Use of home remedies for cracked nipples can eradicate this problem which is quiet common amongst breastfeeding women and is so painful and irritating that it takes away the pleasure from mother which she gets in feeding her baby. Cracked nipples are mainly caused due to wrong positioning of the baby, due to over use of one breast, wearing tight bra for long hours, eczema or improper drying of nipples.
Mother's milk has been acknowledged as the best home remedy for cracked nipples. Any breastfeeding woman suffering from this can express some milk out of her breast and apply it on the nipples during the lactation intervals and let it air dry for few minutes. Mother's milk is very safe and have sufficient amount of healing power to cure the cracks on the nipples in a very short time.
If the cracks are not too painful or they are just beginning to surface than applying cool compresses can be sufficient to cure the problem. Once the pain has subsided do not stop applying compresses but continue this treatment for sometime to avoid reoccurrence of the problem.
Application of vitamin E oil on the nipples also alleviates the problem as vitamin E oil has rich properties for soothing and conditioning the skin. Calc flour is also used to treat the problem, application of it in salt form cures the problem in short duration. Application of olive oil or sweet almond oil is also effective in curing the problem. These can be applied topically on the nipples during the lactation intervals and washed before next feeding.
Lanolin or wool wax is very old and trusted home remedy for cracked nipples and it can alleviate the problem in three days. The wool wax shall be applied twice in a day and for three days to cure the problem caused due to any reason. Wool wax is safe and does not ingest the child with any harmful chemical or substance.
Another very effective home remedy for cracked nipples is made by boiling a mixture of 2 oz of squaw vine with 1 pint of water and equal amount of cream to form a paste. After cooling, this paste shall be applied on the cracks for effective treatment of the problem. Elderberry leaves smeared in vegetable oil and later strained and cooled and applied directly on the cracks also treats the problem well.
Aloe vera gel is also effective in treating all type of skin related problems and has been found effective in the treatment of this problem too. It can be applied for few minutes at least twice a day regularly for few days to alleviate the problem. Calendula cream or ointment is also an effective home remedy for cracked nipples and it should be washed thoroughly after every treatment or before feeding the baby.
Few precautions shall be taken to avoid or while treating the problem of cracked nipples. The baby shall be held in the right position while feeding. The feeding shall be for short intervals and overuse of any one breast shall be avoided. Direct sunlight on the nipples is very useful in avoiding and curing cracked nipples at least for 3 minutes everyday.
