Tuesday July 8th, 2008 @ 10:10 PM
Filed under: Nipple
I’ve had my nipples pierced for about 8 years now and am six months pregnant (due Oct ‘08). I plan on breastfeeding for at least a year. So far I haven’t actually talked to anyone who has breastfed after having their nipples pierced. I don’t know if I’m asking the wrong people or what but I’ve talked to more than a few piercers, plus a lactation consultant, and gotten responses like, “Er, I guess you should take them out when they start to bug you?” and, “This should be interesting! I wonder which way your milk is going to squirt?”
I know it can be done. I’ve heard you should take the piercings out (although I’d be interested to know if anyone left them in and how it went). What I’m looking for is practical advice as to how far in advance I should take them out and if there are any potential problems I should be aware of, things like that.
Perhaps Lori will be able to provide us her insight in this, after having just gone through her pregnancy.
Realistically you will not want to keep your piercings in while breastfeeding so you’ll have to remove them when you breastfeed your child. As it will be just a lot easier on the child breastfeeding, and not having to suck on two metal barbells. Also the barbells can be viewed as a choking hazard should one of the beads loosen and come off.
Now some women are able to remove their jewelry, breastfeed, then slide the jewelry back in without any complications. While other women when they do this, their nipples are more sensitive and hurt when trying to slide the jewelry in. Heck some women aren’t even able to maintain their nipple piercings during the pregnancy because they begin to be sore/hurt.
So your best bet is to remove the jewelry a few minutes before breastfeeding, then re-insert a few minutes after breastfeeding. Now if that just becomes too much of a bother, you can just remove the jewelry, as I know some women who have gone that route.
+7 / 11 votes 
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 2 Comments
Tuesday June 17th, 2008 @ 9:40 AM
Filed under: Nipple
I had my nipples pierced for about four years now. Last month, I had a pimple looking thing by the hole of one of the piercings (I have straight barbells). It cleared after soaking it in sea salt. Recently, I’ve been getting more pimple looking bumps under my nipple and near the holes. Also, the tips of my nipples are covered in a yellow green dry scab looking thing. There is also always dried blood and pus around the holes. I never had a problem until recently. My nipples have went through biting, pulling, pinching, you name it, and nothing ever bothered them. Now, I dont do anything to them and they’re becoming a mess. I don’t know what I can do. I’d hate to take the jewelry out, but I don’t know if I have an infection or what?
You stated that you haven’t done anything to them and that they were well healed. As it is affecting both piercings I’m inclined to think that this is something systemic and that your acting up nipple piercings are indicative of something else going on here. Green is never a good colour for discharge. I would suggest leaving the jewellery in situ for now seeking the advice of your doctor.
+2 / 10 votes 
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | Comments
Sunday June 15th, 2008 @ 7:13 AM
Filed under: Nipple
Can you use a retainer for a nipple piercing while it’s still healing?
I was just wondering. The reason I ask is that I may well be going on a long, intercontinental flight soon. I’m worried about metal detectors at airports and while I am well aware it’s a question that’s been asked zillions of times and that the consensus seems to be “no, they won’t go off”, I’m worried there will always be one that will. Being the generally shy person I am I’d rather people didn’t find out about my “secret” i.e. piercing (I have no other piercings).
Thank you.
Too keep those “secrets” a secret from airport security I would suggest if you absolutely want to wear something non-metallic, then to find a studio that sells Pyrex Glass jewelry. You can usually find an assortment in retainer type jewelry.
The pyrex jewlery can be autoclaved/sterilized and used in fresh piercings. But you definitely will not want to be constantly changing in between jewelry while it’s still healing. After you get the pyrex in you’ll either want to keep that in or immediately have them changed when you touch down to the steel jewelry and leave those in until they are completely healed. As the more you switch between the two, the more irritation can occur in piercings that are still healing.
+4 / 6 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 3 Comments
Thursday June 5th, 2008 @ 11:26 PM
Filed under: Nipple
Hi, I just got my nipple pierced and my piercer suggested Spectro-Jel (the fragrance free, sensitive stuff in a purple bottle.) Is this an okay way to clean nipples during the healing process? Or do I still have to do sea-salt soaks? And how many times a day should I clean the piercing? Thanks.
Hopefully your piercer gave you both written and oral aftercare instructions…if not, you probably didn’t get the best service you could have.
I can’t really comment on using Spectro-Jel as I have never used it myself or suggested it as part of my aftercare routine. What I can tell you however, is this: Spectro-Jel isn’t going to make your piercing heal. In fact there isn’t a soap, a sanitizer, a cleaner or any other product that is going to heal your piercing. Your body is what has to do the healing.
Any type of cleaner you put on your piercing is going to interfere with your body’s natural healing process. Now, that isn’t to say there isn’t a time and place for some sort of cleaner. If you get your piercing dirty during the healing process, a mild cleaner may be in order. However, you are using that cleaner to help kill the nasties that may have gotten into your piercing. The cleaner isn’t healing the piercing.
Regular sea salt soaks (mixed correctly) can help create conditions in your piercing that promote better and easier healing. My suggestion to my clients is a warm sea salt soak a couple of times per day. In your case, I would suggest that as opposed to the Spectro-Jel…unless you get the piercing dirty, as I mentioned before.
When it comes to piercings, your body usually heals in spite of what you do to it and not because of what you do to it.
+5 / 5 votes 
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments
Sunday June 1st, 2008 @ 2:28 AM
I recently got my second microdermal, 2-3 weeks ago. Up to this point I haven’t had any issues at all, and it has healed well, as has my other one. Today I noticed that the area immediately around it was slightly raised, and there was some funky crust on it. I can’t tell really if it’s red or weird looking besides the raised area, because it’s in a tattoo. I went ahead an cleaned it with my saltwater solution, and am leaving it alone. I want to believe that maybe I banged it or caught it on something during my nap, but I’m not totally sure because it hasn’t already happened up to this point. As this is kind of a newer procedure, I’m not sure if I need to go straight to my piercer, or let it wait a few days like I would any other piercing. The area isn’t painful or hot, and it is not causing me any real discomfort, just the raised area and the nasty crust. What do you think?
If you have any worries/concerns about your piercings you should always be willing to return to the piercer for them to assess the situation. Because if you just let it be the problem will be compounded and just continue if its something serious. So ideally better to have them check and give it the good old thumbs up or suggest you do something different to correct the situation.
Also know your microdcermals AREN’T healed in 2-3 weeks. No piercing, whatever it may be, takes 2-3 weeks to be 100% healed. If there’s no redness or crusty matter it means your piercing is healing well. If it begins to be red, crusty,etc then you must consider something you’ve done or introduced to your piercing to make it this way. It could be impact/catching, soaps, laundry detergent,etc.
Were you informed to wear any sort of bandage within the first week or two? Personally with microdermals and surface piercings I advise my clients to wear some sort of bandage, to reduce the potential of catching,etc. When it comes to the bandage I tell them to use their own judgement but ideally its best to wear a bandage if they are going out, or while they sleep.
So if you haven’t been wearing any sort of bandage, you should maybe try doing so during these times I suggested, to see if any chance occurs. But first visit your piecer and have them inspect the microdermal so they can give you their opinion.
+5 / 5 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 4 Comments
Saturday May 31st, 2008 @ 9:34 AM
Filed under: Nipple
I am interested in getting my nipples pierced (female), but I was wondering if there were any reasons why I would not be able to get them done, such as placement of veins, size, or etc.
While, in my experience, it’s pretty uncommon for nipples to be unpiercable, it does happen from time-to-time. The most common issue I’ve come across has been inverted nipples that do not come forward at all, even when erect. Size is very rarely an issue, and even when it is, it’s something that can usually be dealt with.
So, there aren’t many reasons that nipples can’t be pierced, but there are a few.
+3 / 3 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments
Wednesday May 28th, 2008 @ 12:14 PM
Filed under: Nipple
I am considering getting my nipple/s pierced, but I have a few questions I haven’t seen addressed elsewhere on your site. First of all, I have very large breasts (DDD cup size.) Is this a problem or an asset, at least when it comes to piercing? Secondly, I am concerned about clothing show-through at work. Padded bras aren’t readily available in my size, so what other options are out there as far as jewelry style, clothing choices, etc? And last but certainly not least, (and I’m sure I have seen this info elsewhere, but I can’t find it now) can you give me some ideas on the best way to find a good piercer? How about a link to some licensing organizations or client reviews? Thank you so much for your help!
Women with larger breasts can definitely experience a harder time healing nipple piercings…keeping in mind of course, everyone’s experience is going to be different. In general, larger breasts result in piercings/jewelry that can have more pressure put on them from shirts and bras as well as piercings that just get “beat up” a bit more during daily life.
For healing purposes, and quite possibly permanently, you should go with barbells for jewelry. Barbells with have significantly less pressure put on them from bras, as compared to captive bead rings or circular barbells. The less pressure, the easier to heal, and the more comfortable they will be during hte healing process. This also reduces the likelihood of migration or rejection. In additon, barbells with small balls are less likely to show through clothing…and if they do show through somewhat, they are more likely to be overlooked as simply part of the nipple.
Finding a good piercer in your area can sometimes be tricky. Word-of-mouth/referral is often a good way to go. Ask people you see with piercings that look nice and appear to be healed where they had there work done. If you consistently hear the name of one or two places, that’s probably a good indication of a good studio.
Another good resource you can use is the web site (www.safepiering.org) for the Association of Professional Piercers. The APP is not a licensing or policing organization, but it’s members do have to meet a minimum set of health and safety standards. Specifically, you may want to try these pages:
Choosing A Piercer
and
APP Piercers in Your Area
I would suggest spending some time looking through the rest of the site as well. It will tell you about what sort of requirements the APP has for membership and exactly what being an APP member means to you, as someone looking to have a piercing done.
Best of luck!
+3 / 3 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 2 Comments
Tuesday May 27th, 2008 @ 6:54 PM
Filed under: Nipple
I got both nipples pierces about two and a half years ago. They both took a long time to heal. My right one occasionally gives me some problems but only if irritated. The left one is always bothering me. It still drains and often has a marble sized lump behind the piercing. It doesnt hurt and sometimes goes away but or the most part I have had it for about a year and a hald. The lump gets smalled and sometimes its large like a large marble. I dont want to take it but O often worry about it. I have a round hoop now…..do u think I should go to a straigt bar. I dont think that will make this on and off lump go away….please help !!!!
Without seeing your piercing I’m pretty limited to what kind of suggestions I can make.
However, if you’ve had the piercing(s) for that long, and they still aren’t healed, it’s an indication that there is something pretty substantial going on. In general, here are a few of the potential issues:
1) The piercings are done too deeply. If this is the case, they may never fully heal
2) This one can be made worse by #1…the diameter of the rings in the piercings are too small for the amount of tissue in the piercings
3) The quality of jewelry you are wearing is substandard is continual irritating the piercing(s)
Those aren’ the only possibilities, but they are the most likely, based upon what you’ve described.
Changing to a barbell might help if the issue is (or at least part of the issue is) #2. It might also help if the issue is #3, assuming you change to a higher-quality piece of jewelry.
Based simply upon what you’ve described, I’d probably advise removing the piercings and having them re-done at a later date. Regardless of what the issue is, a marble-sized bump of any kind is clearly an indication your body is very unhappy about something. After this much time and trauma, it may not be possible to make your current piercings happy…especially if they are pierced too deeply.
Best of luck.
+2 / 2 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments
Monday May 26th, 2008 @ 4:59 PM
Filed under: Nipple
So I just got my nipples pierced yesterday at a shop I would trust with my life. They’re the most professional/knowledgeable people I’ve ever met, regarding body modifications.
I haven’t had any problems or anything (it’s only been 24 hours), but the piercer told me that she suggests wearing sports bras during healing (they’ll be less sore and whatnot) but I read on askbme (and also on the aftercare protocol sheet they gave me) to not wear tight clothing against fresh piercings.
I don’t know who to believe! lol. wanna help me out? I just want to make sure my piercings will be okay.
I definitely wouldn’t encourage a client to wear a serious compression-type no-bounce sports bra, but those comfy crop-top sports-type bras (you know, the ones that are made from spandex or lycra but aren’t all THAT seriously supportive) are pretty much perfect for healing nipple piercings. I always found it far more comfortable to have gentle but firm support when I was healing my nipple piercings, and I basically lived in either the aforementioned sports bras or tank tops/singlets with soft built-in bras during my entire healing period. I advise my female clients to do the same and I’ve never seen anyone have any issues with it! Now, corsets and push-up bras, on the other hand.. not so good!
+9 / 11 votes
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 8 Comments
Thursday May 22nd, 2008 @ 2:06 PM
Filed under: Nipple
My nipples are like eraser heads. If I pierce them will they get larger.
Eraser heads, huh? I’m gonna leave that alone.
It is not uncommon for nipple piercing to result in some increase in size after being pierced. In my experience, the “growth” is more noticeable in nipples that are smaller and flatter to begin with…for example, most male nipple piercings. That isn’t to say that increased nipple size doesn’t happen in women…it just tends to be a bit less noticeable.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 1 Comment
