AJ I remember getting very dry nipples when I was pregnant with Matthew they got so itching as well and at times I felt like ripping them off LOL

Each night I`d smear the strecth mark cream over them along with my tummy and thighs it helped a little otherwise as you say try using the nipple cream, I used Lansinoh towards the end of my pregnancy, lovely Nell recommended it so it could be worth a go now.