There are three main types of problems that may affect the nipple: retraction into the breast tissue (nipple inversion), disorders affecting the skin on or around the nipple, and discharge of fluid.
Inversion may occur during puberty if the breasts do not develop properly. This is usually harmless, although it may later make breast-feeding difficult.
Inversion may also develop in older women due to aging. Cracked nipples are common during breast-feeding and may lead to mastitis (inflammation of the breasts).
Dry, flaky skin on or around the nipples is often due to eczema but may occasionally be due to a type of cancer called Paget’s disease of the nipple.
Discharge from the nipple may occur naturally in early pregnancy, and a milky discharge may persist once breast-feeding is over. A discharge in a woman who is not pregnant or breast-feeding may be due to a hormone imbalance or, rarely, a cyst under the areola.
A discharge containing pus indicates a breast abscess. A bloodstained discharge may be due to either a noncancerous breast disorder or a cancerous tumor.
Medical advice should be sought for any nipple problem to get an accurate diagnosis and, if necessary, appropriate treatment.

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