For severely cracked, raw, or bleeding nipples, Dr. Nice's Nipple Care Gel is built on a principle of wound care that's been the clinical standard for over 60 years: moist wound healing. Wikipedia
In a landmark 1962 study published in Nature, researcher George Winter demonstrated that wounds kept in a moist environment healed dramatically faster than wounds left to dry and form a scab — studies show that moist wounds heal up to 50% faster than dry wounds. The reason: epithelial cells (the new skin cells that close a wound) need moisture to migrate across the wound surface; in a dry environment they have to dig deeper to find moisture, which slows healing significantly. Elena Conde + 2
This is why hydrogel dressings became standard in hospitals for burns, surgical wounds, and pressure ulcers — and why they translate so well to cracked, damaged nipples. Hydrogel dressings have a high water content that maintains moisture, inhibits scab or crust formation, reduces pain, and supports the migration of new skin cells for wound repair. For breastfeeding moms, this matters even more: a softer, non-scabbed wound has the additional advantage that there's no hard scab to be pulled off during a feed, which can re-injure the nipple and restart the damage cycle. Mother FoodThe Breastfeeding Network
Clinical research also backs the pain relief benefit specifically. A randomized controlled trial of 106 lactating mothers comparing hydrogel dressings to lanolin ointment found that the hydrogel group had significantly greater reduction in pain scores — meaningful for moms who are nursing through real damage. PubMed
Dr. Nice's Nipple Care Gel uses the same poloxamer hydrogel technology found in clinical wound dressings, delivered in a fast-absorbing gel format that doesn't require removal before nursing. For persistent damage, deep cracks that aren't healing, or any signs of infection (increased redness, warmth, pus, or fever), also consult a lactation consultant or healthcare provider — hydrogel is a powerful supportive care tool, not a substitute for clinical evaluation when something is genuinely wrong.