Why Does the Color of Nipples and Areolas Become Darker?

The darkening of nipple and areola color is mostly due to physiological reasons related to age. As one ages, the color of the nipple and areola becomes darker, primarily related to estrogen levels. However, it can also be associated with pathological reasons, with common examples being breast-related diseases. Frequent illnesses can cause adverse stimulation and also lead to darkening of the nipple and areola color.

With age, the nipple and areola gradually darken from their initial pinkish hue to a deeper brown color. This change is primarily due to an increase in estrogen and progesterone levels after pregnancy, which is a normal physiological change. Additionally, some women who have not been pregnant may also experience darkening of the areola, which often resolves spontaneously over time. This is typically due to a temporary increase in estrogen levels in the female body.

Proliferative or cystic lesions within the breast can cause darkening of the nipple and areola color, accompanied by intense itchiness. Additionally, if the nipple and areola color darken significantly and small nodules or protrusions form, it may indicate the presence of a severe liver disease. Furthermore, ovarian tumors in women can also increase the secretion of ovarian estrogen, leading to darkening of the nipple and areola color.