How many montgomery glands are normal

It may be tempting to squeeze them, especially if they have yellow or white heads, but resist the urge. It can introduce bacteria that may lead to infection. You can wash Montgomery glands along with the rest of your nipple with soap and warm water, but avoid harsh cleansers.

If you're breastfeeding, you can manually express a few drops of milk after you nurse and rub them onto your nipples as that also has moisturizing and antimicrobial properties.

Wear bras and bra pads made out of breathable material like cotton, which will help keep your glands dry and infection-free. And if your nipples are sore and cracked from nursing, try rubbing in a little bit of lanolin. Just wipe them clean before feeding your baby. If you notice signs of infection such as redness, pain and swelling, see your doctor. Warm compresses and oral antibiotics can usually easily treat an infection and get the bumps back to normal.

Many women notice their tubercles during pregnancy. But hormonal imbalances, stress or significant weight change can also make them look more noticeable. Some people may have large, obvious bumps, while others have small ones that are barely visible. Your Montgomery glands could be blocked: Just like oil glands on your face and the rest of your body, your Montgomery glands can get plugged and cause zits to form.

This can result in little, red, swollen bumps. You have an ingrown hair: If you examine the bumps on your nipples and areolae, you might notice strands of hair. The thing is, wherever hair grows on your body, the possibility of ingrown hair follows. Ingrown hairs happen when strands of hair curl in on themselves and go back into the skin rather than emerging from the skin as they should, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Ingrowns can look similar to pimples, but one major difference is that you can sometimes see a little loop of hair with each end embedded into the skin, the Mayo Clinic says. You may also experience pain and itching. Despite their theoretical role in breastfeeding, Montgomery glands are there whether you get pregnant or not. Other early symptoms of pregnancy may include:. Later in pregnancy, you may notice increasing tubercles on your nipples as your body prepares for breastfeeding.

Your nipples may become darker and larger as your pregnancy progresses. This is completely normal and not cause for concern. These glands secrete an antibacterial oil. This oil serves an important purpose to moisten and protect the nipples during breastfeeding. Also avoid any disinfectants or other substances that could dry or damage the area around your nipples.

Instead, just rinse your breasts with water during your daily shower. If you notice any drying or cracking, apply a few drops of healing lanolin. Avoid non-breathable plastic lining in bra pads or in your nursing bra. Look out for redness or painful swelling around the nipple area.

See your doctor if you notice these or any other unusual changes. Let your doctor know if you experience any itching or a rash, as they may be symptoms of a yeast infection. See your doctor right away if you notice any blood or pus. In rare cases, changes in appearance around the nipple area may be a symptom of breast cancer. Notify your doctor right away if you notice any other symptoms of breast cancer , including:. The tubercles will usually shrink or disappear completely on their own following pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what Montgomery tubercles are, what causes them and how they function. We also have some tips for how to recognise when the tubercles are normal or when they may signal a problem. Tubercles are sebaceous glands, which you have all over your body but are particularly active in some specific areas. Their basic function is to lubricate and protect the skin.

These are the same glands that produce the natural lubrication that makes hair supple, or greasy if left unwashed, and can cause oily skin, especially during puberty. These glands are only known as Montgomery tubercles when they are on the nipples and areolas of your breasts.

Here, they have a similar function, producing secretions which are rich in moisturising lipids to lubricate the skin of the nipples and provide a protective oily barrier to guard against infection.

We all know that breasts and nipples come in a very wide variety of shapes and sizes, and the same goes for Montgomery tubercles. These tubercles may vary in number from only one or two to as many as Their number can also increase in response to hormonal changes — the most obvious example being pregnancy. While Montgomery tubercles can be an early sign of pregnancy, this is not experienced by all pregnant women.