BOOK NOW BOOK NOW
BLOG

Getting Nipple Piercing: Everything You Need to Know

Many people want more than just the average piercing, which is why nipple piercings are a great option! Nipple piercings are not by any means new and many different cultures have been using these kinds of jewelry for cultural reasons. Today, many people enjoy the look of nipple piercings, with men and women alike joining in on the trend and looking to add that extra bit of edginess and glitz to their appearance. This is what makes nipple piercings so great! This blog is designed to help you determine whether or not you may want to look into getting a nipple piercing and what type you should get.

What Is a Nipple Piercing?

A nipple piercing is a piercing that goes straight through the nipple, usually right at the base nearest to your skin. Nipple piercings range in the way that they are done, with different angles being used for different types! One of the most common kinds of nipple piercings that can be done is vertical ones, which go from the top of your nipple straight down vertically. You can also get nipple piercings that go from the side or go through the area horizontally, it is entirely up to you! Nipple piercings can be quite sensitive as this area has many different nerve endings, but the overall look is stunning and you will not regret it once it is in!

How to Pierce the Nipple?

If you are considering getting a nipple piercing, it is important to note that you should never attempt to do the piercing yourself. Getting it done by a trained professional with the proper equipment can ensure that no issues arise! As the nipple is quite thick, the piercing cannot be done with your average piercing gun but rather has to be done manually. The piercing artist will create a hole through your nipple by inserting a needle and then placing the jewelry through this hole. All in all, the process is over very quickly!

What Are the Types of Nipple Piercings?

The different types of nipple piercings range according to the direction that the jewelry is inserted. The following is a look at the different types of nipple piercings that can be done.

  • Vertical Nipple Piercings: These kinds of nipple piercings are the most common ones and they are when the jewelry is inserted into the nipple at a vertical angle. These kinds of nipple piercings are often preferred due to the fact that you can wear beautiful pieces of jewelry that dangle down, falling just under the nipple!
  • Horizontal Nipple Piercings: Horizontal nipple piercings are when the jewelry is inserted into the nipple at a horizontal angle, going across the nipple rather than falling below it. Many people chose to wear straight or curved barbells through this kind of piercing as jewelry that dangles may cause a strain on this sensitive area.
  • Diagonal Nipple Piercings: Along with being able to get vertical and horizontal nipple piercings, you can also get piercings that go diagonally through the nipple! These types of piercings are often done synonymously with a horizontal or vertical piercing, adding an extra bit of uniqueness to the look!

While many choose to get just one of the above types of nipple piercings, you are free to get an assortment if you want!

Do Nipple Piercings Hurt?

The nipple is a part of the body where there are many different nerve endings, making them extremely sensitive to external stimuli. This sensitivity means that nipple piercings can be quite sore to get and you may want to look into numbing creams or painkillers before going through this piercing process. In saying this, like with most other kinds of piercings, the process is extremely quick and if you are getting the piercing done by a professional, you run less of a risk of having severe pain or any complications! This is why it is vital that you go to a reputable piercing studio to get this type of piercing done!

Do Nipple Piercings Affect Breastfeeding?

When breastfeeding, you will have to remove the nipple piercing from the hole in order to be able to nurse. Having a nipple piercing does not impact your ability to breastfeed, so long as the area has properly healed. This is why it is quite important to not get a nipple piercing if you are pregnant as this could impact your ability to breastfeed if the wound has not yet properly healed by the time your baby is born.

Do Nipple Piercings Affect Sensitivity?

Nipple piercings can actually help to increase the sensitivity of nipples, and many people may choose to get this kind of piercing if they experience reduced nipple sensitivity. Though this may be the case for some, others may find that a pierced nipple does not actually change the sensitivity of the area, but this type of piercing will definitely not reduce sensitivity in any way! You may find that right after having gotten a nipple piercing, you experience some pain in the area, but this will wear off in a few weeks so do not worry! If you are concerned about nipple sensitivity after piercing, be sure to talk with your piercing artist about the potential effects!

What Aftercare Is Needed After Getting a Nipple Piercing?

Throughout the nipple piercing healing time, it is vital that you keep the area clean and free from any germs or bacteria! This will ensure that the piercing does not become infected.

Nipple piercing aftercare instructions will be given to you by the piercing artist who does the procedure, so be sure to follow the guidelines that he or she will set out to keep the piercing clean! It is important that you monitor the area while it is healing and look out for any potential infection to ensure that if it does become infected, you can act quickly to avoid any damage being done to the piercing!

How to Clean a Nipple Piercing?

When you clean your nipple piercing, it is important to use gentle motions to ensure that you do not further aggravate the skin. Using warm water to do this is often the best course of action and this can help to remove any nipple piercing crusting that may form over the area. Along with keeping the area clean, it is important to not irritate the skin while the piercing is healing. In order to ensure that you are not doing anything to aggravate the skin, be sure to avoid wearing bras and wear loose shirts for the first few days after having gotten the piercing!

How Long Do Nipple Piercings Take to Heal?

Nipple piercings will generally take around nine to twelve months before they are completely healed. During this time, it is vital that you keep up with piercing aftercare instructions and ensure that no germs or bacteria make their way into the wound. If you do not properly look after the area while it heals, you run the risk of developing an infection.

What Are the Side Effects of Nipple Piercings?

The nipple piercing pain scale is quite high, which means that one of the side effects of getting a nipple piercing is unfortunately a bit of discomfort and pain. As the area is quite sensitive and hard to protect from irritation due to clothing, it can be quite painful for a few weeks after having gotten the piercing. One of the most dangerous potential side effects of getting this type of piercing is infection. It is extremely important that you properly care for the area after having received the piercing and ensure that it remains clean and free from any bacteria and germs.

How Can a Nipple Piercing Be Kept From Becoming Infected?

Infected nipple piercing treatment may involve you having to get on a course of antibiotics, though this depends on how bad the infection is and how long it has been left untreated. Cleaning nipple piercings is an important part of ensuring that this area does not become infected so it is vital that you pay attention to the nipple piercing care instructions that you will receive when you are getting your nipples pierced.

How to Treat Infected Nipple Piercing?

There are a couple of nipple piercing infection symptoms to look out for after you receive this type of piercing. One of the most obvious signs will be pus that leaks from the open wound. You may also find that the nipple area is hot and quite swollen. If you are experiencing any symptoms that may point towards you having an infected nipple piercing, it is incredibly important that you seek the advice of a medical professional. If the infection has been left untreated for too long, you may have to go on a course of antibiotics to rid your body of the bacteria. Other lighter forms of infection that have not been left may be able to be treated with an antibacterial cream.

One of the most important things to remember when it comes to any type of piercing infection is that the jewelry should not be removed from the hole. Though you may assume that this will solve the problem, your skin will simply close and trap the infection inside. Using solutions to clean out the wound and get rid of the bacteria is the best thing to do if you have an infection!

When Should You Change Your Nipple Piercing?

As nipple piercings take around nine to twelve months to heal, it is important that you wait for this period to be over before changing out your nipple piercing. Removing the original jewelry before this may aggravate the area and introduce bacteria that could lead to an infection. Keeping your nipple piercing in until the area is properly healed is therefore a vital part of keeping the area healthy and free from infection! If you take the jewelry out too soon, you run the risk of nipple piercing rejection, which could lead to the hole beginning to close and the new jewelry being forced out of the skin by the body.

How to Change Nipple Piercing Out?

A nipple piercing is quite easy to change out and once your skin has healed you are free to play around with different types of jewelry and styles! Most people will wear barbells or rings in their piercing, each quite easy to take out and put back in. A barbell will come with a ball that is screwed to the end of it. All you have to do is loosen this screw, insert your new jewelry and re-screw the ball back into place! Be sure that the ball is screwed back properly as you do not want this jewelry to accidentally fall out.