Overview
The condition of Puffy nipples in men is not generally a medical concern and is fairly common but many people dislike the appearance and feel uncomfortable. Puffy nipples are the result of male breast glandular tissue. The condition becomes apparent when a collection of gland and/or fatty tissue gathers below the areola (or slightly beyond it). This deposit causes the areola to appear dome shaped and can lead men to feel discomfort and embarrassment.
Causes
- Hormonal imbalance
Hormonal imbalance is the most common cause of the puffy nipples in men. Our body contains both the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. Generally testosterone levels are high in males and estrogen levels are high in females. The higher estrogen levels can cause the growth of the breast gland resulting puffy nipples in men.
- Hyperthyroidism
If your thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much of thyroxine hormone, it leads to hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism disturbs your hormones and cause fat growth in your body. People suffering from hyperthyroidism experience the problem of puffy nipples.
- Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is abnormal growth and development of breast in males. The development of gynecomastia will be unique for each patient, depending on the patterns and sizes of the glandular tissues involved.
- Obesity
Being overweight and obesity are more likely to have excess fat which can enlarge breast tissue and affect the appearance of breast and nipples. The obesity can also increase the estrogen levels in men resulting into puffy.
- Malnutrition
Balanced diet is very important for keeping hormonal balance. The malnourishment causes the dropping of testosterone levels in men and lead to puffy nipples.
- Puberty
During the puberty stage, the testosterone levels may increase and this sudden increase causes the high estrogen level due to the conversion of testosterone to estrogen from the aromatase enzyme. The high estrogen levels play major role in the growth of the breast tissue leading to puffy nipple syndrome.
- Steroid use
Using anabolic steroids and alcohol lead to puffy nipples due to hormonal imbalance
How to get rid of puffy nipples?
Dietary habits
- Consume natural and nutritious food
Eat only when you are hungry. Consume natural and wholesome foods. Take more quantity of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. These foods give more energy, all the required nutrients and not give unnecessary fat. Natural food items cause no harm to the body. Any excess of these foods will be thrown out by liver and kidney.
- Completely avoid processed and packaged foods
The fried, baked and packaged foods lead to more fat storage. Excess of these foods causes chronic diseases.
Regular exercises
Do physical exercises for at least one hour per day.
Chest exercises typically focus on the pectoral muscles. Strengthened pectoral and chest muscles may reduce the appearance of puffy nipples.
People should also aim to add some other into their workout routine such as warm-up exercises, yoga, pranayama, swimming, running, jogging, walking, dancing and cycling.
Testosterone boosting supplements
If puffy nipples resulting due to low testosterone levels, some herbal supplements can help boost the testosterone levels. In that case, the increases testosterone levels reduce the appearance of puffy nipples. One herbal supplement that may potentially have a positive impact on testosterone levels is ashwagandha . You should consult your doctor before starting medication for boosting testosterone levels.
When might surgery be required?
Surgery may be required to treat abnormal breast conditions in men if proper dietary and exercise-related changes do not help.
Surgical procedures
Surgical procedures to treat enlarged breasts or puffy nipples in men include:
- Liposuction: This procedure removes body fat using a small tube called a cannula, which is connected to a high pressure vacuum.
- Mastectomy: A mastectomy involves removing excess breast tissue or cancerous growths from the breast.
- Tissue excision: During this procedure, a surgeon will remove glandular breast tissue and excess skin to correct gynecomastia. The surgeon may reduce the size of the nipple for a more natural appearance.
When to see a doctor
Men who notice that their nipples appear larger than usual may seek a professional medical opinion as soon as they can. In some cases, gynecomastia and breast swelling can be serious. We can treat those conditions if detect early. Early detection of such conditions can lead to better puffy nipples syndrome treatment outcomes, so it is important that people should consult a doctor for better treatment. Doctor will be able to prescribe and suggest the best treatment and other methods like Puffy Nipples Syndrome Surgery by diagnosing the root cause of problem.
Medically reviewed by
Prof. Venkata Kiran Kumar Mandlem is Head Of Department in CMR College of pharmacy Hyderabad . He Completed PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Andhra University . More info about him MV Kiran Linkedin