Laser Therapy for Cracked Nipples: Can It Help You Breastfeed More Comfortably?
For many mothers, the early weeks of breastfeeding are accompanied by sore, cracked or even bleeding nipples. In fact, nipple pain is one of the most common reasons women stop breastfeeding earlier than they had hoped. While some tenderness in the first few days is common, ongoing pain is not something you simply have to “push through.”
The good news is that there are effective treatments available to help your nipples heal while supporting you to continue breastfeeding. One option gaining increasing research support is photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or simply laser therapy.
Why Do Nipples Become Damaged?
Nipple damage usually has an underlying cause, often associated with the various factors affecting a baby’s latch, or a poorly fitting breast pump flange. This is why a thorough breastfeeding assessment is so important. While laser therapy can help damaged tissue heal, identifying and addressing the cause of the damage is essential to stop it from happening again and this is where our lactation consultant colleagues are an invaluable resource.
What Is Laser Therapy?
Despite the name, laser therapy is very different from the lasers used in surgery or cosmetic treatments.
It uses a gentle, low-intensity light that helps stimulate your body’s natural healing processes. The treatment doesn’t burn the skin or create heat, and most mothers find it comfortable and painless.
A treatment session is usually quick and can often be done before or after a breastfeed.
How Can Laser Therapy Help?
Research suggests that laser therapy can:
- Reduce nipple pain
- Support faster healing of cracked or damaged nipples
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve the body’s natural tissue repair
Many mothers notice that feeding becomes more comfortable as healing progresses, making it easier to continue breastfeeding while the underlying cause is being addressed.
What Does the Research Say?
The evidence supporting laser therapy for breastfeeding-related nipple trauma has grown considerably over the past decade.
Several clinical studies have found that laser therapy can reduce nipple pain and improve healing in mothers experiencing cracked or damaged nipples. More recent reviews, which combine the findings of multiple studies, have also concluded that laser therapy is a safe and promising treatment for nipple trauma associated with breastfeeding.
Research from other areas of healthcare has also shown that laser therapy can improve healing and reduce pain in a range of skin wounds, adding to our confidence in its use for nipple trauma.
Is Laser Therapy Safe?
Yes. When provided by a trained physiotherapist using appropriate treatment settings, laser therapy has an excellent safety profile.
It is:
- Non-invasive
- Drug-free
- Comfortable
- Quick
- Safe to use while breastfeeding
You Don’t Have to Live With Breastfeeding Pain
Breastfeeding shouldn’t leave you dreading every feed. If you’re experiencing cracked nipples, ongoing pain or nipple damage that isn’t improving, seeking support early can make a big difference. The sooner the cause is identified, the sooner healing can begin.
Your physiotherapist will work with you and any other health professionals involved in your breastfeeding journey, and can link you into a lactation consultant if there is concern the initial cause has not yet been fully addressed. Physiotherapists also use Therapeutic Ultrasound to manage mastitis, and this can also be incorporated into your treatment if required.
Laser therapy is a valuable addition to breastfeeding care because it can help reduce pain and support healing. Combined with skilled lactation consultant support to address the underlying cause, it can help many mothers breastfeed more comfortably and continue their feeding journey with confidence.
Author: Kate Phillips, Partner Pelvic Health Physiotherapist at myPhysioSA Eastwood.
