Cures for Blebs

Cupboard Cures for Blebs

These articles in the "Cures" section are copyrighted and
are not to be reprinted without permission of the author.

Cupboard Cures is a series of articles to assist moms with some of the common breastfeeding challenges. It is a starting point and may give you some relief. You will find most of the remedies are already in your cupboard. Many of these "cures" have been used for centuries and many be of help for you until further assistance can be obtained.

What is a bleb?

A bleb is sometimes called a milk blister, a blocked nipple pore, a nipple blister, or simply "milk under the skin."
It is a painful white, clear or yellow dot on the nipple or areola, and the pain tends to be at the bleb spot and/or just behind it.
If you compress the breast so milk is forced down the ducts, the blister will typically bulge outward.
A bleb occurs later than the first few days after birth, and tends to come several weeks after the baby is born.

What causes a bleb?

A bleb can occur when a tiny bit of skin overgrows a milk duct opening and milk backs up behind it.
It also may occur because of an obstruction within the milk duct which is generally a tiny dry clump of hardened milk or a “string” of fattier, semi-solidified milk.

Is treatment is needed?

Some moms have said that a bleb is some of the worst pain she had ever experienced while breastfeeding. Many times these moms want to give up nursing.
Blebs can be present without a blocked duct, but if the pore stays plugged, it could block milk drainage and lead to a plugged duct and/or mastitis.

What are some Cupboard Cures for Blebs?

You can apply a cotton ball soaked with warm olive oil that sometimes will soften the bleb and make it easier for the let-down of milk to break through the skin that has overgrown the duct opening.
This cotton ball can be placed in your bra which will soften the skin and allow you potentially remove the skin across the bleb area with your clean fingernail. You may then be able to hand express milk from the nipple pore. The milk expressed may be thick.
Watch the area closely so it does not “seal over” again and/or become infected.
Potatoes are a drawing vegetable and can be grated and applied to the bleb to help pull out inflammation, infection, or help remove the skin which makes it easier to expel the backed up milk.
Parsley is also used to help remove infection in the body. It can be wrapped in a compress and then applied to break down the clog and relieve pain.
Some moms have reported using grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and making a massage oil by adding a few drops of GSE into a small amount of olive oil and massage this into the nipple area.
Another mom-suggested remedy is spraying the nipple area once a day with a solution containing 1 cups of water, 1/8 cup of vinegar, and a drop of GSE.
Some moms have reported that taking Lecithin capsules (for recurrent blebs and/or plugged ducts) has helped keep the blebs from returning.
Reducing saturated fats in mom’s diet may help.
Occasionally a healthcare provider may need to open the bleb with a sterile needle, which is then washed with soap and water daily and an antibiotic ointment applied.

Working with an IBCLC to correct a shallow latch may be all that is needed.

Blebs can be painful and discouraging. Angela is an IBCLC and can offer both professional medical help and support with this or any step in your breastfeeding journey.

Please note: If you have a question about a medical matter you should consult your healthcare provider. Do not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to medical advice from your healthcare provider.