Any way to reduce the size of Montgomery's glands?

July 7, 2008 6:44 AM

I've wondered forever, and now I'm finally asking: Has anyone out there had success with diminishing swollen Montgomery's glands?

I'm 33, never had children, not on the pill or other hormones, in excellent health, and very physically active. No serious complaints, fortunately--only one nagging question that neither doctors nor Google have been able to help me answer: Is there something I can do to reduce the size of the Montgomery's glands on my breasts?

Shortly after I hit 30, I began noticing large Montgomery's glands forming on the areolae of my breasts, which (after repeatedly making sure I wasn't pregnant) I chalked up to my getting older and the normal changes of life. They never went away, and as I've aged, they've gotten even bigger, more swollen, and more pimply-looking (sorry, folks!), much to my chagrin.

I've asked two OB/GYN practitioners and one general practitioner about this, and all of them have said that it's normal, nothing to worry about, just a sebaceous gland, etc. Internet searches have revealed similar information. I'm glad there's nothing serious going on, and I know this is probably just one of many cosmetic changes that happens during the aging process.

However, curiosity and vanity got the better of me this evening, and I gotta ask: Is there anything I can do to decrease the appearance of these glands? Thanks.

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (4 comments total)

OK, before the inevitable "this AskMe is useless without pictures..." brigade come a-calling, not really. You can of course squeeze the sebum out with scrupulously clean fingers but they will just fill again. I think the problem may be that they developed so late in your life that you were used to a visual image that is different to what they look like now.
posted by Wilder at 6:55 AM on July 7, 2008

Oh, that's what those are. I have a few fairly small ones scattered around here and there.

I've always assumed they were normal and just left them alone. Mine seem to have gotten smaller as I got older, with no interference from me - seems to be the opposite of your experience, but perhaps they will get smaller on their own.
posted by bedhead at 9:04 AM on July 7, 2008

Wow, I was seriously thinking about asking a question about this yesterday. Now that I actually know what these things are called, googling tells me not to use soap or any other products on them. Mine usually go away on their own though so I know of no easy way to get rid of them or minimize their appearance. Thank you for asking this question though!
posted by pised at 9:36 AM on July 7, 2008

I wonder if something like a hot compress would help expel the sebum?
posted by Solomon at 10:43 AM on July 7, 2008