Nipple Piercing Bleeding Symptoms, Causes, Effects and Healing Tips

Nipple piercing bleeding usually stops within few days but can go on for almost a week or even two without being a huge problem as long as it does not a lot of blood.

Therefore, whatever you are undergoing sounds normal. In case it takes longer to stop bleeding, you have no choice but to make a call to your medical provider.

with a bump

In case you notice the appearance of a bump on the pierced nipple could be as a result of; follicular cyst, keloid, and abscess.

A follicular cyst occurs when the hairs or some dead skin cells inside the piercing to cause lymph to gather and form fluid-filled bumps. Although follicular cysts are known to be common on Targus, eyebrows and nostril piercing.

Abscesses are large swellings under or behind the pierced site rather than next to it. Breast abscess causes fluid to get trap around the pierced nipple that might end up resulting in nipple infection.

Keloids are excess scars tissue growth that forms to protect it from any form of frictional force that may disturb healing process. These bumps mostly occur on ear cartilage, nipples, navel, oral and some genital piercings.

In most cases, abscesses are treated with antibiotics or a surgical procedure that drains the abscess. However, because the problem that causes abscesses is never resolved, multiple surgical procedures are often necessary.

Note: The article concludes that multiple attempts at surgical management can lead to scarring, distortion of the breast or nipple and lead to multiple scars, nipple and breast distortion.

Side effect

Nipple piercing consists of a generally horizontal barbell or ring at the base of the nipple. Because of the location of the body and the sensitivity of the area, it is at risk for infection if not cared for properly during the healing process.

According to BME, one of the main causes of infection is consistently touching or fondling jewerly. Playing with it introduces bacteria to the piercing site. Other forms of infection can occur when the piercer was not working in a sterile environment.

With many women, they take 3-6 months to heal on average. Some may take even a year. However, men’s nipples heal faster due to differences in tissue composition and hormones. Experienced women usually complain extra issues with healing during their menstrual cycles.

In general, the following are the highlights of side effects:

Swelling
Nipple piercing scars
Hypergranulation around the nipple
Discomfort during menstruation
Piercing infections

Bleeding symptoms

Frequent bleeding of pierced nipple could be a sign of an infection. Here are some of the signs and symptoms of infections.

Lymph

After the piercing, the body’s natural waste removal system will secrete lymph from the wound. This white, yellow or green pus is a common and normal side effect.

Redness

The pierced area may be sore and red for days, weeks and even months. As nipple piercings can take up to two years to heal, redness is expected–extreme redness, however, may be a sign of infection.

Infection

Infection can develop too. Signs of this include extreme redness, heat, swelling, and bright-red or green lymph, and treatment must be prescribed by a doctor.

Hematoma

One of the more severe side effects, hematoma are blood-filled cysts that form at the site. These require medical attention and drainage.

Keloid Scarring

Keloid scarring is the growth of permanent scar tissue at the piercing site. Keloids do not shrink in size and must be removed surgically.

Healing process and bleeding

The healing process of a pierced nipple entails three stages such as open bloody wound, secondary healing and healed stage.

Open bloody wound involves the first week, or few weeks depending on the piercing, it is a fresh wound, so treat it as such. Bleeding, redness, soreness, and discharge are all common. Be extra careful to guard against infection at this stage. Regular soaking and showering are suggested.

Secondary healing stage comprises or represents a time period of anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on your piercing, your health, and other variables. Here there is the formation of crusts and scabs. Sea salt soaks are the best thing to draw out then exudate and keep it free of foreign matter.

Healed piercing stage is where the skin cells become smooth and tough, the inside of the channel is sealed, the jewelry moves easily through it (usually), and changes of jewelry don’t bother it (usually).

Tips to avoid infection

These informative tips include:

To thoroughly clean and rinse it clean the piercing under the shower. Once it is healed, the person finds the tissue more developed, with increased sensation and responsiveness.
Use a fragrance-free anti-bacterial soap. Lather the soap and wash all areas of the piercing. Rinse the site and jewelry until all soap has been removed. You can pat the site dry when you leave the shower.
Do not use any alcohol-based cleaning solutions, tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, skin cleansers, antiseptic solutions or cream. These can dry out the skin and can sometimes result in prolonged healing times.
It is recommended to rotate the jewelry while cleaning the area. This will help get the entire piercing clean and avoid infection.
Avoid swimming until it has healed as water can pose a risk of infection.
Do not wear tight clothing. This will irritate the wound.
To deal with the pain use an over the counter pain reliever. A nipple piercing can cause discomfort and this can help lessen the pain and reduce swelling.
During the healing period touch the area only when necessary. If the nipple piercing is touched too often, it will take a longer time to heal. Make sure not to use your fingernails to move the jewelry.

Once the piercing is healed, the person finds the tissue more developed, with increased sensation and responsiveness. Men especially report increase in tissue thickness and tactile sensitivity. A variety of jewelry styles is available for wear including curved barbells, horseshoe attachments and many variations for attaching chains and dangles to increase the sensual pleasure.

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