Bulbous Nipples

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Bulbous Nipples
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They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
If you've ever thought your nipples looked kind of different, you're definitely not alone. It's pretty common for women to worry about their breast health , as well as whether or not everything looks as it "should." But guess what? Since they come in all shapes and sizes, it's pretty likely your nipples are totally normal — and healthy — just as they are.
Whether you have large nipples, small nipples, soft nipples, or ones that are pushed inward (otherwise known as "inverted"), it's all well within normal range. "There is no one universal template of normal and women should not have to feel like they must fit a single standard mold," board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tsippora Shainhouse M.D., FAAD , tells Bustle. "By showing different variations ... women can understand that they are both unique and more similar than they think, and that they are not alone."
You should, however, note any changes in your nipples or breasts, especially if they're sudden. "If you notice any new or recent changes in your breast tissue , overlying skin, or in the nipples, get it checked out by your physician," she says. For the most part, though, most types of nipples are considered healthy. Read on for some common shapes, sizes, and colors, and know that they're nothing to worry about.
Inverted nipples, for one, are actually incredibly common. In fact, as Dr. David Greuner, M.D. , a double-board-certified surgeon and co-founder of NYC Surgical Associates , tells Bustle, 10 to 20 percent of women have them. "Inverted nipples are usually just a part of your genetic makeup," he says, adding that they're nothing to be embarrassed about. While they can occasionally make breastfeeding difficult — if you should choose to do that — they won't cause any other issues.
While both nipples can be inverted, it's also possible to have one that is and one that isn't. "If this is your [nipple type], it is perfectly safe," Shainhouse says. "If this is a new finding, it can be a sign of breast cancer ." If that's the case, don't hesitate to see your doctor.
Many women have a nipple surrounded by a round ring of color known as the areola , but this isn't true for everyone. "Women can have almost invisible areolas because of a small size and the color may almost match their skin tone," Greuner says. That size and color are a common variation, he explains, so “having almost no areola is completely fine."
Flat nipples, as well as puffier ones, are perfectly healthy, too. These are more common for girls in their pre-teens and teens, but Shainhouse says they can stick around into adulthood. "Either the entire areola /nipple looks like a small mound on top of the breast or the nipple is just flat and almost melds into the areola," she says. "The nipple can harden and become more raised with cold/stimulation."
You know those little bumps on your areola around the nipple ? Also incredibly common. "These are actually glands called Montgomery glands ," Shainhouse says. "They can look like whiteheads, and sometimes you can squeeze out a little bit of keratin/dead skin cells — but don't play with them." Some women have more than others — either way, it’s nothing to sweat about.
If you find that hairs grow around your nipples , here's your friendly reminder that it's simply part of being a mammal. "It is fairly common to have stray, dark hairs growing out of the areola area," Shainhouse says. "They can be fine, or more coarse, like pubic hairs. Rarely, it can be related to conditions in which you have too much testosterone ( polycystic ovary syndrome ), but it is usually common."
If you have a third nipple , never fear. Also known as a "supernumerary nipple," it happens to a decent amount of ladies as well as men. As Shainhouse says, "All mammals have nipples and many mammals have many nipples along a 'milk line'. It is not uncommon for humans to be born with extra, smaller nipples along this milk line. They can look like flat moles or have a fully-formed, raised bump." Nothin' to worry about.
The opposite of an inverted nipple is considered a "normal" nipple in the medical world. As Shainhouse says, "[A normal nipple] refers to the normally everted nipple that can become harder or erect with cold or stimulation. They are usually a few millimeters above the surface of the areola at rest/regular state." She does say, however, that most women's nipples do not fall into this category, despite the fact they're called "normal."
If you're worried about the length of your nipples, it may be time to think about them differently. "Nipples come in all shapes and sizes," says Greuner. "Having extra long or extra small nipples is not uncommon at all. Different people are born and develop in different ways; there is no medical reasoning for the size of your nipple and no reason for them to cause distress." As mentioned before, the only time you should worry is if there are any sudden changes in size or they become mismatched. If that happens, give your doctor a call.
The color of your nipples is dependent on your skin tone, so they'll obviously vary for everyone. "Usually your nipples and areola are a little darker than the rest of your skin," Greuner says. But they can also change over time. "Your areolae can ... change color in times of puberty and then change in adulthood as well as when you are pregnant ." This is all due to hormone fluctuations .
When it comes to the size of your nipple and areola, it's perfectly fine for them to be bigger. "Some women have nipples that take up a third of their breast ," gynecologist Dr. Prudence Hall, M.D. of The Hall Center , tells Bustle. "They are all absolutely and perfectly feminine. I don't believe this variability or lack of uniformity should be [a] concern."
So, there you have it. As long as your breasts and nipples are healthy, it doesn't matter if your nipples are extra long, puffy, or inverted. It's usually all a-OK and nothing worth worrying about.
Boyd, N. (2010). Breast Tissue Composition and Susceptibility to Breast Cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2923218/
Nagaraja Rao D, Winters R. Inverted Nipple. [Updated 2020 Nov 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-.
Dr. David Greuner, M.D. , a double-board-certified surgeon and co-founder of NYC Surgical Associates
Dr. Prudence Hall, M.D., gynecologist with The Hall Center

Gigi is Thrillist's Sex and Dating staff writer. She's got nips and she's not afraid to use 'em. Follow her lovable crazy on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram @GigiEngle.
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Nipples are odd things: little balls of tissue, just kind of hanging out on our chests. Of course, their chief job -- to develop and produce milk for babies -- is super cool. But we've all got nipples. Even men.
When humans are about four weeks in utero, breast tissue begins to form around the milk lines, which run from under your armpits to the sides of your belly. Donnica Moore , MD, president of Sapphire Women’s Health Group, tells Thrillist that, "Breast development is stimulated by increasing levels of estrogen. During the breast bud stage, the nipples and breasts are slightly raised. Milk ducts begin to form, fat tissue accumulates, and the areolae begin to enlarge and may appear puffy."
And though women are (usually) the only ones to grow fully developed breasts, all nipples have about the same number of nerve endings (800!)... making them very real erogenous zones for all genders.
Nipples and breasts are as unique as you are! "No two breasts are alike, breasts contain different amounts of breast tissue," says Dr. Rebecca Brightman, of East Side Women's Associates .
They're nothing to be self-conscious about -- variety is the spice of life, people. But while they're different, there are also a few main types of nipples, which I've outlined for you below. Chances are good that your nips fall into one of these categories, or a combination of a few. And whether they're cone-shaped, inverted, bumpy, hairy, or flat, they're chock-full of flavor and personality.
Protruding nipples involve the areola and top of the nipple forming a ball. My mom's nips are like this and I remember thinking this was a very mature, adult kind of nipple to have. It isn't. I was just a freak.
Bumps are totally normal. So if you've got some, don't freak out. Dr. Moore says the bumps are called Montgomery glands and while their function is relatively unknown, if you fall into this category of nip, you are fine. The bumps I'm referring to are when you've got small bumps peppered around the areola. You can have bumps and have protruding, flat, inverted, or cone-shaped nipples as well. It's all a bit confusing and weird.
Flat implies that the entire nipple lays flat, and is one consistency (can still get hard though!). They vary in size. "Women who are more mature, who have larger breasts, can have larger areolas. You know, it depends on the amount of underlying breast tissue, it's really varied, there's a real spectrum in terms of what is considered as normal," Dr. Brightman tells us. You might have pancake nipples like me, or little bitty ones like Kate Moss (I assume). You can have large, flat areolas on small boobs or on big boobs. Everything is one big ol' mixture.
Hairy nipples are also really normal, though Dr. Moore points out that it isn't the nipple itself that grows hair, but the areola. The hair is usually around the areola and can be peach fuzz or more coarse hair. If this is something that bothers you, you can always shave it or use a hair remover. Just be sure to be VERY careful with a razor to avoid nicks. Check with your dermatologist about types of hair removers because nipples are very sensitive and you could potentially get a rash. OUCH.
Also referred to as "puffy nipples," cone-shaped nipples are when the entire nip is puffy and protrudes from the rest of the breast, in an oblong or cone-like shape. This is also normal so stop freaking out.
Sometimes your nipples are not totally out and about to hang. Inverted nipples are when the tip of the nipple slips inward, pointing inside of the body. "If you can manipulate the inverted nipple so that it sticks out, it is most likely fine," Dr. Moore says. In other cases, the entire nipple might be inverted, though this is more rare.
Sometimes your nipples are a combination of these types. Other times, one nipple may fit into one category while the other does not. Nipples can even change. One day you might find you have bumps on your areola that weren't there before or that your nipple has moved inward. Just call your doc if anything starts to hurt, changes color, or sees a dramatic transformation.
Healthy nipples = happy nipples. Dr. Moore tells us there are instances when you should see a doctor, "if a nipple that was typically outward pointing becomes inverted, this may be a sign of breast cancer." Sorry to scare you, but you should definitely get checked out if this happens.
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You probably know that breasts come in all different sizes and colors , but did you know the same goes for nipples? Actually, there are eight different kinds of nipples, says Dr. Tsippora Shainhouse, M.D. , a board-certified dermatologist and pediatrician. All of them are normal, and it's certainly possible to have a combination of two or more types (like protruding and bumpy or flat and hairy). And maybe, your nipples don't exactly fit into any of these categories. That's cool too! All nipples are normal, no matter how big, small, flat, or hairy they may be. Read on to learn more about what kind of nipples you have.
First, though, some definitions. You most likely have heard the terms nipple and areola, but there's a chance you don't know exactly what they mean. The two of them together make up what you might refer to as your nipple. The areola is the pigmented round area on your breast, while the nipple is the actual projection. Got it? OK, now let's dive in.
Protruding: This refers to nipples that are raised a few millimeters above the surface of the areola and point outwards. The nipple can harden and become more pronounced when cold or stimulated.
Flat: The entire nipple is flat and blends into the areola. The nipple can harden and become more pronounced when cold or stimulated.
Puffy: The entire areola and nipple area looks like a small, raised mound on top of the breast. The nipple can harden and become more pronounced when cold or stimulated.
Inverted: The nipple retracts inwards. Sometimes, you can use your fingers to bring it out, but sometimes, the muscles are too tight.
Unilateral inverted: One nipple is raised, the other is inverted. If this has always been the case, it's perfectly safe. If this is a new development, it might be a sign of breast cancer, so see your doctor immediately.
Bumpy: It's common to have bumps on the areola surrounding the nipple. These bumps are called Montgomery glands and can sometimes look like whiteheads. Sometimes, you might be able to squeeze dead skin cells out of them, but don't play with them. Every woman has the glands, but some people are bumpier than others.
Hairy: Stray, dark hairs growing out of the areola area are normal. They might be fine or coarse. It's safe to pluck them out with a tweezer. Every woman has hair follicles, but some people are hairier than others.
Supernumerary: Some people (like Harry Styles!) have extra, smaller nipples. They either look like flat moles or have a fully-formed, raised bump.
Hannah Orenstein is the author of several novels, including Meant to Be Mine (out June 7, 2022), Head Over Heels, Love at First Like, and Playing with Matches. She's also the Deputy Editor of Dating at Elite Daily. She lives in Brooklyn. 
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Rachel Jacoby Zoldan is a native New Yorker who has been a writer and editor for over a decade, covering health, wellness, and beauty. Always fascinated by human behavior, Rachel received her B.A. in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. Since then, she's contributed to publications such as SELF (where... Read more
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If you’ve ever found yourself googling something “weird” you’ve noticed about your nipples (like “bumps on nipple” or “third nipple”), you’re not alone. There is so much variation when it comes to nipples —like the look, shape, texture, color, and size—that you’ve likely wondered at least once whether or not yours are “normal.”
And while the many differences you spot may give you pause, fear not: Chances are, you have totally normal nipples and whatever you’re noticing is a natural variation. That said, there’s a small chance your nipples might be trying to tell you something about your health. Keep reading to learn which seemingly weird nipple things are actually pretty run-of-the-mill and which are a sign you should check with your doctor.
Before we start talking about “normal nipples,” let’s get some definitions out of the way. Sometimes people think the entire pink or brown part of your boobs is your nipples but actually, your nipples are just the center part of the dark area—yep, where milk comes out if you breastfeed, according to the Cleveland Clinic . The dark skin surrounding the nipples, on the other hand, is called the areola, and it has glands (called Montgomery glands) that secrete fluid to aid in breastfeeding.
But if you’re searching around about something your nipples are doing, you’re probably wondering about your literal nipples, your areolas, or both. So keep in mind that we’ll be going by the anatomical definitions in this article.
Now that you know exactly what we mean by “nipples,” here are those “weird” issues that are actually just part of having normal nipples:
The size of your nipples means nothing. Like really, nothing. There are all different sizes and shapes. Don’t believe us? Check out this (NSFW) gallery for a reality check on the wide range of what nips really look like. And if you had any kind of worry about your nipple size having any association with your health, don’t. “The size of your nipple has no relevance to cancer risk, for example,” Maggie DiNome, M.D., director of the Margie Peterson Breast Center at John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA tells SELF.
Likewise, Debra Patt, M.D., a medical oncologist and breast cancer specialist with Texas Oncology , a practice in the U.S. Oncology Network, agrees: “Generally the size variability in the nipple and nipple-areolar complex is not a medical condition, just physiologic variability."
Whether your nipples are so p
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