If you look closely at the areola, you can see several small bumps on its surface. Many of what are commonly called "areola bumps" are Montgomery glands, a normal structure that protrudes at the skin surface. Their size and number vary from person to person, but if they look particularly large or prominent and bother you cosmetically, removal can be considered after checking their current condition and location. Why do raised bumps appear on the areola?
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Why do raised bumps appear on the areola?
The areola is the darker skin surrounding the nipple. It contains modified sebaceous glands called Montgomery glands, which can look like small bumps on the skin surface.
Montgomery glands secrete substances that lubricate and protect the nipple and areola skin. So having small bumps on the areola is not in itself a disease, and their number, size and visibility vary from person to person.
They can look more prominent than usual with hormonal changes. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, Montgomery glands enlarge and the bumps can become more noticeable, and they can also be affected by hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle.
| Condition of the areola bumps | What to check |
|---|---|
| Several small bumps | May be normal Montgomery glands |
| One bump protrudes noticeably more | Check its size, shape and the surrounding skin |
| More prominent during pregnancy or breastfeeding | Size can change with hormonal changes |
| Red, painful or swollen | Check for blockage or inflammation |
| Accompanied by discharge, sores or other changes | First check whether it is simply an areola bump |
Should all areola bumps be removed?
Montgomery glands on the areola are a normal anatomical structure, so there is no need to remove them just because they exist.
However, if some bumps are larger or protrude more than the rest, the uneven areola surface can be a cosmetic concern.
In such cases, rather than making the whole areola perfectly smooth, selectively correcting only the areas that need it can be considered after checking the size, location and number of the prominent bumps.
Conversely, if a bump suddenly grows, turns red or becomes painful, the priority is to check for inflammation or blockage rather than removing it right away for cosmetic reasons.
When a Montgomery gland is blocked, it can swell firmly like a pimple; squeezing it or poking it with a needle carries a risk of infection and should be avoided.
In a study observing 399 breasts in 211 women, there were on average 5.0 Montgomery tubercles (range 0–25), with more in premenopausal women. Because individual variation in number and size is large, most are within the normal range.[1]
How is areola bump removal done?
Removing areola bumps starts with determining whether the raised area is a normal Montgomery gland or another skin lesion.
The approach can differ depending on whether several bumps are evenly distributed or only one or two protrude noticeably.
Treatment of cosmetically prominent bumps can vary with the nature of the lesion; the literature reports cases of treating prominent Montgomery tubercles or areolar sebaceous hyperplasia with surgical excision or CO₂ laser. However, no single standardized treatment has been established.
So rather than deciding the extent of removal by the number of bumps alone, it is important to selectively treat what is needed, considering the degree of protrusion, size and overall shape of the areola.
Also, because the areola is pigmented skin, temporary redness, scabbing or color change can appear after removal, and the possibility of scarring should be considered depending on the method.
Related readingThe normal range of Montgomery tubercles and when removal is needed is covered in "Montgomery tubercles: what is normal, and when is removal needed?" (Korean).
What should be checked before removal?
Even if areola bumps bother you, it is not appropriate to remove every bump the same way. It is important first to check whether they are normal bumps you have always had, or lesions that are new or have changed recently.
In particular, if any of the following changes are present, it is better to check the cause before cosmetic removal.
If a new lesion appears on one side only or grows quickly, if there is persistent pain or redness, if there is discharge or bleeding, or if the nipple or areola skin peels or does not heal, an examination is needed to distinguish it from other nipple and areola conditions. Besides normal Montgomery glands, various lesions including inflammation and cysts can occur in the nipple–areola area.
Also, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, Montgomery glands can naturally enlarge and also help protect the nipple and areola, so it is best to decide after fully checking the current condition and the need for removal.
Removing areola bumps: common myths and facts
| What many people think… | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|
| "All areola bumps should be removed." | Montgomery tubercles are a normal structure; if there is no discomfort or inflammation, they can be left alone. |
| "Squeezing them clears them away." | Squeezing can cause inflammation and scarring. |
| "Once removed, they never come back." | They can become prominent again with hormonal changes. |
When patients come wanting their areola bumps removed, I look at discomfort before number. Unless inflammation recurs or they catch on underwear, there is no reason to rush removal.
If you look closely at the areola, you can see several small bumps on its surface. Many of what are commonly called "areola bumps" are Montgomery glands, a normal structure that protrudes at the skin surface.
🔬 Supporting research
Peer-reviewed international journal articles that support this article. Click a title to open the PubMed abstract.
- American Journal of Surgery 2023 — 211 women · 399 breasts Can Montgomery tubercles impact aesthetic 3D nipple-areolar complex tattooing? An anatomical, quantitative analysis of breast cancer patients. Key finding: Montgomery tubercles average 5.0 (0–25), more before menopause In text [1] · PMID 36404166 · DOI
🎬 Watch — Dr. Park Seong-Soo · BongBong Plastic Surgery
Related videos from BongBong Plastic Surgery's official channel and Dr. Park Seong-Soo's channel. Videos are in Korean and play on YouTube.
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3:48 Completing beautiful breasts: everything about nipple and areola reduction (Korean) BongBong official · 2018.07.31 -
4:37 Removing prominent Montgomery tubercles after breast surgery, root and all (Korean) Dr. Park's channel · 2026.06.09 -
0:57 Areola bumps that stand out after breast surgery? How to remove them smoothly (Korean) Dr. Park's channel · 2026.06.13
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Are the raised bumps on my areola all sebum?
They cannot simply be seen as sebum on the skin. The areola has a normal structure called Montgomery glands that secrete sebaceous material to protect the nipple and areola skin, and they can look like small bumps at the skin surface.
Is it abnormal to have many areola bumps?
Number and size vary from person to person, so having several does not necessarily mean there is a problem. If they look as usual without particular pain or skin changes, they are likely a normal structure.
Can I squeeze areola bumps by hand?
It is best to avoid squeezing them or popping them with a needle. Squeezing a blocked Montgomery gland can lead to skin damage or infection.
My areola bumps got bigger after pregnancy — should they be removed?
During pregnancy, hormonal changes can enlarge Montgomery glands and make them more visible. They also protect the nipple and areola during breastfeeding, so if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is better to check the current condition first rather than remove them just because they got bigger.
Can areola bumps come back after removal?
It depends on the type of bump and the removal method, so it is hard to generalize. In particular, the areola has many Montgomery glands, so other untreated bumps may later look relatively more noticeable. Many of the small bumps on the areola are a normal structure related to Montgomery glands, which protect the nipple and areola skin. So they do not have to be removed just because they are bumpy. However, if certain bumps are particularly large or protruding and the areola shape bothers you, selective removal can be considered after checking the type, size and location of the bumps and the overall areola shape. Conversely, if there are sudden size changes, pain, bleeding or skin changes, the cause should be checked before cosmetic removal.
📖 References
Click a [number] in the text to jump to its source, and ↩ to return. Only papers whose title, journal and year were verified on PubMed are listed.
- ↩ Kandi LA, Hammond JB, Thornburg DA, et al. Can Montgomery tubercles impact aesthetic 3D nipple-areolar complex tattooing? An anatomical, quantitative analysis of breast cancer patients. Am J Surg. 2023;225(1):99-102.PMID 36404166 · DOI— 211 women · 399 breasts — Montgomery tubercles average 5.0 (0–25), more before menopause
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