
24 January 2023
What Should My Areola Look Like?
The areola is the pigmented, circular area that surrounds the nipple. Darker in colour when compared to the rest of the skin, the areola contains little bumps known as Montgomery glands to moisturise the nipple. You may be concerned about the size, shape, or general look of your areolas. Suffolk Breast Practice can provide you with information to help you understand your areolas.
Is My Areola Normal?
While areolas vary in shape and size, they can change over the course of a lifetime. Naturally, puberty can alter the look of the areolas due to the fluctuating levels of oestrogen in the body, and other hormonal factors need to be considered, which causes breast growth and a darkening of the areolas. Gaining weight can also increase the size of your areolas, as can pregnancy. If you are uncomfortable with the size of your areolas, reduction surgery is available. Visit our page on areola reduction surgery for more information.
Changes to the areola can also be an indicator of an underlying malignant condition. Certain breast conditions, such as breast cancer or breast infections, can alter the look of your areolas. Paget’s disease of the nipple, for example, can alter the feel and look of the areola and often appears as a rash. If you are concerned about changes to your areola, please contact us for a consultation. You can also visit our breast cancer page for more information on breast cancer and its symptoms. Please note, that it is best not to self diagnose and to obtain information from a professional health care provider.

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