Interventions for treating painful nipples among breastfeeding women

Cochrane systematic review of 4 RCTs (656 women) on treatments for nipple pain in breastfeeding. No topical treatment (lanolin alone, lanolin + breast shells, glycerine gel dressings, all-purpose nipple ointment) showed clear superiority over expressed breast milk or basic care. In every trial, education on correct infant positioning/attachment was part of routine care, and pain fell to mild levels within ~7-10 days postpartum regardless of treatment.