big puffy nipples [or areolae in medical terms] they are one of the most common manifestations of the condition known as gynecomastia. The word itself is of Greek origin, as many medical and biological terms are:

• ‘gyne’ = woman
• ‘mastos’ = chest.

It is quite common in men from puberty to old age and regardless of the age of the individual, it causes a lot of mental anguish and embarrassment. I know this firsthand from my work as a fitness instructor, having been involved in everything from encouraging a man to see his doctor so he can get a diagnosis to helping a man post-diagnosis, particularly with exercise programs and nutritional tips. .

I know it is difficult for many men, regardless of their age, to talk about their large puffy nipples, even with a fitness professional like myself, but it is very important for a client to do this because then I can help them on a definite course of action. It is vital that the client get a professional diagnosis and any advice and encouragement from someone like me is not only good but necessary. So I repeat… first What anyone with the condition should do is make an appointment with their doctor first. I may be biased but the second What a man should do is see a fitness professional!

For those adolescent boys who do have the problem, the good news is that 93% will see it go away within 3 years, once hormones stabilize. For the 7% where the problem remains, the cause will be fairly easy for your doctor to identify. Remedies may well be adjustments of a dietary or lifestyle nature or medical measures to address the hormonal imbalance lying at the root of those big puffy nipples.

The two hormones involved are Androgen and Estrogen, with Estrogen being the feminizing one and therefore present in too great an amount compared to the Androgen hormone. In other words, the normal balance of the two hormones is disturbed.

In more mature males more possible causes come into play:

• Some drugs/medications prescribed for other problems can cause a hormonal imbalance. Again, a doctor will be able to rectify this.
• Anabolic steroid abuse will do the same. My advice is to never take any of those substances in an effort to achieve rapid muscle gains and turn a deaf ear to any of your peers who tell you it’s okay to do so. There have been many cases of bodybuilders who not only developed puffy nipples but had to resort to surgery to remove the excess growth of glandular tissue!
• Marijuana abuse will also cause a hormonal imbalance resulting in female-looking breast tissue, particularly under the areolas. My advice to the small number of people I have encountered at the gym who smoke cannabis has always been to seek help to quit weed. In the UK we have many people who can help, from doctors to specialist advisers, and all Western countries have a lot of help available. For my part, I know from experience that taking a man on a regular exercise program will help tremendously, as the body produces its own “feel good” substances called endorphins, which help suppress the craving for cannabis.
• Alcohol in excessive amounts it will do the same. What is an excess amount? A maximum of 25 units of alcohol per week is considered the safe limit for men, with one unit being a half pint of beer/lager or a small glass of wine. So enjoy a drink but don’t overdo it!
• The aging process it can cause a hormonal imbalance resulting in gynecomastia. Therefore, everyone over 60 years of age should be aware of this and try not to be overweight, not consume too much alcohol and exercise regularly, requiring both cardiovascular and resistance work. Most gyms encourage seniors with reduced rates, so take advantage!

There are many other possible causes, some serious in themselves, in which gynecomastia is an added effect. These are covered elsewhere on my website, but the above tend to be the most common causes of large, puffy nipples.

Many men try to hide their condition by adopting poor posture, wearing baggy shirts, sweaters, etc. Some even spend $100 to $200 dollars [or more] in compression garments worn under them. In fact, there are literally dozens of manufacturers of such underwear! It’s your choice if you want to go this route, but my advice here is to consider these garments as a temporary measure. Here are five tips to keep in mind when shopping for compression underwear:

• Make sure the garment fabric is a three-dimensional stretch type.
• Make sure the garment is made from ‘lycrasoft’ or ‘tactel’ blends for softness and therefore comfort.
• Make sure the fabric is ‘breathable’, allowing moisture to be absorbed and air to enter.
• Make sure the fabric has a built-in antimicrobial function to prevent the growth of bacteria, fungus, and mold.
• Make sure the garments are of good quality to withstand at least 30 extreme washes.

However, corrective action must be taken sooner or later and the good news is that other natural and drug-free approaches are now available. I have researched many of these over the last couple of years and have included the best ones on my website, along with much more information for those men with large puffy nipples.

I hope you find the help and advice above helpful and remember that you not you have to resort to expensive surgery!