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Gender and Dermatology pp 139–170Cite as

Nipples: A Sensitive Topic

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Abstract

Nipples are specialized structures through which milk, that is produced in the breast, is delivered to breastfeeding mammals. Both males and females have nipples, however in males nipples are vestigial structures. Since women’s nipples are sexualized, and therefore censored, their important role in breastfeeding is neglected by medical textbooks and relegated to Nursing and Lactation Consultants literature

This chapter aims to familiarise medical practitioners with pathology of the nipple and the various conditions that may cause discomfort during breastfeeding. Effective treatment often involves cooperation between medical practitioners, lactation consultants, and other health professionals.

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Acknowledgments

With gratitude to the ever-generous Dr. Mei Tam for her contribution to the section on contact dermatitis. Her expert advice has helped many of my patients over the years.

And with tremendous gratitude to my brother, Associate Professor David Finkelstein for helping me with everything technical.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Hadassah Medical Centre, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

    Eve Finkelstein

  2. Lactation Consultant, NICU Shaarei Zedek Medical Centre, Jerusalem, Israel

    Deena Yael Meerkin

  3. The Israeli Association of Certified Lactation Consultants, Beerotayim, Israel

    Gina Weissman

Authors
  1. Eve Finkelstein
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  2. Deena Yael Meerkin
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  3. Gina Weissman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eve Finkelstein .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Ethel Tur

  2. Department of Dermatology, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Finkelstein, E., Meerkin, D.Y., Weissman, G. (2018). Nipples: A Sensitive Topic. In: Tur, E., Maibach, H. (eds) Gender and Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72156-9_11

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