Discovering black specks or dots on your nipple in the absence of pregnancy (which can cause this appearance) can be quite alarming.
First make sure that your breasts are thoroughly rinsed so that your nipples are clean.
It’s always possible for black specks on nipples to be particles of dark colored clothing or actual dirt.
Otherwise, where can black or dark specks on one’s nipples come from?
“There are no known mechanisms for this in our conventional medical model [other than common moles appearing in this area],” says Mylaine Riobe, MD, founder of Riobe Institute of Integrative Medicine.
Dr. Riobe, who’s board certified in OB/GYN and integrative medicine, is the author of “The Answer to Cancer.”
She continues, “These specks are not usually a sign of disease. However, it’s important to assure that these skin changes are not a precancerous or a cancerous skin lesion. Have your doctor evaluate this.”
So yes, a harmless mole can develop on the nipple; the nipple, or areola, is actually a type of skin.
Most people are still developing new moles in their 20s, and can even get a new mole over age 40.
There’s no reason a new mole couldn’t form in the skin of the areola.
When to Be Concerned Over Dark Specks or Dots on a Nipple
If there’s only one dark spot on your nipple, and you’re sure it was never there before, it’s probably a new mole.
But if you’re older, and especially if the spot is getting bigger or darker, or otherwise looks odd — have a dermatologist take a look.
A dermatologist is the best type of doctor to examine the area for possible skin cancer.
However, because the nipple is skin, a dermatologist can also make a diagnosis of other less serious conditions that can be causing dark spots.
Multiple dark or brown specks are extremely unlikely to be skin cancer such as melanoma, simply because this cancer almost always arises as a singular lesion.
What about breast cancer? Breast cancer does NOT cause dark specks.
What would be very concerning is a puckering of the nipple if this has never happened before.
Another sign to look out for if you’re worried about breast cancer, other than feeling a lump, is unexplained or bloody discharge from a nipple, or dimpling of the skin on the breast.
But when it comes to newly formed or never-noticed dark specks, spots, dots r lesions, regardless of their location, you should be checked for melanoma by a dermatologist.
Dr. Riobe has helped thousands of patients overcome difficult illnesses by addressing root causes, not just masking symptoms. The Riobe Method focuses on the prevention of disease, not the prevention of death from disease. She has over 15 years’ experience using integrative techniques to treat diverse patients.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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