What is All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO)?
All Purpose Nipple Ointment, or APNO, isn’t your average nipple cream. It’s a topical medication designed to treat damaged and infected nipples. It combines the powers of an antibiotic, an antifungal, and an anti-inflammatory agent.
This guide will give you a complete overview of APNO, including its benefits, risks, and how to use it correctly.
Keep in mind that APNO isn’t a cure-all. It’s essential to work with a healthcare provider to identify and address the root cause of your nipple pain (poor latch or an ill-fitting breast pump flange, for example) rather than just masking the symptoms. APNO can help, but it’s not the whole solution.
Understanding APNO: Composition and Function
APNO is a multi-purpose ointment designed to treat nipple pain, damage, and infection in breastfeeding mothers. It contains three key ingredients, each with a specific role:
Key Ingredients and Their Roles
- Antibiotic component: The prescription version contains a more effective antibiotic to treat superficial skin infections.
- Antifungal component: This ingredient helps combat fungal infections, such as yeast, which can complicate nipple damage.
- Anti-inflammatory component: This reduces swelling and pain, promoting faster healing.
How APNO Works
APNO works by targeting multiple causes of nipple damage at the same time. It creates a protective barrier on the nipple to prevent further irritation, and it promotes a moist, healing environment.
Benefits and Use Cases of All-Purpose Nipple Ointment
APNO may help heal certain nipple infections and damage when used correctly. Keep in mind that it only treats skin infections; it does not treat breast infections.
Your doctor or lactation consultant may suggest that you use APNO if:
- You have nipple pain and cracking.
- You have a suspected bacterial or fungal infection on your nipple.
APNO should not be used alone if you have any of the above conditions because it only addresses skin infections. You must also address the underlying cause of nipple damage (such as a poor latch or poorly fitting breast pump flange) for the APNO to be effective.
Potential risks and limitations
APNO is best used under the guidance of a healthcare provider and a lactation consultant. You should talk with a doctor before you start using APNO.
Using APNO for too long, or using it without getting medical advice, can lead to complications. Using APNO to treat a problem could hide another underlying problem and delay you from getting the right treatment.
It’s important to remember that APNO only addresses superficial skin infections. If you have a latch problem, if your pump doesn’t fit right, or if there are other mechanical issues, APNO will not fix those problems. You should address those problems to get the best results.
How to Use APNO Safely and Effectively
If you and your doctor or lactation consultant decide that APNO is right for you, here are some tips for using it safely and effectively:
- Application: Apply APNO sparingly to the nipple only after each feeding or pumping session.
- Dosage and Duration: Use APNO for up to two weeks. If you need to use it for more than a week, or if the nipple damage comes back after you stop using the cream, contact a lactation consultant right away.
- Hygiene and Precautions: If you apply the cream correctly, you don’t need to wash it off before the next feeding. Use breast pads to keep the cream from staining your clothing. Watch for any signs of an allergic reaction or irritation.
Prescription vs. Homemade APNO
The prescription version of APNO contains a more effective antibiotic than a homemade version. However, if cost is a concern, you can create a homemade version of APNO using mupirocin instead of the prescription antibiotic.
Mupirocin is much cheaper than prescription APNO, and the cost of prescription APNO can be a barrier for many families.
If you plan to make your own APNO, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how to mix it properly. Be sure to use sterile ingredients and store the mixture correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is APNO better than lanolin?
Whether APNO (All Purpose Nipple Ointment) is “better” than lanolin really depends on individual needs and sensitivities. Lanolin is a natural emollient often recommended for breastfeeding mothers, providing a simple, single-ingredient solution. However, some individuals may develop a lanolin allergy. APNO, on the other hand, is a compounded ointment containing multiple ingredients, often including an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and an antifungal. It’s generally used for more severe nipple pain or infection. Therefore, APNO is not necessarily “better,” but rather a different approach for different situations.
What does APNO stand for?
APNO stands for All Purpose Nipple Ointment. It’s a term used to describe a compounded medication typically prescribed by doctors or lactation consultants to treat nipple pain and damage associated with breastfeeding. The exact formulation can vary but usually includes a combination of medications.
Is APNO a prescription?
Yes, APNO is a prescription medication. Because it’s a compounded ointment, meaning it’s custom-made by a pharmacist combining multiple ingredients, you’ll need a prescription from a healthcare provider (like your doctor, midwife, or lactation consultant) to obtain it. This is because the ingredients often include prescription-strength medications not available over the counter.
In conclusion
When used correctly and under the guidance of a healthcare professional, all-purpose nipple ointment (APNO) may be a helpful treatment for nipple damage and infection.
But it’s important to remember that APNO is not a cure-all. It’s essential to address the underlying causes of your nipple pain to achieve a more successful long-term outcome.
Before using APNO, talk with your healthcare provider or a lactation consultant to be sure it’s the right treatment for your specific situation.