Black crust-like things on the nipples are generally not recommended to be picked directly to avoid infection. The black scab on the nipple may be a crust formed by the degeneration of the skin’s stratum corneum, or it may be due to increased secretions from the nipple and areola that are not cleaned in time and cover the nipple surface. For these two cases, if you pick the scab directly, it is likely to cause skin damage and improper handling can cause infection. You can first use a warm towel for wet compresses to soften the scab and gently wipe it away with a cotton swab, or you can apply moisturizing skin care products to the scab to promote the softening of the scab. However, if the crust on the nipple is caused by a disease, such as a skin redundancy formed by human papilloma virus infection, the patient is often unable to deal with it on his or her own and needs to go to the breast surgery department as soon as possible to have the cause surgically removed after examination and clarification. Patients should usually pay attention to breast hygiene and dryness, wash the area with warm water frequently, and choose soft, breathable cotton underwear.