Tuesday February 26th, 2008 @ 9:15 PM
Filed under: Nipple
hi, im 19, female, i self-pierced my nipple about 2 years ago. It got infected so i took it out about a month after i did it (i couldnt bear the pain). I noticed a while ago (around a year ago)that the entry holes are white and bumped up and when i squeeze it a thick white paste comes out. I think there use to be more, but now its barely a noticeable amount. I never noticed a smell. it does hurt sort of, but its like the nipple is sore, but so is the rest of my breast or below my breast. I think its related. I went to my doctor but he doesnt really know much of anything, i dont want to show him though. Its been worrying me because im getting married soon and having kids and want to breast feed, though since i did it myself im not sure if i screwed that up. anyway, i was worried that since its been like that for so long, can this “infection” spread, causing more problems? What should i do? If i got it pierced professionally would it drain?
thanks
The “white paste” is hard to say over the internet without physically analyzing the current sans-piercing location.. It sounds like there is potentially scar tissue formation at the entry and exit points due to performing the procedure yourself (potentially inaccurate techniques, jewelry,etc)…As for what’s occurring it could potentially just be skin cells,etc collecting within the potential pathway that USED to be your piercing, as you had that piercing for roughly a year or so.
What’s confusing me is where you state you went to your doctor but did not show him the problem, and claim he doesn’t know much. That’s weird to me because, well, since a doctor has to go through years of medical school,etc…Now granted there’s many that seem to make it through and then forget everything they were taught,etc…But the simple fact is without bringing it up and showing your doctor, how do you expect this problem to be solved?
If the problem is potentially a medical concern that will require the aid of medical professionals, I’d honestly suggest having them check it out.
Here is a suggestion for you to do:
1) Visit a qualified/reputable/knowledgeable piercer and have them look at the problem.
2) Visit your doctor and have him check out the problem. If he doesn’t know what he’s seeing he should suggest you visit another doctor who would know more about what’s going on (ie: ears, nose and throat doctors won’t know about urology, so they’ll suggest a urologist instead,etc).
I doubt its an “infection” because if it was, having it for 2 years, you’d not be typing this (ie: you’d be in serious medical condition)…Potentially re-piercing it might help the situation, but again best to have it checked by piercer(s) and a doctor(s) in person.
It doesn’t hurt to ask…and as much as online help can be of service some times, sometimes its just best to seek help in person.
0 / 2 votes 
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
Monday February 25th, 2008 @ 9:58 AM
I want to get a clitoris hood piercings, and I don’t like to shave because I usually get bumps when the hair starts growing back. I don’t have a lot of hair down there anyways but I wanted to know if I don’t shave will that be ok? Can they pierce my hood if I don’t shave ?
I also wanted to know why people keep saying that this piercing is not for everyone, how do I know if its not for me? Why do they have to check your vein pattern? Please some one answer these questions for me …I’m kind of nervous but I want it so bad!
First off, it’s really normal to be nervous before any piercing, especially a genital piercing, so don’t fret, it’s ok! 
No, you definitely don’t have to shave your pubic hair to get a hood piercing, so don’t worry about it if it’s not part of your normal routine. Technically speaking, you don’t have to shave before getting ANY genital piercings, although it does make placements like an outer labia or a christina a lot easier to scrub and mark up for your piercer. If it’s a bit TOO wild and jungle-y to work around, a piercer might trim some hair back with sterile scissors, but for a VCH that’s really not even necessary.
As for anatomical concerns, probably the easiest way to check at home if you’re suited for a hood piercing is to do the Q-tip test and make sure you have enough room down there to accommodate the piercing. Don’t worry about the veins/vasculature, your piercer will check to make sure that there’s nothing massive in the way, but it’s a very, very vascular part of the body and at least some bleeding is normal and expected. Again, don’t worry about it! Go to a piercer who makes you feel at ease and answers your questions calmly and confidently, someone with experience with genital work, and you will be just fine, I promise.
+7 / 7 votes 
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | Comments
Monday February 25th, 2008 @ 9:53 AM
My industrial got a little irritated from the barbell being too long, and little lymph bumps formed (they are definitely not keloids or hypertrophic scarring). I got a custom fit stainless steel barbell a few months ago and it has helped immensely. I was wondering if I got a custom fit titanium barbell, would it be even better for my piercing? or would it not make much of a difference at all?
Eh, six of one, half-dozen of the other. Titanium is more biocompatible than steel, as a rule, but that being said, some people demonstrate allergic reactions to titanium alloys and have no dramas whatsoever with steel. So, as with many things in the world of body mods, there are no hard and fast rules. I think the polish of the jewellery has at least as much to do with it as the metal - I’d take a mirror-polished piece of Anatometal steel jewellery over a lesser-quality, less-shiny piece of titanium from another company any day of the week.
If you’re going well with your steel barbell, I wouldn’t bother changing it out, personally. If the piercing is still healing, changing the jewellery will just tend to irritate it and should be avoided unless completely necessary.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | Comments
Monday February 25th, 2008 @ 9:47 AM
I have a 0 gauge apadravya in which I am currently wearing a 1″ stainless steel barbell. I have been wanting to try something a little lighter and thought of PTFE but have only been able to find small gauges. Do you know of anywhere to order something similar in PTFE or someone that will custom make such a piece?
Thanks!
We don’t as a rule link away from BME (for obvious reasons), but since BMEshop doesn’t carry any PTFE at all, I feel like it’s probably justified in this instance. I have a LOT of respect for the folks behind Aesthetics Bodymod - all of the jewellery they carry is fantastically high-quality and obtained from ethical, reputable manufacturers, and they manufacture PTFE and Delrin in-house and can make it to suit whatever you like. Their contact details are on their website.
+2 / 2 votes
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 3 Comments
Monday February 25th, 2008 @ 9:44 AM
Hey! I got my sternum pierced yesterday, I was wondering, if when I wash my hair, the shampoo will harm it in any way, & would it be good to wash it with sea salt water? Also, I really don’t like it when blood kinda crusts around the piercing when I wake up, I woke up this morning & there was a tiny bit, obviously because it’s a new piercing, but even with my cleaning spray it’s hard to get off, what should I do to get rid of that?
You should definitely rinse your hair down your back, away from the piercing, and give the piercing a good rinse at the end of your shower to help get rid of any residues from shampoos or conditioners!
And I’ll always recommend a good old fashioned salt soak over using any spray you can think of (even the sea salt-based sprays, god forbid you’re using some BZK-based stuff), it will do a lot more to help your body heal the piercing by promoting cellular regeneration and circulation tot he area, and it’s always ideal to clean your piercings after you shower anyway, cos the shower helps loosen everything up a bit. Easy!
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 2 Comments
Monday February 18th, 2008 @ 8:13 PM
Filed under: Nipple
Hi there, I had my right nip done and for some reason it never seemed to heal. I had my left done years ago and worked out wonderful. So over a year ago now I took out the right nipple since it just wouldn’t heal. Today it still doesnt seem to have healed at all. I can still queeze it and looks like a white puss still comes out. Im not sure what to do but I would love to get repierced but I want to make sure this one heals as much as it can first of course. Thank you so much for the help!
What you are experiencing is actually pretty normal. Since you had your piercing for quite some time, it’s possible the hole won’t ever completely close. The “white puss” you are getting is simply dead skin cells which collect inside the piercing. When you squeeze your nipple, the build-up gets pushed to the outside.
Without seeing your nipple I can’t say for sure, but in general, re-piercing it shouldn’t be a problem.
+4 / 4 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 3 Comments
Sunday February 17th, 2008 @ 5:53 PM
I’ve always known that “organic” jewelry is a breeding ground for bacteria and such and it shouldn’t be passed around from person to person(never mind the ick factor), but what about sterilizing the jewelry after you’ve worn it a while? Say if I had stretched lobes and wooden tunnels and I got some sort of infection in my ear lobe would in be safe to wear that jewelry again?
I found this: http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arch/9_14_96/bob2.htm
about kitchen cleaning and at the bottom it talks about sterilizing wooden cutting boards in the microwave. Is that an option with wooden tunnels/plugs?
Thanks.
I think the chance of you getting some sort of infection in your earlobe, which would live in your plugs and then somehow re-infect your earlobes is extremely unlikely. You could try microwaving your plugs, and it might help in terms of an baddies living on/in the jewelry, but it’s hard to predict what it would do to the integrity of your plugs…in other words…I wouldn’t do it if it were my jewelry.
Regular oiling and the occasional washing with mild soap and water (if you’re concerned about germs) should be sufficient to keep your plugs clean and looking good.
+1 / 1 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments
Sunday February 17th, 2008 @ 5:45 PM
About a three week old lip piercing, there is no pain or discomfort and it feels quit comfortable, I thought I might of been in the clear after the area was no longer tender.
Then today when I brush my teeth I notice this, it is raised about a centimeter above the surrounding tissue and is hard to the touch. I thought it might be an abscess and I am wondering of the appropriate course of action.
An abscess would typically be much bigger and MUCH more painful, as an abscess is a pocket of trapped infection fluid.
What you have appears to be nothing more than some excess scar tissue. At three weeks, this sort of thing wouldn’t be all that uncommon with a lip a piercing. The scar tissue tends to show up for a variety of reasons:
1) Too much movement of the jewelry, just from natural things such as talking or eating; but more commonly from playing with the jewelry too much
2) The diameter of the ring is too small, which therefore irritates the piercing significantly and your body forms excess scar tissue as a way to protect itself from the source of the irritation.If the jewelry fits too tightly, it’s not uncommon for the inside of the lip to “tear” slightly, as the body moves the jewelry into a position it can cope with.
If you’re concerned that the jewelry might be too tight, you should consult with your piercer.
Other than general aftercare, and avoiding playing with it, there isn’t probably much to be done about the scar tissue. In most cases it will simply go away on it’s own after the piercing heals a bit more an toughens up.
+18 / 20 votes 
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 7 Comments
Sunday February 17th, 2008 @ 12:05 AM
dear BME folks, i have a chest piece and since i have it i shave it but before i got it i used hair removal cream like Nair and i wondered if using this type of cream over a tattoed area could affect the tattoo in any way. So should i avoid this type of product and if so what are the risks?
Thank you!
Good old Nair, great product, just don’t use it on certain area’s…YEEEOUCH!
Anyways in regards to your question, I myself am a rather hair man-beasty and have used nair often on my legs and chest(I have large tattoo pieces on my legs and chest),etc to make life easier in comparison to shaving,etc.
For me personally Nair has not visibly damaged my tattoos at all as Nair is not meant to travel that deep within the skin layers. Much like how the directions state, if you’re potentially worried about what it may do to your skin. The best thing to do is apply a small test amount somewhere on the body and see what it does.
So as per the directions I’d suggest attempting a small test application somewhere around your chest piece and follow the directions exactly as stated. As I know on my body if you leave Nair on longer than the directed time frame, it actually does a sort of chemical irritation to my skin.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 4 Comments
Thursday February 14th, 2008 @ 11:03 PM
Filed under: Ear
I have had my ears pierced since forever. My right ear is pierced twice in my lobe & My left ear three times… i really want to stretch the second one in both ears… bad idea?? All of my holes are at 14ga .. but i’m weird and don’t want to stretch the bottom one.
There should be no problem stretching whichever holes in your ear you want. the only issue would be if the piercings are close together and the tissue between them becomes thin as you stretch them. Other than that, have fun with the stretching process. Remember to be smart about it and go slow.
+1 / 1 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 1 Comment
