Low Level Laser Therapy for Nipple Pain.

Sore, cracked, or damaged nipples are incredibly common in the early weeks, and for many women, the pain can feel overwhelming. While we know that preventing damage and addressing the underlying cause are the most important first steps, sometimes your nipples simply need a little extra help to heal.

We’re excited to now offer Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) as an option to support faster healing for sore or damaged nipples.

What is Low Level Laser Therapy?

LLLT is a safe, non-invasive treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. The light penetrates deep into the tissue, helping to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and accelerate repair at a cellular level. It is painless, quick, and safe for breastfeeding mums and babies.

Laser therapy has been used in many areas of healthcare for years, from sports medicine to wound care, and research is now showing exciting benefits for breastfeeding women dealing with nipple pain and trauma.

How Can It Help with Nipple Pain?

When nipples are damaged, feeding can feel excruciating. By boosting circulation and triggering your cells to produce energy for repair, laser therapy can help:

• Reduce inflammation and swelling around the nipple and areola

• Relieve pain so feeding feels more manageable

• Speed up healing of cracks, grazes, and trauma

• Support ongoing milk supply by making it more comfortable to continue breastfeeding

  
  

What to Expect in a Session

When you book a lactation consultation with us, we will first take a thorough history and look into the cause of your nipple pain. A full assessment is required prior to commencing laser treatment to ensure other causes of nipple pain have been addressed. While we are excited about the benefits of LLLT, the underlying basics of attachment and positioning, and addressing for other contributing factors such is essential (and why we always recommend a lactation consultation prior to starting LLLT with us).

If laser therapy is appropriate, you will be offered treatment to the affected nipple. Each treatment only takes a five minutes per side, so can generally be provided in the consultation. Additional short appointments can be booked for ongoing LLLT treatments.

Our goal is always to help you feel comfortable, confident, and supported while feeding your baby. Adding LLLT to our toolkit means we can help you heal faster, get relief from pain, and focus on connecting with your little one rather than dreading every feed.

If you’re struggling with nipple pain, cracks, or damage, we would love to help!

Click here to get in touch about LLLT, treatment options and how we can support you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Low Level Laser Therapy safe for breastfeeding?

Yes. LLLT is non-invasive, completely safe for breastfeeding women, and will not harm your baby. You can feed immediately after a session.

Does the treatment hurt?

No. The laser feels like a gentle light on the skin. There is no heat, no vibration, and no discomfort during the treatment. Most women will not feel any sensation, some will notice slight warmth or tingling.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on the severity of your nipple damage and pain. Generally 3 sessions per week for 2-4 weeks is our recommendation, however this may be adjusted depending on your circumstances and response to treatment. If nipple pain has resolved after only a few sessions treatment can be stopped before the full course is completed.

Can it help with ongoing nipple pain, not just cracks?

Yes. Laser therapy reduces inflammation and supports tissue repair, which can help with persistent pain even if there is no visible damage.

Will this fix the cause of my pain? The laser may help your nipples heal and feel better, but we will always assess and address the underlying cause as the pain will likely return if this is not addressed. While LLLT is an exciting treatment option, it may not work for all women and presentations of nipple pain. It is one part of our treatment plan, but is unlikely to completely heal nipples on it's own without other recommendations and strategies. This will be discussed with you as part of the consultation.

Are there research studies on LLLT?

Yes - the following research articles may be of interest:

Coca KP, Marcacine KO, Gamba MA, Correa L, Aranha ACC, de Vilhena Abrao ACF. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in relieving nipple pain in breastfeeding women: a triple-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Pain Management Nursing. 2016;17(4):281-289.

Buck ML, Eckereder G, Amir LH. Low level laser therapy for breastfeeding problems. Breastfeeding Review. 2016;24(2):27.

Niazi A, Rahimi VB, Soheil-Far S. A systematic review on prevention and treatment of nipple pain and fissure: are they curable? Journal of pharmacopuncture. 2018;21(3):139.