Wednesday August 27th, 2008 @ 3:52 AM
Filed under: Nipple
I had my right nipple pierced about ten years ago. It did not heal well, became infected and after about a month I took it out and let it close up, which it did quite nicely. There were two tiny little marks where the openings had been that were almost non-discernible. As I have little points for nipples the original piercing was placed wider, further out as opposed to tightly spaced toward the tip nipple itself. About three weeks ago I had a spur of the moment brainstorm to get my nipple re-pierced, so I ran out and did it. I showed the piercer my prior spot and asked if we should use or avoid it, as perhaps scar tissue from the old piercing, should there be any, could cause a problem. She thought it better safe than sorry and went further out as opposed to closer in onto the actual nipple. I have uploaded a photo of the piercing so that you can see. She had trouble getting the needle out the other side once she began and she also pierced freehand, without a clamp to guide the needle. This resulted in a slightly lopsided piercing. I am not too happy about this. With that said… my questions are:
Was this done correctly or is there no right vs. wrong for placement? Ideally I want my piercing to enhance my already sensitive nipple as well as look good and heal properly. I have the sense that because it is placed wider and not right into the tip, it may not have maximized the sensitivity and might take longer to heal as well. Is that wrong? I am now considering having my left nipple pierced and want the two to match symmetrically. One is already not perfectly horizontal. I would also prefer that my piercings be closer in, on or near the actual nipple itself. Can you please speak to the situation and my concerns and suggest what to do? Thank you very much!
Based on what I read and with that picture, in my eyes it appears that the piercer was not quite experienced/knowledgeable as she should be.
You do not want to be piercing deeper into the areola as many complications can occur. One of them is what I am seeing in that picture where through scar tissue, deep placement,etc your nipple is rather distorted from what it ideally should be. Also this can be a result as well from the type of jewelry you have in your nipple, ie: small diameter circular barbell. As it will pull down and apply stress on a straight pathway thus increasing scar tissue and irritation. Not only that but she didn’t even pierce it in line with your nipple.
So realistically when it comes to piercing your other nipple, I implore you to actually get it done properly and with a straight barbell, at least for the initial healing time. Symmetry with these piercings is going to be very hard now. Even with normal paired nipple piercings its hard to keep symmetry due to different developments/angles of the nipple/pectoral muscles,etc.
But like I said if you came to see me with this nipple piercing, with great frustration and concern with what happened to you. I would explain specifically why what you had done is not the ideal situation and that realistically I would not want to compromise your well-being as well as the quality of the piercing, in order to make it symmetrical with a botched piercing job. If anything I would encourage you to remove the jewelry, provided it was problem free and could be removed. And then from there I would advise you on how to care for it and see how it heals, and if it was suitable re-pierce it properly the next time around.
*sighs* I’m still looking at that picture you posted and it makes me cringe and want to cry. We really gotta find a way to get all piercers on the same page of knowledge so that things like this, never happen again.
+20 / 22 votes 
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 5 Comments
Friday August 22nd, 2008 @ 8:14 PM
Filed under: Nipple
I got my nipples pierced about 3 weeks ago. I haven’t had any problems or signs of infection, but for the past few days, I’ve been having trouble turning the rings. It almost feels like it’s healing too tightly or something. They don’t want to move when I try to turn them, and it’s starting to hurt to do so. I’m just wondering if this is normal or if I should be concerned about it.
Why are you trying to turn the rings? Please tell me this wasn’t the advice you were given by your piercer? Piercings heal from the outside inwards so moving the jewellery in a healing piercing only serves to damage the tissue, cause irritation and lengthen the healing process - hence the pain - you bodys way of saying ’stop it, you’re harming me’. The key to healing trouble-free piercings is more a case of what you don’t do to them, rather than what you do do to them. My advice - leave them alone, don’t turn them, don’t play with them.. whatever, and continue with nothing more than your twice-daily seasalt soaks.
+23 / 23 votes 
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 6 Comments
Friday August 1st, 2008 @ 9:35 PM
Filed under: Nipple
So i took my nipple piercing out about three weeks ago because they never quite healed and were constantly irritated. I did everything right, I saw my piercer before hand to get the OK and make sure he thought i was alright to take the jewelry out. I soaked them in salt water for a couple days after to make sure and flush out any bacteria or puss in the hole. They closed and i thought everything was fine.
except now my areola is scaly and irritated on the right breast and when i squeeze the area hard enough a clear liquid comes out of textured bumps that are around the nipple. it itches constantly and though i have heard of similar symptoms being connected to a rare form of breast cancer, i am certain this is directly related to my piercings.
PLEASE PLEASE i am very worried. i plan to see a doctor ASAP but if anyone has ever heard of this or experienced it i would desperately like to know!
Do see a doctor as soon as possible.
And STOP squeezing your poor nipples! It’s abnormal that three weeks after you removed the jewlery and stopped soaking with sea salt that you’re having some sort of reaction be it allergic, bacterial or something else.
+12 / 12 votes
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Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | 1 Comment
Sunday July 27th, 2008 @ 1:24 AM
Filed under: Nipple
Hi. I got my (female) right nipple pierced 2 months ago. My nipples are very flat, and the balls from the straight barbell (14ga) press against my skin and leave indentations. I read somewhere that this is not supposed to happen. The piercer obviously didn’t pierce them when they were “flat” and perhaps I should have mentioned it to him. They are otherwise healing well, (I think) but I was wondering if switching to curved barbells would be a better choice, as it could prevent the balls from pressing against my skin if the barbell was positioned correctly, right? Wrong? I read on here that a lot of piercers recommend straight barbells, but when it comes to this situation, would it be beneficial? Please don’t say I need to get it re-pierced 
Thanks a lot!
There’s a difference between “Flat” nipples and “inverted nipples.”
With inverted nipples, depending on the severity of the inward pull of the nipple, I’ll use a curved barbell. (Some inverted nipples just can’t be pierced successfully)
Otherwise, I always use a straight barbell - even on the softer, flatter nipples.
With the pressure of bras and shirts and the forward weight of the breast, it’s normal for the balls to slightly indent into the areola. If you’re having trouble with the balls sinking into both the nipple and the areola, or if it’s causing discomfort outside of the actual healing piercing site, you may need a longer barbell.
Some people find that smaller or larger balls will help the barbell sit more comfortably as well.
Worst case scenario is that your nipple piercing was pierced too deep and into the areola (in which case you should remove them and have them re-pierced …sorry!)
+5 / 5 votes
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Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | Comments
Tuesday July 15th, 2008 @ 10:04 AM
Filed under: Nipple
Hi,
my girlfriend got her nipples pierced 2 weeks ago and she’s having issues with both of her nipples.
You can actually see a very red area around the end of the jewelry. The jewelry is a 12G barbel with pink sapphirs on both ends. The sapphirs seems to create a pressure on the skin of the breast (not the nipples) and seems to enter the hole of the piercing. This is why we are thinking that the jewelry is too short.
My girlfriend is experiencing pain randomly. If there is a pressure on her nipples, the jewelry will tend to create a pressure on her breast and until she actually moves the jewelry outide the breast, she will experience random pain. When she moves the jewelry, there’s a pain but the pain goes quickly away, until she puts her t-shirt, bras or whatever can create a pressure on the nipple/breast.
You guys are more experienced than we are, could you give us some advices ? She cleans her piercings 3 times a day, as told by the piercer.
The piercing shop is closed until Thursday so this is why we are asking here.
Thank you for your time and concerns,
Guillaume & Emilie
If the balls are actually sinking into the nipple then yes, the jewellery is too short. There should be a little room to allow any exudate to drain during the healing time otherwise you are asking for trouble. I would go back to the studio at the earliest opportunity and have them pop some longer, sterile bars in there. She will notice immediate relief if this is the case. Twice daily seasalt soaks should suffice with regards to aftercare.
+5 / 7 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 5 Comments
Monday July 14th, 2008 @ 4:11 AM
Filed under: Nipple
I am somewhat metal allergic I can get by with surgical steel or titanium in my ears but I had a bad reaction when I had my nose pierced and ended up needing to get it re-pierced with quartz
I want to get my nipples pierced with something non metal do you know if an internally threaded barbell made of pyrex or quartz exists and where i could get them.
I know titanium is an option but Id hate to have a reaction
Thank you
So you’re basing your allergic reaction on your single nostril piercing that went “bad”?
For everyone reading this I ENCOURAGE you most desperately to not self-diagnose any potential allergies. If you feel you are having an allergic reaction to ANYTHING, I urge you to seek out a dermatologist to conduct an allergy test. That way you can EXACTLY figure out what you are allergic to.
Know that the issue you had might have been a result of poor quality jewelry. Know that any jewelry that’s marked “Surgical” has to be viewed very skeptically. As the reality is in the medical field they do not leave Surgical Instruments inside the body. Only IMPLANT grade materials are to be left inside the body, this includes even a body piercing.
Implant Grade Steel or Implant Grade Titanium (do a AskBME search on these topics for more info) with a mirrored polish and that’s internally threaded SHOULD not provide any complications such as what you were describing. As these metals have been confirmed safe for long term wearing inside the body and are the exact same metals they use in implant procedures such as screws, bolts, pins, plates,etc.
There is currently no “internally threaded quartz glass” jewelry on the market. The most you can get is a Quartz Glass Tongue retainer and wear an o-ring on one side, the other side has a balled end.
However as I said your best option is to actually get yourself educated/informed on the basic jewelry material criteria so that you can be prepared to investigate to find who’s using the best quality jewelry…and who’s simply using the cheap bicycle spoke that was broken off a poor indonesian, and converted into a barbell to make some cash.
So as I said if you think you got allergies, get those thoughts confirmed, don’t just assume you have said allergies. As it could have most likely been from the low quality of the metal or even the buffing compound that was left on the jewelry due to improper processing within the piercing studio.
+10 / 16 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 1 Comment
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.
+8 / 12 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
