Pregnancy is a period that requires attention, as it is necessary to determine whether nutrition supplementation is needed based on various phenomena in the mother's body, or to conduct relevant examinations on the child and mother to rule out potential problems. Therefore, certain characteristics exhibited by the mother should be taken seriously. So why does the areola of pregnant women turn black?
After pregnancy, women's breasts will become larger and darker due to the stimulation of sex hormones, prolactin, and progesterone, causing the mammary glands to begin to proliferate. The areola will expand due to the increase of sebaceous glands and the deposition of pigments. Throughout pregnancy, the color of the areola will darken and persist until after pregnancy. The size of the areola also varies from person to person, and women should face this change with a normal mindset. After the nursing period, the areola may become slightly smaller and shallower, but it may not necessarily return to its original appearance.
Frequent caressing of the nipple by pregnant women is also one of the reasons why the areola turns black. Moderate stimulation of the nipple during pregnancy can help facilitate smooth delivery, as it can promote the secretion of oxytocin.
Some pregnant women choose various bleaching methods due to concerns about the darkening and unsightly appearance of the areola. This practice not only easily damages the breasts, but also is detrimental to the future breastfeeding of the baby. Therefore, pregnant women only need to do a good job in daily cleaning and care of their nipples. Pregnant women can choose to apply vegetable oil to the nipple to soften the dirt and crust on the surface of the nipple, and then wash the nipple with soap and hot water to ensure cleanliness and hygiene.
