Those of us who love the beach and swimming in the ocean can identify with the feeling of freedom. The open-air, smell of salt, grains of sand between your toes then you notice bam …. Pain. Your nipples feel as if they are on fire, aching for this ideal picturesque moment ruined by what exactly? Leaving you asking why do my nipples hurt after swimming?
Why Do My Nipples Hurt After Swimming – Causes and Solutions
If you have suffered from significant pain or erect nipples whilst at the beach then you are not alone. You may still be asking yourself why do my nipples hurt in salt water? Nipple getting hurt after swimming is a condition known as ‘surfers nipple’ and can affect anyone causing significant pain, and chaffing from either sand salt or tight clothing. You can be affected regardless if you surf or not.
Why Does My Nipple Hurt After The Beach?
So if you asking yourself why do my nipples hurt after the beach- no matter if you are a newbie to the beach or a mermaid, being in the sea all the time, surfers ‘ nipples can affect anyone. Men and women alike can be affected causing discomfort, pain, and sometimes bleeding. But what exactly is this condition and how can we get a handle on it? Whether it’s a remedy for the pain or avoidance tactics stick with us and we will cover all you have to know.
‣ Surfers Nipple
This term can affect you regardless of whether you surf or not. Surfers’ nipple is commonly caused by friction to the nipples, be it from a wetsuit, swimsuit, chemicals, sand, or salt. It can occur in open waters, or in a chlorinated pool. No matter how well you feel you are protected whether it’s a wet suit or a padded bathing suit you can still feel the effects of sore and tender nipples.
Typically anything that comes into contact with your breasts can cause discomfort. Doctors have now become aware that this is a certified condition that many women have presented with. As you swim your breasts will float causing friction between them and the water. Not to mention the salt and sand they will come into contact with. Wetsuits have their part to play too as they are form-fitting they can cause chaffing on the tender area of your breasts.
If left untreated then the soreness from the nipple can become dry and cracked. If you have ever experienced this then you will understand how much pain this can endure! If cracked it may lead to infection or bleeding.
‣ Other Irritants
Before you diagnose yourself as to why do my nipples hurt after swimming as just swimmers nipple, it is important for us to consider other circumstances that can cause you to suffer from nipple pain.
We, women, put our bodies through so much from pregnancy to childbirth it is easy to forget that our bodies have a cocktail of hormones rushing around.
‣ Menstrual Cycle
As you are well aware, at certain times of the month your body prepares itself for the monthly visit from aunt Flo. Whilst you may not be bleeding your body will be going through the motions. Nipple issues can occur weeks before your period is due.
Personally, I found that my breasts become super sensitive in the middle of my cycle so regardless of whether I’m down the beach or not nipple pain can occur.
From overly erect nipples to a dull ache in the areola, it is our hormones we can blame. Mix this up with added friction from salt or chlorinated water and tah dah … you have your answer. Whilst it may not be surfers nipple you can expect some tenderness during your cycle.
‣ Breastfeeding
Regarding breastfeeding, it is pretty obvious that having a suckling monster machine on your breasts can cause irritation. If you find it is worsening when you are swimming you can look at the avoidance techniques further in this article.
You can also find handy tips for relieving nipple pain from breastfeeding from your lactation consultant or doctor. Remember you can continue to feed whilst suffering from cracked nipples but I recommend using a guard or nipple shield to help protect them from further damage.
‣ Pregnancy
Many women indicate early pregnancy by how their breasts feel. A spike in hormones can make your nipples more tender and sensitive to their environments. If you suspect that you could be pregnant then be sure to take an at-home pregnancy testing kit. If you have never suffered from nipple tenderness whilst swimming before then this could be the reason for it.
‣ Breast Pain
Breast pain can be caused by damage to the breast tissue itself or if you have pulled the muscles that sit beneath the chest wall.
It can also become apparent after you have had sex, you may not notice but your partner may have been fairly rough during foreplay which will leave them feeling sore, and tender.
The severity of pain can depend on the causes. Breast pain can be present whether you are resting or playing in the ocean.
If you have just started surfing them be sure to take it easy as you are using muscles that have never been overly worked before.
What Does Nipple Hurting After Swimming Indicate?
After reading that nipple tenderness can be completely normal there could be times when there is a more serious issue at hand.
Consider your lifestyle, if you suspect a pregnancy then this can explain your nipple pain. If you are an avid swimmer then it’s highly likely that you have swimmers nipple.
Overall nipple pain can be a common occurrence especially if you are an experienced surfer.
If you have nipple pain without any reason for the cause then you could be looking at a more serious condition.
Paget’s Disease is known to cause soreness in the nipples, it is a sign of breast cancer that can provide you with symptoms even if you haven’t been in contact with any irritants mentioned previously. If you are concerned at all then seeking early intervention can help diagnose any underlying issues.
I beg you before you give yourself this diagnosis to remember that nipple tenderness can be from a number of things like:
- Friction from clothing or bathing suits.
- Regular swimming or contact with irritants.
- A part of your monthly cycle.
- Breastfeeding
- Breast trauma – being hit, pulled, or having rough sex.
Remedies when Your Nipples are Sore after Swimming in Ocean
So you are at the stage where the irritation has already occurred. You will be looking for remedies to help your nipples heal if cracked.
Unfortunately, there is no fast way around the healing process but as we have identified the cause of your pain could be friction so it is important that you only ever pat dry to avoid more friction.
The best ways to aid healing are
- Wash with mild soap and pat dry.
- Put the moisture back in with either petroleum jelly or an unperfumed moisturizer.
- Any cracks or bleeding needs to be dressed and bandaged.
- You may need a steroid cream to reduce swelling.
- Ice therapy can also help to numb any pain. Ensure that your cold pack is covered before applying it to your nipples.
If you need medication then you will need to speak to your healthcare practitioner to ensure you have the correct strength.
Avoiding Nipple Irritation
If you are still concerned as to ‘why do my nipples hurt after swimming in the ocean?’ Then look at a few of the nip tips we have found.
‣ Proper Clothing
Wearing the correct attire for swimming is important. Loose clothing can increase the friction between your nipples and the water or the t-shirt you wear.
If you are an experienced surfer then ensure your wetsuit is correctly fitting and you could wear a supported sports bra as extra protection.
‣ A Bandage or Waterproof Dressing
Covering your nipples with waterproof bandages or plasters also protects your nips from abrasion. This can create a barrier from whatever you are finding irritating.
‣ Lubricant
If a dressing isn’t something you are happy to use then you could try a lubricating jelly. In turn, these jellies are waterproof and maintain a barrier between the water and your nipples.
Why Do My Nipples Hurt after Swimming in Pool?
After swimming in a pool, you may notice that your nipples feel sore or sensitive. This is because the cold water can cause the blood vessels in your nipples to constrict, which can lead to discomfort. Additionally, the chlorine in pool water can irritate your skin and make your nipples more susceptible to pain. If you’re experiencing nipple pain after swimming, and asking yourself the question ‘Why do my nipples hurt after swimming in pool?’ – try wearing a swimsuit that covers your chest or applying a soothing lotion to your skin. You should also avoid swimming in very cold water or pools with high levels of chlorine. To avoid nipple getting hurt in a pool, follow these suggestions-
1. Try wearing a swimsuit that covers your chest.
2. Apply a soothing lotion to your skin before swimming.
3. Avoid swimming in very cold water or pools with high levels of chlorine.
4. Drink plenty of water before and after swimming to stay hydrated.
5. Try using a barrier cream or nipple shields when swimming
Wrapping Up
To answer the question why do my nipples hurt after swimming? – It is clear that this is a common concern that can affect many men and women. Whilst we women also have other reasons why we have nipple tenderness it is important that you get it rectified before infection sets in.
If your nipple pain is because of hormone changes then you could either wait it out or take over-the-counter painkillers.
On the other hand, if you think the pain is a bigger concern then don’t wait and see if it disappears get a quick check-up you may be surprised to find that it is only swimmers nipple.
Hopefully, you have found your answer and I wish you and your nipples a healthy pain-free swim session!
