The human areola ('areola mammae') is the pigmented area on the breast around the nipple. The mature human female nipple has several small openings arranged radially around the tip of the lactiferous ducts from which milk is released during lactation. Other small openings in the areola are sebaceous glands (oil), also known as areolar glands.

Human areolae are mostly circular in shape, but many women have large areolae that are noticeably elliptical (round).

The average diameter of male areolae is around 28.0 mm (1.1 in). Sexually mature women have an average of 38.1 mm (1.5 in), but sizes can exceed 100 mm (4 in).

Lactating women, and women with particularly large breasts, may have even larger areolae. A function of the specialized dermis of the areola is to protect the regular breast skin from wear, cracking, and irritation. Infants sometimes create trauma to the nipple and areolae by latching-on (breast feeding).

Paget's disease of the breast (a type of cancer) may have the appearance of eczema (dermatitis), with skin changes involving the nipple of the breast. The condition is an uncommon disease accounting for 1 to 4.3% of all breast cancers and was first described by Sir James Paget (born 1/11/1814-died 12/30/1899) in 1874.

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