Red and swollen nipples in breastfeeding women are mostly considered to be nipple infections. You can sterilize the nipples with iodine vapour, keep the nipples clean and apply erythromycin ointment.
Beginning mothers have no experience in breastfeeding, and if they breastfeed incorrectly, it is very easy to cause nipple injury. After nipple injury, the milk is rich in nutrients and is prone to infection. Red, swollen and painful nipples in breastfeeding women are most likely caused by nipple infection. Women should pay attention to emptying the milk on the affected side, stop breastfeeding on the affected side, and keep the area clean.
In addition, women can sterilize the nipple with alcohol or iodophor and then apply erythromycin ointment. Erythromycin ointment may cause local allergies and other adverse reactions, and needs to be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.
Nipple redness and swelling in breastfeeding women may also be inflammatory breast cancer. If women only have red and swollen nipples without pain, accompanied by swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, they need to go to the hospital in time for further checkups and treatments under the guidance of doctors.