Puffy nipples/man breasts, medically called gynecomastia is a condition fairly common in men. It refers to swollen breast gland tissue in men which results in their chest becoming puffy and the nipples having a dome-like appearance.
Puffy nipples can be caused by numerous factors including excess fat deposits due to unhealthy dietary habits, weak workout routines, spinal disorders, organ malfunctions, and more. However, the main reason for gynecomastia in men is the hormonal imbalance between the testosterone and estrogen levels in the body.
Although gynecomastia is not considered a medical emergency, it can be quite uneasy and problematic for men to deal with. It not only degrades physical appearance but also self-confidence.
Treatment for puffy nipples includes regular exercise, dietary change, herbal supplements, surgery, etc. Doctors suggest that one should get medical treatment for enlarged breasts if the problem has persisted for more than two years because a longer time than that may render medical treatment effectless.
All you need to know regarding Gynecomastia is mentioned below.
What are the causes of Puffy Nipples?
The main causes of gynecomastia are listed below:
- Excess chest fat: Men facing the problem of obesity are generally aware of gynecomastia as well because the chest is one of the major areas where the human body is accustomed to store fat as adipose tissue.
- Spinal disorientation: People suffering from spinal conditions like spondylitis(or spondylosis) generally face the problem of enlarged breasts( puffy nipples).
- Low testosterone levels: This can be due to many reasons including kidney malfunction, liver disorders, imbalanced diet, etc.
- Higher estrogen levels: In men estrogen levels increase with age. However, an abnormal level of estrogen in the body can cause the chest to appear like a woman’s breasts.
- Hereditary conditions
- Excess alcohol consumption: An unhealthy amount of alcohol consumption regularly inevitably results in excess body fat
- Abnormal use of steroids: Bodybuilders that use steroids for muscle growth are affected by this problem very often. Steroids are induced into the body to promote muscle growth. However, an abnormal reaction to these can cause unfavorable hormonal alterations which is also a cause for enlarged breast tissue, and this condition is called ‘Steroid Gynecomastia’.
It is mainly in infants because of the residual estrogen present in their bodies transferred from the mother during birth. About 50% of infants are born with puffy breasts. However, it generally goes away in a couple of weeks.
Gynecomastia is also common in men above the age of 55 and teenagers. Personal data reveals that every 6 out of 10 teenagers might develop puffy nipples because of the hormone changes that they go through.
Also Read: 5 Foods To Eat & Avoid To Get Rid Of Man Boobs
How is Gynecomastia Diagnosed?
Diagnosis includes a physical examination, blood test, and even a mammogram. This is crucial to rule out the possibility of breast cancer.
Also, the blood test is related to the procedure as it reveals the hormonal levels in the patient’s body.
The most common symptoms are listed below:
- Tenderness in nipples
- Stretch marks around the chest
- Pain
- A rubbery disc-like lump under the breast tissue
How is Gynecomastia treated?
Gynecomastia or puffy nipples can be treated in various methods. However, every doctor suggests that non-surgical ways should be the primary approach.
There are four stages to the problem:
- Stage 1: slight puffiness; no skin stretch
- Stage 2: visible puffiness; no skin stretch
- Stage 3: enlarged breasts; skin stretch
- Stage 4: abnormally large nipples; tenderness; stretch marks; and other indications
After the stage is correctly diagnosed a medical treatment is prescribed.
What is Pseudo Gynecomastia?
One very important thing that needs to be mentioned here is “pseudo gynecomastia”. It is a condition in which the excess body fat is stored in the chest area.
This leads to the person look like as if they are suffering from gynecomastia. This is generally the case with obese men and can be simply treated with regular workouts and a healthy diet schedule.
Other methods are listed below:
1. Eat a well balanced and low-fat diet
When it comes to Stage 1 gynecomastia or “pseudo gynecomastia” the most effective way to achieve results is a dietary change. Consume a diet low on fat but rich in protein diet or basically a weight loss can help you get rid of puffy nipples.
Try to consume a calorie deficit diet. You should eat food that has lower calorie content and higher Thermic requirements if you want to reduce weight.
The goal is to increase testosterone levels and to reduce the estrogen present in the body. This can be achieved by a simple 3-step guide.
1. Incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet
Try to include boiled vegetables and salads in every meal of the day. The basic reason for this is that vegetables are extremely low in calories but are filling and provide essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
Also, vegetables are rich in fiber that keeps a person satiated for longer durations and thus reduces cravings for junk foods.
A breakdown of meals at regular intervals of the day can be helpful. One should eat every 3 hours a day. So, try to eat frequently but always just the right amount of food. Do not
Try to eat more vegetables than processed and fried foods. Eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, etc. reduces the amount of fat in the body.
2. Avoid high fat and processed foods
Processed and fried foods are a nemesis for those that dream to build a well proportionate and healthy body.
They are not only high in fats and carbs but also have very low energy requirements to be digested by the body. This is called the Thermic Effect of Food(TEF).
Proteins have a higher thermic value and require more calories to get digested, hence providing even lesser calories. Thus, a protein-rich diet is a healthier alternative to a fat-rich diet.
3. Eat testosterone boosting foods
If the main reason for your problem is the hormone imbalance, then try eating more testosterone-rich foods.
Some of which are listed below:
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Tuna
- Low-fat Milk
- Egg Yolks
- Beans
- Blueberries
- Oysters
- Shellfish
- Beef
- Cruciferous Vegetables
- Macadamia Nuts
2. Exercise Focused on Chest Muscles
Also Read: Does Masturbation Affect Workout? Know the Relation!
Regular Exercises are not only essential to reduce weight but also for building muscles. If you really want to get rid of those puffy nipples, chest exercises are a must.
Most importantly, exercises that target the pectoral muscle group should be the priority.
If you have a lot of fat percentage on your body. Then it is highly likely that you can get rid of it by just performing chest exercises. Focus on reducing your fat percentage below 20 percent by targeting chest muscles.
There are a variety of exercises that can help you achieve this like:
- Dips
- Overhead Presses
- Bent-forward Cable Crossovers
- Pushups (regular, suspended, and diamond)
- Bodyweight Flies
- Low Cable Flies
- Incline, Decline, and Barbell Bench Presses
- Pncline Bench Cable Flies
Create a workout plan for yourself using these exercises. A combination of different exercises targeting different regions of the chest should be present in a routine.
Your aim should be to work your way from lesser reps to more every day and to include a certain amount of cardio in the workout to cut out the extra fat.
A well-thought-out exercise plan for just 3-4 weeks including enough cardio and targeted chest exercising can help you reduce the swelling in your nipples.
3. Organic/Herbal supplements
It has already been cleared that what we eat plays a vital role in our appearance. Since there is a variety of edibles that not only increase the testosterone levels naturally but also reduce the amount of excess fat like magic.
Some of these are listed under:
- Tribulus Terrestris
- Fenugreek
- Ginger
- Ashwagandha
- Turmeric
- Dandelion
- Milk Thistle
- Passionflower
- Red Clover
- Devil’s Claw
4. Surgical methods to get rid of Puffy Nipples
Stage-3 and Stage-4 gynecomastia can only be treated by medical consultancy from a doctor and specific surgery.
Some of these medical procedures are mentioned below:
1. Liposuction
It is a procedure in which the excess fat from the breast area is sucked out using a tube. Two incisions are made around the nipples and then the surgery is proceeded with.
Though aesthetically not the most suitable, liposuction is actually a highly recommended surgery by any doctor because of high success rates.
2. Mastectomy
It is a surgical procedure in which the breast gland tissue is removed from the breast. It is done to treat early-stage breast cancer and puffy nipples.
Mastectomy is an extremely complicated surgery and any doctor would suggest other non-invasive approaches over it. It can even take up to 5 weeks for a patient to fully recover from the surgery.
3. Tissue excision
It is an advanced medical procedure used to treat late-stage gynecomastia. It involves surgically removing the breast gland tissue and fat, repositioning the nipples, and removing the excess skin that is stretched as a result of an enlarged breast.
4. Non-Invasive methods
Although not a very effective approach but surely a sensible and safe one. These methods are used to reduce the size of nipples without any surgery or incisions. They include:
- Compression fabric: Compressive undershirts can be helpful if worn for longer durations.
- Radio-frequency or laser treatment
- Freezing fat cells in the chest region
Consult your Doctor
If you are facing this problem then you should consult a doctor. It is important to identify the stage and cause of the problem before starting any medical treatment.
In many cases, just a simple combination of a healthy diet, chest exercises, and herbal supplements is enough for the problem to be treated.
You should always consult your doctor before starting any supplement. It is critical to be aware of its side effects and abnormalities.
Conclusion
Gynecomastia or puffy nipples is a problem that affects a strong number of people. It is not only physical discomfort but also confidence degrading medical condition as it ruins the appearance of a person.
Personal data research indicates that it strongly affects a person’s psychology and self-confidence in situations like swimming, changing clothes publically, etc. If this is the problem then counseling is advised. An early effort to counter this condition is what matters the most.
Here is the gist of the article:
The main cause of puffy nipples is hormonal imbalance and dietary mistakes. Try to consume more testosterone-boosting food items like turmeric, broccoli, cauliflower, macadamia nuts, etc.
The treatment includes a variety of approaches ranging from basic exercise to surgeries like mastectomy, tissue excision, and liposuction but simple changes like a focus on your health, regular exercising, and consumption of testosterone promoting supplements can go a long way.
Exercise is a terrific alternative to surgery. Incorporate exercises like dips, push-ups, bench press, etc. that target the chest muscles and you can reduce those man breasts.
