Cracked nipples are commonly associated with breastfeeding, but they happen just as often to people who aren’t pregnant or nursing. The skin on and around the nipple is thinner and more sensitive than most of your body, making it vulnerable to friction, dryness, skin conditions, and irritants. Most causes are straightforward and treatable at home, though a few deserve a closer look from a doctor.
Friction Is the Most Common Culprit
If you exercise regularly, friction from clothing is the most likely explanation. Known as “jogger’s nipple,” this happens when fabric rubs against the nipple thousands of times during a workout. Each stride or pedal stroke shifts your shirt slightly across your chest, and over time that repetitive contact chafes the skin enough to crack it and even cause bleeding. One study found that nearly 36% of runners logging more than 40 miles a week experienced nipple chafing.
Several things make friction worse. Sweat-soaked shirts cling to your skin and amplify the rubbing. Cotton is particularly problematic because it absorbs moisture and gets heavy. Cold weather also plays a role: nipples become more erect and therefore more exposed to contact with fabric. Rough or heavy materials compound the issue further.
Switching to lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics helps significantly. You can also place adhesive bandages or specialized nipple covers over each nipple before a run to create a physical barrier. Applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly or an anti-chafe balm before exercise reduces friction as well. If the damage is already done, the cracked skin typically heals within a few days once you remove the source of irritation.
Eczema and Other Skin Conditions
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is one of the more common skin conditions that targets the nipple area. Nipple eczema causes redness, scaling, and fissures on the nipple, areola, or surrounding skin. It’s often intensely itchy or painful. In a study of people with nipple eczema, about 58% had fissuring, 73% had oozing, 69% had flaking or peeling skin, and 64% experienced bleeding. Dry skin in the area was present in more than half of cases.
If you already have eczema elsewhere on your body, nipple involvement isn’t unusual. Nipple eczema is actually listed as a minor diagnostic criterion for atopic dermatitis. It tends to flare and settle in cycles, and both nipples are usually affected. Treatment generally involves keeping the area moisturized and using a topical anti-inflammatory as directed by your doctor.
Psoriasis can also appear on the nipple, producing thick, silvery scales and cracking. Contact dermatitis, a reaction to something touching your skin, is another possibility, which is covered below.
Allergic Reactions and Irritants
Your nipples sit against fabric all day, and that fabric carries residues from whatever you washed it with. Fragrances, preservatives, and chemical additives in laundry detergents, fabric softeners, soaps, and body washes are among the most common triggers for contact dermatitis on the nipple. Even ingredients you wouldn’t suspect can be the problem. Textile dyes (like disperse blue 106, found in some bra linings), preservatives in personal care products, and chemical compounds used in bra padding have all been identified as allergens that cause nipple reactions.
The pattern is often a clue: if the cracking started after you switched detergents, tried a new body wash, or started wearing a new bra, an allergic reaction is worth considering. The fix is identifying and eliminating the irritant. Switching to fragrance-free, dye-free detergent and skipping fabric softener is a reasonable first step. Rinsing bras with an extra water cycle can help remove residue. If the cracking clears up within a week or two, you’ve likely found your answer.
Hormonal Changes and Dryness
Fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone affect your nipple skin in ways you might not expect. In the week leading up to your period, nipples are most likely to become sore and sensitive. This cyclical hormonal shift can make nipple skin drier and more prone to cracking, especially if you’re already dealing with dry skin or mild friction from clothing. If you notice the cracking tends to come and go in sync with your cycle, hormones are a likely contributor.
Menopause brings a more sustained hormonal change. Lower estrogen levels reduce skin hydration and elasticity across the body, and nipple skin is no exception. Keeping the area moisturized with a fragrance-free cream or ointment can help counteract this dryness.
Infections That Cause Cracking
Fungal infections, particularly yeast (candida), can affect nipple skin even if you’re not breastfeeding. The warm, slightly moist environment under a bra creates favorable conditions. Yeast-related nipple problems typically cause persistent redness, a shiny or glazed appearance, burning or stinging pain, and skin that cracks or flakes. The discomfort often seems out of proportion to what you can see on the surface.
Bacterial infections are also possible, especially if cracked skin allows bacteria to enter. This can progress from surface irritation to a deeper infection of the breast tissue. Signs include increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or discharge. Both fungal and bacterial nipple infections require treatment from a healthcare provider, as the specific type of infection determines the right approach.
How to Care for Cracked Nipples at Home
For most non-serious causes, a few simple steps promote healing. Keep the area clean with lukewarm water and avoid soap directly on the nipple, since soap strips natural oils from already-compromised skin. Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer, purified lanolin, or petroleum jelly to keep the cracked skin from drying out further. Moist wound healing, where you prevent the skin from drying and scabbing, generally leads to faster recovery.
Hydrogel dressings, available at most pharmacies, are another option. Research comparing hydrogel dressings to lanolin ointment found that the hydrogel group had significantly greater pain reduction and zero infections, compared to eight infections in the lanolin group. These dressings create a protective, moist environment over the nipple that shields it from further irritation while it heals.
Wear soft, well-fitting bras made from breathable fabric. Avoid lace or seams that sit directly over the nipple. If friction during exercise is the issue, cover your nipples with adhesive bandages or anti-chafe products before your workout.
When Cracking Could Signal Something Serious
Paget disease of the breast is a rare form of cancer that affects the nipple and can look remarkably similar to eczema. It typically appears on one nipple only and causes itching, tingling, redness, flaking, crusty or thickened skin, and sometimes a yellowish or bloody discharge. The nipple may gradually flatten. Some people also have a lump in the same breast.
The key differences from eczema: Paget disease almost always affects just one side, it doesn’t respond to typical eczema treatments, and it gets progressively worse rather than flaring and settling. If you have persistent nipple changes on one side that haven’t improved after a few weeks of basic care, or if you notice discharge or a flattening nipple, getting it evaluated promptly is important. A biopsy can distinguish Paget disease from benign skin conditions definitively.