Eli5: Why do areolas exist ? What is their purpose ?

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I understand the actual knob on a breast for a feeding purpose . Wouldn’t just that be enough ? Why the areola around it especially with a different shade of colour to the rest of the breast ?

In: Biology

22 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

My wife has explained this to me. A newborn’s vision is incredibly limited so areolas exist to help them find the nipple to nurse. Dark skin on lighter skin is easier for them to see. This is also why some areolas will darken during pregnancy.

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