From the reason your boobs are leaking to why you actually do need a bra, we’ve left no mildly-embarrassing breast health question unanswered.
Let’s face it: Not everyone is as in tune with their bodies as Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. While we can all appreciate the raw magnetism and candour of ‘WAP’, some girls are just more demure when it comes to the taboo than others.
It can, however, be a bit double-edged; there’s being private about your body, and then there’s being too embarrassed to clear your head of your worries. Maybe you spend hours agonising over whether your nipples are weird or not. Perhaps your boobs are leaking and you’re too shy to talk about it—so, you Google it instead, but now you think you’re dying. Or, maybe, your boobs are looking a little lopsided and you’re just feeling a bit defeated.
The good news is you don’t have to suffer in silence anymore, nor do you have to swallow your pride and speak up. All the answers you need are right here:
Are my boobs weird-looking?
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The simple answer to this is no, probably not. Boobs come in all different shapes and sizes, and there’s no ‘right’ or ‘normal’ way for them to look. There are a few different general shapes your boobs may be, including tear-dropped, side-set, round, conical, and more. In fact, they may be a blend of multiple types, depending on your unique anatomy.
They might even differ in look between boobs. It’s called breast asymmetry, and it’s really common. Fun fact: Boobs can be uneven by up to a cup size. So, if you’re hanging differently on either side, rest assured there is nothing wrong with you.
It’s not abnormal for your breasts to suddenly change size, either. There are a lot of reasons this may happen, including birth control, weight fluctuations and menopause. As long as you’re doing regular breast checks and nothing looks sinister, then chances are you’re good to go (refer to our guide if you need the textbook definitions of ‘weird’).
Why are my nipples hairy?
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Worried about the hair on your nipples? A few strays here and there are pretty normal too. Leave ‘em, pluck ‘em—it’s up to you. The only cause for concern is if you happen to havea lot of hair on your nipples. If the hair is especiallydark, coarse and thick, it may be a sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In this case, you should see a doctor.
READ: I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) this year—here’s what I’ve learnt
Why do I have bumps on my nipples?
Newsflash: Those are normal too! These are actually sebaceous glands (officially called Montgomery glands) and they exist to lubricate the skin. Don’t try to pop them or squeeze them as they are not pimples.
If you do have pimples on your breasts, believe us when we say no one is judging. Chestne is real, and your boobs are not exempt from the perils of body acne. If you need some advice on clearing up your skin, we have you covered below!
READ: Body breakouts: How to get rid of your chest, back and butt acne
Are my boobs saggy? Why are they sagging?
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As we said, boobs come in all shapes and sizes and there is no ‘right’ way for your boobs to look. That said, the premature sagging of the breasts can cause some self-image and aesthetic issues in a lot of women.
We spoke to Dr Mohd Ruslan Johan, the consultant plastic and cosmetic surgeon at H-II Clinic, to get a little more insight into the issue. As for whether you actually have saggy boobs or not? You can actually measure it: “The nipple, or the NAC (nipple-areolar complex) should be above the lower margin of the breast.”
This basically means that your nipple should be anywhere above your underboob—the “lower margin of the breast” is defined as the point where your breast connects with your chest.
READ: How to take good care of your intimates
But why do our boobs sag in the first place? Is it a guarantee that they will? Dr Johan explains that ligaments and skin are what support the weight of your boobs, and your boobs can be heavy. Over time, the weight of the breast causes the ligaments and skin to stretch, leading to sagging.
But that’s not all! Other factors can contribute to drooping without adequate support such as “during pregnancy, where the breasts grow bigger”, and “during exercise, where the breast experiences a lot of movement”.
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At this point, you can opt for a breast lift (possibly with a breast augmentation) to restore the perkiness of your chest. However, even after you do that, you’re back to square one, where the weight of your breast (now possibly increased by implants) will eventually succumb to gravity. So how do you solve this little conundrum?
READ: Breast augmentation: What to know about one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in Malaysia
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Dr Johan’s advice is to wear a bra. A good, fully supportive bra is the best preventative measure you could possibly take against sagging. It isn’t as simple as that, however—the design of your bra matters too.
What you’re looking for is a bra that can evenly distribute the weight of your breasts across the straps, the cups and the waistband. Also, you’ll want to steer clear of underwires while you’re at it (surprisingly). Dr Johan says that “[underwires] are not good for big breasts as they cause pressure on a particular part of the breast rather than distributing the pressure evenly.”
You don’t have to wear a bra all the time, though—just when your breasts need that extra bit of support. As for you ladies with smaller boobs; they’ll serve you well in the long run. Less weight ultimately means less sagging, so you’re one of the lucky ones!
Why are my boobs leaking?
There are a lot of reasons this could be happening, and most of them are innocuous. For example, if you are pregnant or you’ve just given birth, chances are that you’re, well, breastfeeding. If that isn’t the case, it’s not unheard of for your nipples to secrete fluids when stimulated and squeezed, either during sex or while you sleep. Further, hormonal changes from birth control (and possibly an overactive pituitary gland) could be behind your leaky nips, too. Alternatively, your nipples may just be chafed from your sports bra!
Of course, there are some more sinister causes of nipple discharge, including a minor breast infection, thyroid issues and breast cancer. However, it should be noted that these are rarer and are usually associated with other symptoms.
Unfortunately, the colour of your discharge isn’t a very good indicator of whether your nipple discharge is normal or not. Nipple discharge resulting from both abnormal and normal circumstances can be clear, white, green or yellow. However, the general idea is that if you’re only seeing discharge from one breast without any stimulation, it tends to be a bad sign. Further, bloody discharge is always an indicator that something is awry.
Basically, leaky boobs are uncommon, but not necessarily abnormal. Either way, there is no harm in seeing a doctor if you are concerned about it.
I’m pregnant—what’s happening to my boobs?
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First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy! As you’re probably well aware, growing life in your belly comes with many changing tides. From increased water retention, fluctuating hormones and inevitable weight gain, your boobs are about to look very, very different.
For starters, as we’ve mentioned, they’ll start lactating so you can feed your baby. However, you’ll also probably notice a few other cosmetic things happening—your boobs will grow throughout (and maybe even beyond) your pregnancy, your nipples may darken in colour, you’ll likely get a few stretch marks here and there, and the increased blood flow to your breasts may give you more prominent-looking veins. In addition, thanks to the extra weight, you may see a little extra sagging in your chest. All of these things are completely normal and are a natural process with pregnancy.
How do I take care of my boobs?
The good news is that if you’re moisturising and exfoliating regularly, you’re already doing enough. However, if you’d like to take your boob care routine to the next level (hey, sometimes we just need to pad our self-care routines to fill up time), we’ve got just the thing. Whether you’re treating sore boobs with the soothing touch of Mama Mio’s Pregnancy Boob Tube solution, pesky stretch marks with Pop Neutral’s Stretch Mark Oil, or the signs of ageing with Dr Dennis Gross’ DRx Spectralite BodyWare Pro LED device.
For more breast health queries, click here.
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