When it comes to the female body, boobs are one of the main parts women feel most self-conscious about.

Breast size, shape, texture, and proportion can vary dramatically from woman to woman. We bet there wouldn’t be a single woman in the world who hasn’t pondered if her boobs are too big, too small, too saggy, or too perky (trust us, it’s a thing). Another common breast concern is whether it’s normal to have hairy nipples.

First of all, here’s your daily reminder that all boobs are beautiful. And, if you experience hair growth on your boobs, you’re not the only one. Hairy nips are a common condition for women, they’re just not a common conversational topic for women. So, in true Youly style, let’s find out why hair appears on boobs and what you can do to treat it.

What causes hairy nipples?

Experiencing unexpected bouts of hair popping up on your breasts can be awkward, especially for situations that require stripping down to a bikini, lingerie, or full nudity. So, uh yeah, all of life’s most enjoyable moments. Unfortunately, all causes of nipple hair growth are out of your control and simply come down to:

  • Hormonal changes and fluctuations
  • An overproduction of male hormones, specifically testosterone
  • Taking certain medications, such as testosterone and immunotherapy drugs
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects how the ovaries function
  • Cushing’s Syndrome, a condition that produces an excess of cortisol in the body
  • Genetics, a predetermined destiny of whether your breasts develop hair follicles or not

How to treat hairy nipples?

Nipple hair is no big deal. In most cases, the hairs that appear around your nipple are tiny, fine, and barely noticeable to the naked eye (unlike the hair on your head, pubic region, arms and legs). Medically, there’s no reason to remove the hairs from your boobs, they won’t cause any harm. It’s more so a preference of your appearance. If it provides you with confidence and peace of mind to remove hair from your nipples, you can treat the hairs by shaving (beware of ingrown hairs), trimming, plucking (disclaimer: this area is sensitive), waxing (ouch), or laser hair removal (the exy option).

Should you see a doctor about your hairy nipples?

Individually, hairy nipples aren’t a symptom of concern, however if you’re experiencing hair growth on the breast region combined with other unusual symptoms, we’d suggest setting up an appointment with your doctor to be safe.


This blog is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your medical practitioner.