Do silverettes and breast shells help heal a nipple wound?

There is no reliable evidence to show that silverettes or breast shells help with nipple pain and damage.

There is also some evidence to show that silver is toxic to human cells, in the same way it's been shown to be kill bacteria.

However, many women like to use silverettes or breast shells when they have nipple wounds and their breasts need to be in a bra. It's important to prevent a nipple wound rubbing or sticking on your bra pad. You can find out about bra-wearing and breastfeeding here.

If you do use silverettes or breast shells, it's important to be aware of the possible downsides to their use, and to know how to use these aids wisely.

• Silverettes and breast shells place pressure on superficial milk ducts, which are compressed with very light touch. For this reason, they might increase the risk of breast inflammation. You can find out about the causes of breast inflammation here.

• Silverettes and breast shells create a moist environment. Overhydration of the nipple skin increases the risk of further nipple microtrauma and damage when breastfeeding. You can find out about moisture-associated skin damage here.

It's not bad to use silverettes or breast shells! It's just worth knowing that there's no evidence that they help, and that you need to use them carefully, if you decide to give them a go, to avoid making things worse rather than better.