Dry, flaky nipple - is one-sided feeding wise?

[AmIDoingThisRight]

Have been to GP as a bit panicked about dry, flaking nipple since Christmas. It's really dry and itchy sometimes, though not constantly. It's on the aereloa (sp?) and this area is now looking sore and inflamed with a sort of a sheen to it, and there's a little bit of peeling on the actual nipple if you see what I mean. Am breastfeeding DD (16 months) about 3 times a day and really don't want to stop because of this as she's really happy with the arrangement.

He checked it out yesterday and suggested that I stop feeding from that side for two weeks to see if there's any improvement. I think it might be related to a small (but painful!) bite that she gave me when she was teething before Christmas - it was quite a nip and did make it bleed I think. Could it be a skin infection perhaps?

He checked glands and I can't feel any obvious lump.

I've been Lansinohing and it helps, but it's still dry and flaking slightly. Also been using a bit of expressed milk and patting it in as heard it's antiseptic.

My question is (and he's not an expert on breastfeeding which is why I'm asking here - thanks if you've made it through this rambling!) is it wise to suddenly stop from one side for that length of time or will this just result in engorgement and compound the whole problem? I can express with my hand but this upsets and confuses DD as she wonders why she can't switch over to the other side as normal. Also, it's a faff to keep expressing as I have an older DS and time is not on my side during the day.

Has anybody had a similar problem?

sounds like thrush, esp when you describe the 'sheen' or the dry itchiness and peeling could be eczema on the aerola. i have had both and i continued bfeeding on the affected breast, it was mainly my left, tho i eventually got eczema on both aerolas, annoying and HUGELY itchy but it didnt affect bfeeding in any way.

what i would say is as your dd is older now and eating, perhaps something she is eating is affecting your breasts, if its not thrush that is? in which case make sure she has a drink of water after she eats to try and rinse her mouth a bit before she bfeeds.

for thrush you need a prescription treatment, a cream normally, sometimes a tablet if the infection doesnt respond to the cream. i also used to wash my breasts with a solution made of bicarb of soda and cooled boiled water as this discourages thrush. you may want to check your dd for signs of thrush as you can pass it back and forth to each other.

whether its thrush or eczema i dont think there is ANY reason to stop bfeeding on the affected side, i could be wrong, hopefully tiktok will be along to advise! but ime it didnt make any difference at all :)

oh and af it is eczema it culd be infected, inflamed and red are signs of an infection in which case a mild antibiotic cream maybe?

No idea about skin conditions sorry - madboys ' info sounds good! I do know that anything you can get on your skin can affect the nipple skin. I have heard of mothers seeing dermatologists with mystery conditions - maybe your GP could refer?

If you do decide to feed on one side, yes, you will need to gently hand express if you feel too full . You might be able to confuddle your dd by moving her so she is facing a different direction, but still stays on the same side (going from cross cradle to rugby ball on the same breast, in other words) but of course at 16 months she may resist being fooled :)

It's probably not thrush, by now you would have the same simtions in both breast if it was and probably deep breast pain between feeds to.

Do you suffer from dry skin or eczema at all. This sudden trun in the cold wearther often make's skin conditions like this worse.

Thank you ladies - it does actually sound like thrush because I do occasionally when I'm not feeding get a deep inside pain int he affected breast. Have been feeding from the unaffected side first for a little while which had helped but she prefers the painful side - typically! - and is a bit confused as to why I'm keeping her to the one for the moment. Will make another appointment to see if I can get some cream prescribed.

It's always a worry when it's breast-related - I was so worried about it the other night I couldn't sleep fearing the worst. And would be so upset if I had to stop breastfeeding because of this! Managed 2 years with DS and really enjoy it, and DD loves it too.

Thank you again - I really appreciate you taking the time to reply!

Just an added tuppence worth and not intended to alarm but if you think it might be thrush, you may need to get the LO treated at the same time to avoid reinfection from her back to you (assuming she may have picked it up).

Sorry to be a doom monger but I gave it to my DD and then she passed it back and we played boobie ping pong for weeks.... sigh......

Ah - thank you Loobyloo - that's a good thought!