored there)

A doctor can help you decide which option is best for you. Health Insurance does not commonly cover this, as it is considered cosmetic.