Silverettes are small cups made from 925 sterling silver that fit over your nipples between breastfeeding sessions. They protect cracked, sore, or damaged nipple tissue while using silver’s natural antimicrobial properties to promote healing. Most mothers use them during the first four to eight weeks postpartum, when nipple soreness tends to be at its worst.
How Silver Promotes Healing
Silver has been used in wound care for centuries, and the science behind it is well established. When silver comes into contact with moisture on your skin (like residual breast milk), it releases silver ions. These ions attack bacteria in multiple ways: they bind to proteins and enzymes that bacteria need to survive, damage bacterial cell walls, and interfere with cell division. The result is that bacteria on and around your nipples are less likely to multiply and cause infection.
This matters because cracked nipples are essentially open wounds. They’re warm, moist, and regularly exposed to a baby’s mouth, making them vulnerable to bacterial colonization. The silver ions create an environment that discourages bacterial growth while your skin repairs itself. The cups also serve a simple physical purpose: they keep your nipples from rubbing against bra fabric or breast pads, which can reopen healing cracks and cause additional pain.
What They Help With
Silverettes are primarily used for nipple pain, cracking, and bleeding that commonly occurs in the early weeks of breastfeeding. They can also help with general soreness and sensitivity as your body adjusts to nursing. Some mothers use them to manage mild cases of nipple thrush or to prevent infection in damaged tissue, though they aren’t a replacement for medical treatment if an infection has already set in.
The combination of antimicrobial protection and physical shielding means your nipples get a chance to heal between feeds without being re-irritated. Many mothers report noticeable improvement within a few days of consistent use.
How to Use Them
After each feeding, express a small amount of breast milk onto your nipple (breast milk itself has healing properties), then place the Silverette cup directly over it. The cup sits inside your bra and stays in place without adhesive. You remove them before each feed, nurse as usual, and replace them afterward.
Most mothers wear them continuously during the early postpartum period, removing them only for feeding. However, it’s worth letting your nipples air dry periodically, since constant moisture trapped under the cups can increase the risk of thrush or skin irritation. The typical use window is four to eight weeks, though some mothers continue longer if needed.
Choosing the Right Size
Silverettes come in two sizes. The regular size fits areolas under 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) across and generally works for mothers who wear up to a C cup. The XL size is designed for areolas 1.8 inches or larger, typically D cup and above. To figure out your size, measure across the widest part of your areola and pair that with your cup size as a guide.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Rinse your Silverettes with lukewarm water after every use and wash them once a day with a mild, fragrance-free soap. Let them air dry completely before putting them back on, since trapping moisture against your skin defeats the purpose. Avoid harsh cleaners or chemicals, which can damage the silver surface.
Over time, the cups may tarnish and lose their shine. This is normal and doesn’t affect how they work. If you want to restore their appearance, mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of water to make a paste, rub it on the cups, rinse, and air dry.
What They’re Made Of
Silverettes are made from 925 sterling silver, which means the metal is 92.5% pure silver. This is the same grade used in fine jewelry. The remaining 7.5% is typically copper, which gives the silver enough strength to hold its shape. Sterling silver is generally well tolerated by most skin types, though anyone with a known silver allergy should avoid them.
Safety Considerations
Silverettes sit on the skin surface rather than being ingested, which limits systemic silver absorption. Argyria, a permanent gray skin discoloration associated with silver, is linked to long-term oral consumption of colloidal silver products, not topical contact with solid silver. Silver does appear naturally in some breast milk samples at very low and variable concentrations, but there is no established evidence that wearing silver cups changes those levels in a meaningful way.
The main practical risk is moisture-related. If you wear the cups constantly without allowing your skin to breathe, the warm, damp environment can encourage yeast growth. Taking the cups off for short periods each day and ensuring your nipples are dry before replacing them helps prevent this.