Nipple Problems

My nipples we're getting flaky like my skin was coming undone and some of the top top surface tissue would short of like rip I guess you could say or detiriarate. sorry am writing this in a hurry. I had heard it was flaking and to try putting some Vasiline on it. I did and it is not necesarrily flaky or ripping to say anymore but it everytime I check on it there is still some type of crust or scape of what has diried out and is not part of my body anymore. What can this be? Is it seriouse? What can I do about it? Is there a way I can treat this secretively, I would not like my mother to find out?

-Thank you!