Skin peeled off after pumping! Help!

greenbug · May 2011

I pumped today at work and when I took one of the breastshields off, a thin layer of my skin on the border of my nipple and areola peeled off! I had bought xl breastshields, but yesterday switched back to the large ones because it seemed like too much was being pulled in with the xl. It is about a half cm by quarter cm area that peeled off. The skin is raw and hurts to touch - like when a blister pops and peels off. I am worried because I have had a yeast infection previously and it actually caused me to have to stop breastfeeding due to the pain, and we're finally back to it and doing well so I don't want that to happen again! Of course, I noticed at the end of last week what appeared to be a yeasty diaper rash - nothing in baby's mouth, but I know he can transmit it anyway and I'm worried with the open skin that it's bound to happen... We've been treating it with antifungal cream and it looks better, but i think it takes a couple weeks to fully clear up. I called the lactation consultant and she said to try nursing but stop on that side if it hurts and just pump and to start treating it right away if it starts burning or itching like a yeast infection... But I thought I'd post for any words of wisdom... (Obviously going back up to xl flanges...)