If you have any questions about this information, you can contact the Drugs in Breastmilk team through their Facebook page or on druginformation@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.
You can use emollients and steroid creams whilst you are breastfeeding.
If you need to apply any creams or ointments to your nipples, it is best to do this straight after a feed.
Eczema is a condition that causes your skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. It can affect all areas of your body but most frequently your hands, inside your elbows and behind your knees. It can also affect your face. You may be concerned that it will affect your nipples during breastfeeding.
Treatment aims to improve your symptoms by:
- soothing the itching, which can be unbearable, resulting in damage to the area
- softening the area by applying emollient creams regularly – different people find different products most effective
- reducing the inflammation which causes the itching, dryness and thickened skin areas
Treatments usually include steroid creams applied sparingly along with emollients.
Creams to reduce itching include crotamiton (Eurax®) and topical benzocaine (Lanacane®). These can be applied during breastfeeding but should be avoided on your nipples.
Emollient creams include brands such as Diprobase®, Dermol®, E45®, Doublebase®, Cetraben®, as well as own brands. Different people tend to have different preferred products that they find effective. Special bath oils and soap substitute products are also available. All can be used if you are breastfeeding. You can use creams to keep your nipples supple but avoid excessive use, as if your nipples are “soggy” they may be more liable to infection. Creams should be applied after feeds. Washing off prior to the next feed is not necessary as this would cause more drying to your nipple. If used sparingly there should be no obvious product visible.
Steroid creams can be applied to areas of eczema on other parts of your body during breastfeeding. If you need a steroid cream on your nipple, low potency steroids such as hydrocortisone are preferred to avoid thinning of the skin.
Related Factsheets
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Bibliography
- British National Formulary
- Hale TW. Medications in Mothers Milk
- Jones W Breastfeeding and Medication 2018 Routledge
- Lactmed website https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/
©The Breastfeeding Network. Published Sept 2019, last amended May 2026.
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