The Healing Process

Nipple piercings normally take 6 to 10 weeks to heal. Your nipples will be very tender several days after the piercing, getting less sensitive as time passes but will remain more sensitive than before your piercing. Do not be too rough with your nipples during sex. Your piercing can be easily torn, even after it is fully healed. If even a small tear occurs, usually on the side, treat the wound as you would a new piercing, to avoid infection.

Infections are rare and usually respond quickly to treatment like antibiotics. Signs of infection are excessive pain, swelling, yellow pus or excessive redness around the wound. An infection, if ignored, can pass down through the milk ducts and infect the lymph nodes under the armpit.

Visit me if you have concerns. Visit a doctor if you have any serious concerns. Doctors tend to err on the conservative side, often advising you to remove your jewelry. Your nipple ring does allow the infection to come out of the wound so use common sense when deciding to remove your jewelry or not. A small amount of people develop a cyst or lump behind the piercing and should be examined by a physician, usually the lump or cyst is found to be harmless.

Daily Care

Wash twice daily with a liquid antibacterial soap, like Dial. Cup your hands under the piercing and soak it for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove any crusting from the jewelry and spin the jewelry. Soap the whole area of the piercing and surrounding areas. Dissolve 1/2 a teaspoon of sea or table salt with a 1/4 cup of boiling water. Let the solution cool and place in a clean glass or medicine cup. Lie down with the cup upturned over your nipple, for 10 to 15 minutes, 1 to 2 times daily. A saline solution maybe used but is inferior to the warm water and salt solution. Be sure to wash after exercise and sweating a lot.

Do NOT use peroxide or alcohol on the piercing as they are very astringent and can damage the wound. Do NOT remove the jewel during the healing phase because you may lose the piercing.