Comparing the combination of copper, zinc, and sucralfate (Cicalfate ®) with white soft paraffin in the treatment of cracked nipples

Background: Cracked nipples represent the most common complication of breastfeeding. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effect of the Cicalfate® commercial cream (containing copper, zinc, and sucralfate) with white soft paraffin in treating cracked nipples. Methods: This study was a double-blind clinical trial conducted on 115 patients with cracked nipples. Patients were randomly divided into two case and control groups. The case group received the Cicalfate® cream and the control group received white soft paraffin. After a period of one to two weeks of treatment, all patients were re-examined and the severity and rate of their recovery were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Results: In this study, 68 patients were in the case group and 47 were in the control group. The comparison of the two groups in terms of improvement of the right nipple with the removal of other variables showed that the degree of cracking reduction in the case group was 3.3 times that of the control group (OR=3.3; CI=1.3-8.3). Also, the comparison of the two groups in terms of improvement of the left nipple with removing the effect of other variables showed that the degree of cracking reduction in the case group was 5.3 times that of the control group (OR=5.3; CI=2.0-14.1). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the therapeutic effect of Cicalfate® is more than that of white soft paraffin.