Sore red erect nipples; I am post menopausal; what could thi

I am a 52 year old woman, post menopausal for 3 years now. Five days ago I woke up in the morning with sore, red, erect nipples. The areola feels tight and a little sore, like the nipple is pulling the areola flesh. I'd gone to bed wearing a slightly rough-textured cotton shirt and no bra. When I woke up the next morning my nipples were this way. I attributed it to the shirt, but now I'm not so sure. It became a little worse instead of better. Last night I put a little Neosporin on them and this morning they are less red, swollen and angry,...but the symptoms are not gone completely. I'm beginning to get scared. What are the possible things this could come from? What could this be?

I am 54 and experiencing the same thing as the 52 year old that posted on 10/17/07. There was no reply on her message. I don't think mine are swollen like hers were,as I have large nipples anyway, just sooo tender. Like her, I just woke up one morning to this. Mine definitely didn't come from anything rough textured. Anyone out there experience the same thing and have any answers?