![The size and shape of areola and nipples vary greatly amongst females.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/areolas.jpg?output-quality=75)
The size and shape of areola and nipples vary greatly amongst females. Women usually have larger areola and nipples than girls who have not yet crossed their puberty.
The human areola is mostly circular, but many women have large, oval-shaped areolas. The areola of sexually mature women averages around 1.5 inches but can be as big as 4 inches.
Lactating women and women with particularly large breasts may have even larger areolas.
What exactly is the areola?
The areola is the circular dark-colored area of skin surrounding the nipple of the breast in females.
Areola has glands called Montgomery’s glands that secrete lubricating oil. The oil protects the nipple and skin from chafing during breastfeeding.
What is the color of areola?
The color of the areola can be anything from:
- Pink
- Red
- Chocolate brown
- Dark brown
- Black
The areola looks pale among people with lighter skin tones and darker among people with darker skin tones.
Can the size of the areola change over time?
It is not uncommon for the size of your areolas and nipples to change throughout your lifetime.
During puberty, your ovaries begin producing the female hormone estrogen, which causes your breasts to grow. As your breasts continue to become big after puberty, your areola will appear smaller in proportion.
During pregnancy, your areola may become darker and appear bigger due to the hormonal surge to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding.
The areola is part of the skin, which means they can stretch when you gain weight. As your breast gets bigger, your areolas may grow big too. Your areolas may or may not return to their previous size after you lose weight.
What are those bumps on the areola?
Montgomery glands are normal skin glands that appear as small painless bumps on the areola. Every person has Montgomery glands though they are more apparent in some others.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/quiz/human-body/human-body-s1.jpg)
QUESTION
What percentage of the human body is water? See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Sanuki J, Fukuma E, Uchida Y. Morphologic Study of Nipple-Areola Complex in 600 Breasts. Aesthetic Plast Surg. May 2009;33(3):295-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18626683/
Top How Big Are Areolas Usually? Related Articles
7 Signs It's Time to Wean Your Baby From Breast or Bottle Feeding
When is it time to wean your baby from the breast or bottle to solid foods? Learn how and when to wean your child from breastmilk to formula, and from formula to solid food.Breast Anatomy
The breast, or mammary gland is made up of lobules, milk producing glands, and a system of ducts to transport milk. Both males and females have breasts. Abnormal enlargement of breasts in men is referred to as gynecomastia. In women, during pregnancy the breasts grow larger and produce milk. Common medical conditions that affect the breasts include breast cancer, breast lumps, fibrocystic changes and cysts, mastitis, and benign tumors (fibroadenomas).Breast Anatomy Picture
The breast refers to the front of the chest or, more specifically, to the mammary gland. See a picture of Breast Anatomy and learn more about the health topic.Young Women & Breast Cancer
Is breast cancer genetic? Should I get tested for the BRCA gene? What every young women should know about breast cancer. Discover the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and other crucial breast cancer facts.Breast Cancer Slides
Learn about breast cancer causes, symptoms, tests, recovery, and prevention. Discover the types of treatments such as surgery and drug therapies as well as the survival rate for breast cancer.Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."