Nipple piercing, tragus, navel, and eyebrow are among the most popular body piercing in the world today regardless of your age.
Nipple, belly button, and tongue ones usually take longer to heal, that is for men it takes four months while for women six months.
According to studies, its healing process is longer than any other body piercing and they require diligent aftercare to heal properly.
Healing stages
Understanding how nipple piercing heals will help you customize your aftercare and know when it’s healed enough to change the jewelry. A healed one when it’s not red, sore, bleeding, or exuding lymph, and has generally calmed down after the recommended healing time.
Here are the main three stages involved in healing:
Open wound stage
For the first week after piercing the area pierced is characterized by bleeding, redness, soreness, and discharge. At this stage, the wound is said to be fresh.
Also, it may itch at this stage, or it may just be sore. Be extra careful to guard against infection at this stage. Regular soaking and showering are suggested.
Healing stage
This is where the main healing takes place, and represents a time period of anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on it, your health, and other variables.
This also the stage where it crust tends to appear and the wound will exude and expel dead skin cells and lymph cells or plasma.
Proper care is required since if left in place, it will dry to a whitish, crusty, or crystalline substance on your jewelry, where it may attract bacteria or get dragged through your piercing.
Healing stage of the nipple piercing is marked by itching, flare-ups and soreness or irritation. Also, there is a noticeable improvement and it is easier to change the jewelry if you are gentle.
Toughening stage
This is the stage where the skin cells become smooth and tough, the inside of the channel is sealed, the jewelry moves easily through the piercing, and changes of jewelry don’t bother it.
Note: Some will continue to get crusty through their lives and still be well-healed; others may just exude sebum, a smelly skin wax. All piercings, when healed, still need regular cleaning with soap and water as part of daily routine.
How to daily clean a nipple piercing that is healing
Here are some generally accepted guidelines about washing or cleaning pierced nipple to enhance proper healing process:
- Wash your hands with hot water and antimicrobial cleanser or Castile soap before touching the piercing site.
- Rinse it with hot water in order to loosen any dried and crusty material around the ring.
- Place a few drops of antimicrobial cleanser or Castile soap on either side of the jewelry. Wash both the exposed parts of the jewelry and the entrance and exit holes carefully.
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of soap residue then dab dry with a paper towel.
Note: Sea salt soaks are the best thing to draw out nipple discharge or exudate and keep your piercing free of foreign matter. Therefore, the following instructions are essential after cleaning:
- Combine 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. sea salt and 1 cup hot water in a small cup.
- Place the cup against it so that the jewelry and entrance/exit holes are completely submerged.
- Soak for three to five minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly with tepid water.
- Air dry or dab dry with a paper towel.
Pictures while healing
Nipple piercing is a form of body art. It is painful but it looks cool after healing. It requires a professional to do so in order to experience minimal pain, how to get it right and to reduce the chances of getting harm.
The pictures in the article provide the best points and ways on how it should be done. It is commendable to be done cautiously in case of young women who have not yet given birth and are planning to do so.
How to ensure it heals fast
The following are the tips that will help to heal nipple piercing faster:
- Have an adequate good quality sleep, eat nutritiously, stay hydrated, and practice good hygiene. These things will bolster your immune system and allow it to focus its full attention on healing faster.
- Prevent traumatizing it to the best of your ability. Dress carefully to avoid snagging your barbells, which could tear your fistulas, because bleeding, and make you more susceptible to infection.
- In case of women, they are expected to wear sports bras at night and padded bras during the day to protect it while it is healing. Men should consider wearing thick cotton undershirts day and night as an added layer of protection.
- Keep your nipple clean by rinsing them 3-6 times per day with a sea salt-based aftercare product like Recovery Piercing Aftercare Spray.
Infection during healing
Unlike cartilage, nipple piercing is risky since it punctures sensitive skin that’s also connected to a system of ducts. This process the skin cuts through your body’s first layer of infection defense.
A nipple piercing places a foreign object close to complex deeper structures within the breast. This increases your risk of complications.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of an infected nipple after piercing;
- It is hot to the touch
- the area is extremely sensitive or painful when touched
- green, yellow, or brown discharge
- swelling of the pierced site
- bad odor near the piercing site
- rash
- body aches
- fatigue
- fever
Frequent or regular touching with dirty hands or cloths can introduce bacteria to the delicate tissue, which increases your risk for infection. Also, tight clothing can easily catch onto or irritate the piercing. Exposing your piercing to saliva or other bodily fluids may also cause infection.