It is common for the nipple and areolar to develop changes to the skin color (“pigment”) during lactation, whether breastfeeding or pumping or a combination of both.
Sometimes, people develop skin hypopigmentation (loss of pigment) after a significant dermatitis episode or other allergic skin reaction.
It can also happen naturally.
Usually, the pigmentation change will return to its normal color several weeks to months to even a year after stopping breastfeeding/pumping or resolving a dermatitis.
This is a classic example of depigmentation in the setting of pumping:
