Ask Anne...

Question:
What can I do about a painful blister on my breast?

Answer:
 
     There are several things that can cause blisters on your nipples. If there is just one blister, and it looks like a white dot, it could be a "bleb"(milk blister).  This is caused by a nipple pore that clogs and the skin seals over it. The milk backs up inside, and the area becomes inflamed and painful.  The spot can be white or yellowish, depending on how long the milk has been backed up. They usually clear up within a few days, but can be extremely painful
     The treatment for blebs is similar to the treatment for plugged ducts.  Use warm compresses to soften the blister before you nurse, and nurse as often as possible. Between feedings, you can use cold packs to numb the pain and take an analgesic like Advil to help with the discomfort.
    Usually the baby's suckling will pull out the clog of milk.  If it doesn't come out when the baby nurses, try pumping or hand expressing after you nurse. If the clog comes out while you are pumping, it may look like a strand of spaghetti or a clot of whitish stuff, so don't be surprised if something strange looking comes out of your nipple. It's just clotted milk, and won't hurt your baby if he does swallow it.
    If the blister doesn't open on its own, sometimes you need to drain it yourself. Take a sterile needle and break the skin over the blister, then gently express the clogged milk. Afterwards, apply hydrogen peroxide and an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin to prevent infection. You’re your doctor if any signs of infection develop, such as inflammation, pus, or fever. Usually, the blister won't come back, but if it does, then you should contact your doctor to see if it needs to be aspirated and removed completely in an office procedure.
    If you have several blisters instead of just one, then the cause is often thrush (yeast infection).  Usually with a yeast infection you will have some other symptoms in addition to the blisters: burning pain, sensitivity to touch, shooting pains inside your breast, and possibly symptoms in the baby as well (diaper rash, gassiness, milky coating on tongue, etc.).
     There are articles on my website that might be helpful in providing additional information, including "Breast Infections and Plugged Ducts" and "Information Sheet and Care Plan for Yeast Infections".

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