How to Pierce a Nipple

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Nipple piercing is a form of body art that is very appealing to both men and women. Many people want nipple piercings because in addition to looking better, piercings can increase nipple sensitivity and make small or inverted nipples appear larger. If you do decide to have your nipple pierced, it’s important to have it done at a clean, professional piercing salon, and to follow a strict regimen of care and hygiene afterward. This article will give you complete information about nipple piercing.

Table of Contents

Plan your nipple piercing

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Find a reputable tattoo/piercing salon in your area. The first and perhaps most important step is to find a clean, professional piercing salon to perform this service. Piercing facilities usually operate in urban areas, but you can still find them in the most remote places. As with anything else, you should use Google to find a piercing salon. Their website should look professional and streamlined, with lots of useful information.

They also provide a photo gallery where you can view photos of the salon, along with photos of piercings from past customers.
You have to look at the reviews of many customers to see if they are satisfied with the salon, and if they are willing to return there again. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Visit the salon before you decide to use their services. Better yet, visit the piercing salon in person before scheduling an appointment with them. Only that way can you appreciate their cleanliness, safety and professionalism first hand. They must be ready to show you the operating license issued by the Department of Health, along with the autoclave (jewelry and appliance sterilizers) and spore test results (evidence that the autoclave is functioning properly). good motion).

Get to know some of the people who work there, ask them to advise you on your decision, and review what they have done in the past. Obviously, if they don’t have much success then you should look elsewhere for your piercing.
Ask if you can watch their technician prepare and perform the piercing. Pay attention to whether the technician washes his or her hands before putting on the gloves. From that point on, they are only allowed to touch the device and the client’s piercing.
All equipment and needles should be stored in separate sterile containers and opened in your presence. Needles should be disposed of after use in the trash labeled “medical waste”.
If you believe the facility is clean and that the technician is an experienced professional who follows proper medical industry safety procedures, you can schedule a session with them.

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Weigh the pros and cons of nipple piercing. Before you decide to get a nipple piercing, you have to weigh the benefits and disadvantages one last time. Think about whether this is something you will want for years to come, and whether this piercing will affect your life or relationships in any way. Nipple piercing is not a decision to be taken lightly.

Benefits: Nipple piercings not only look good, but they also help increase nipple sensitivity as it frequently stimulates the nipples. Piercings can also increase the size of small nipples and prevent inverted nipples.
Disadvantage: Nipple piercings can be a little painful and take up to a year to heal completely. You need to follow a strict hygiene regimen to prevent infection, so you have to be very determined. The piercing site can become infected if not taken care of properly, which is quite serious, especially for a nursing mother. Nerve damage and scarring can occur, and this adversely affects the amount of breast milk your baby provides. If the nipple is not removed, it can make it difficult for the baby to suckle and pose a risk of choking.

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Decide whether to pierce two nipples at the same time. They can pierce both nipples at the same time. This is usually done if the reason for the piercing is to increase the size of the nipple; However, many people feel that the healing process will go more smoothly if two nipples are inserted at the same time.

Also, the price of piercing both nipples at the same time is usually cheaper than doing it in two different sessions.

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Decide on a circular or barbell piercing. Nipple piercings are usually of two types, round and barbell. The circular piercing is the more common choice, but the barbell ring is suitable for contact sports players because it is harder to pull off. You also have to choose tips based on nipple size and shape, so you should consult a technician before making a final decision.

They can pierce nipples in any direction, but most commonly horizontally, then vertically. In some cases, it is also possible to pierce one nipple more than once, although the first piercing needs to be completely healed before the subsequent piercings.
For jewelry, the safest types of nipple piercings are medical-grade steel beaded hoops or medical-grade steel dumbbells. Never use jewelry that contains high levels of nickel, as they can cause infections and allergies.

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Mentally prepare for pain. The degree of pain during nipple piercing depends on the individual’s pain tolerance. Some people find it very painful, but many only experience a fleeting pain. Most people describe this feeling as being like being pinched or bitten hard. The nipple will feel very hot.

Fortunately, nipple piercing is very quick, and the pain lasts only a few seconds.
The nipple will then feel warm and painful to the touch, but should not cause much pain.

Piercing care

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Remove the bandage and clean the piercing. The most important thing to do while the wound heals is to keep the piercing site clean. The first time cleaning the piercing site is about 4-5 hours after piercing. Gently remove the bandage from the nipple, pinch the supporting hand underneath the wound and immerse it in water for 3-4 minutes, letting the water wash away the dried blood.

You can do this in the shower or in the bath, but if you’re using a bathtub, you should flush the wound with clean water before stepping out.
If there is dried blood on the nipple or jewelry, use a cotton swab soaked in water to gently wipe it off.
You should not use any cleaning solution in the first cleaning, but only water should be used.

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Clean the wound once daily for the first four weeks. After the first cleaning, you need to wash the wound once daily with a mild antibacterial cleaning solution. Ideally, you should clean your nipples under the shower. You should first shower as usual, including shampooing and bathing, the piercing area will be the last place you need to clean. Cleaning is as follows:

Wet the wound for a few minutes, then put a drop or two of hand sanitizer on your hands and rub your hands to create a lather.
Apply the cleaning solution to the nipple and insert the solution into the piercing by gently rotating the ring or sliding it back and forth with the barbell ring.
Leave the cleaning solution on the nipple for 1-2 minutes before rinsing it off. Dry with a towel as usual, but pat the wound dry with a tissue. Towels can harbor bacteria and make the wound infected.
After the first four weeks, you can reduce the frequency of cleaning to once every 2-3 days for the next four months. This is important because too much cleaning can cause the wound to dry out and become irritated.

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Wet the wound with saline to promote healing. Another thing you can do to speed up the healing process is to wet the wound with saline 1-2 times per day. You will dissolve half a teaspoon of sea salt in boiling water (almost half a cup). DO NOT use table salt because it contains iodine. Iodine can irritate wounds and interfere with healing. After letting the water cool down, pour the brine into a clean cup.

Then you squeeze the cup tightly around the nipple so that the wound is dipped in the salt water. Leave the cup in place for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with water and pat dry with a paper towel.
Instead of making a saline solution, you can buy a saline solution at the drugstore that is also used for the same purpose.
You can repeat this process 1-2 times per day, for as long as you like — the more often you do it, the faster the wound will heal.

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Protect the wound at night. You should cover the piercing at night so it doesn’t get pinched in clothing or bedding and doesn’t pull open. Women can protect the piercing by wearing a bra (or sports bra) to bed, while men can use a piece of medical tape (available at most drugstores).

Men should only use medical tape to cover their breasts at night. The rest of the time the nipple should be left open because the wound will heal faster.
Women should avoid wearing lace bras when they first get their nipples pierced, as round or barbell piercings can get caught in the lace. Regular bras, padded bras or sports bras are safer options.

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Know which products to avoid. There are some products you should avoid using on a new piercing, as they can irritate the wound or interfere with healing. Those products are:

Cleaning alcohol or methylated alcohol: these are very strong astringents and should not be used on sensitive nipple piercings.
Hydrogen peroxide or iodine-containing products: they prevent scar tissue from forming and prolong healing.
Antibacterial creams and gels: Creams like Neosporin or Bacitracin should not be used on the nipples because they make the wound moist and interfere with healing.
You should also avoid applying products like tanning oils, baby essential oils or tea tree oil on your nipples, as they can irritate the skin.

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Do not touch or fumble the nipple. It is important that you avoid touching or fidgeting with your nipple as much as possible while the wound heals. Bacteria on your hands can easily enter the wound and cause an infection, which is the last thing you need to avoid. This means that you should not let your partner touch or lick your newly pierced nipple. If you must touch the wound, wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap or wear gloves.

You should avoid twisting or turning the ring for the first few months, except during cleaning. Twisting the piercing will irritate the wound and hinder the healing process.
You should also be careful when playing sports or during any physical activity, as the piercing can be ripped out of the hole if hit too hard.
You can cover the nipple with medical tape to protect the piercing when playing sports, but you must remove the tape immediately and clean the wound completely.
Do not remove the piercing from the hole until the wound has completely healed. In particular, you should not replace the nipple ring with a silver pin because it can adversely affect the wound and cause an allergic reaction.

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Learn how to handle the infection. 90% of infections are caused by poor hygiene or careless cleaning, which is easy to avoid if you take extra care during wound care. However, if you notice symptoms such as sore nipples, redness, swelling, bleeding or pus from the wound, it’s likely that the wound has become infected.

Most mild infections can be resolved within 24 hours with thorough cleaning of the wound with an antibacterial solution and rinsing with clean water. If you have questions, call or visit a piercing technician.
If the infection does not clear up within 24 hours, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. They will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection more effectively.
Never remove an piercing when dealing with an infection (although some doctors advise you to) as this can trap bacteria in the nipple and lead to an abscess.
If you have a fever or chills from an infection, seek medical attention right away . A condition called toxic shock syndrome can occur, which is very serious and can be fatal if left untreated.

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It takes 6-10 weeks for the wound to heal. Nipple piercings usually heal in 6-10 weeks, if the wound is cared for properly and there are no complications. Nipples will be sore to the touch for the first few days, but this will improve somewhat after that.

You should be aware that initial healing takes less than three months, but wounds can take more than a year to fully heal and for scar tissue to form. Everyone is different, so the healing time is also different.

Advice

Make sure the piercing technician is wearing clean clothing and has no open wounds.
A rather subjective measure of a tattooist’s skill is the number/quality of piercings/tattoos on their body.
Do not overwash the wound as the skin will dry out and lead to infection.
Make sure the technician unpacks the needle right in front of you, wears gloves or hand sanitizer, and (optionally) uses a numbing spray as it will greatly reduce your pain. They must also make a mark with a pen on the nipple before inserting the needle to get the correct puncture angle. Getting a piercing is very risky if you choose the wrong place, so you must be 100% satisfied with the place you need to pierce before you start doing it.
Many piercers recommend wearing piercings with internal laces . Since the lace is inside, it won’t touch the wound to cause irritation; especially when you’re ready to change.
Always wear jewelry with internal lace. Jewelry with external laces can cause damage and trap bacteria.

Your nipples won’t heal completely before a year, and if the wound is still scabbing, you should use the saline solution for 10 minutes a day for a week. If you’re a woman, you should wear a sports bra, but be careful when you put it on and take it off (DO NOT wear a bra for at least 2 months).

Warning

Let a professional do the piercing. Don’t try to pierce your own nipples or anyone else’s.
If your nipple piercing becomes infected, seek treatment if the infection does not clear up after 24 hours.

Steps

Plan your nipple piercing

Piercing care

Advice

Warning

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