Nipple Piercing Aftercare: What to Know Before Getting Your Nipples Pierced February 23, 2023 – Posted in: Piercing Advice, Piercing Types – Tags: caring for nipple piercings, nipple piercing aftercare, nipple piercing care, nipple piercing facts, Nipple piercings

Interest in nipple piercings is growing. These sexy little piercings are both intimate and expressive; you can choose to display them proudly or let them remain your little secret.

Understandably, you might have a few questions when it comes to nipple piercings. We’re here to help.

Here’s a quick guide to nipple piercings and their healing process.

How painful is the nipple piercing?

The first question many people ask about any piercing is how much it hurts. Nipple piercings, in particular, tend to rouse curiosity. 

The good news is most people report just a small pinch during actual piercing. Many say that piercings in the cartilage are more painful than nipple piercings.

If you’ve ever gotten a cartilage piercing, then you can expect that your nipple piercing will be a similar experience in terms of pain.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that nipples can be pretty sensitive during healing. If they rub too much against your clothing or get snagged, it can cause discomfort. To avoid these issues, you should wear a t-shirt or bra that holds the jewelry in place. In general, more supportive and snug clothing tends to be the most comfortable.  

How long does the nipple piercing take to heal?

Nipple piercings are certainly a time investment. They take a minimum of 6 – 9 months to heal, and it’s not unheard of for them to take a year or even more. During that time, you need to continue proper aftercare (cleaning with a piercing aftercare saline solution 2 – 3 times daily), and avoid anything that could harm your piercing, like standing water in baths and pools or snags.

Nipple piercing aftercare 

Like other piercings, basic nipple piercing aftercare includes cleaning your piercing 2 – 3 times daily with a piercing aftercare saline solution. This should be done until a piercer confirms that you’re finished healing.

You should also keep the jewelry as still as possible during healing. This presents a unique challenge in nipple piercings because their location sees a lot of movement during the day, people like to play with them in the bedroom, and nipple piercings tend to see a lot of crusty buildup which you may be tempted to pick at.

Wearing a snug shirt or cotton bra can help protect your nipple piercing from snags and add some comfort.

To keep your piercing safe, invest in clothing that will secure your piercing without pressing too hard on the jewelry, like a somewhat tight t-shirt or a light cotton bra. Refrain from nipple play in the bedroom, and you shouldn’t touch them at all during the first weeks. Try not to pick at any crusties that form. Instead, lightly dab them away with saline solution. 

Do nipple piercings increase sensitivity?

Everyone’s body is different, so this isn’t a question that we can easily answer.

Some people have reported increased sensitivity after getting their nipples pierced. Others haven’t felt any change. It really depends upon how your body reacts, and you won’t know until you’ve had them pierced. 

Do nipple piercings make your nipples permanently hard?

The short answer: no.

Some believe that nipple piercings will constantly make your nipples stick out because of the jewelry. However, this isn’t true. What can happen is that the jewelry may stick out of the t-shirt, making your nipples more noticeable. However, the nipples themselves are not hard.

Some piercees experience permanent tissue growth. This isn’t the piercings making the nipples permanently hard, but an increase in the size of the nipple. This change is typically permanent. Those who have smaller nipples tend to experience this phenomenon more than people with average- to above-average-sized nipples. 

Can anyone get a nipple piercing?

Sadly, sometimes your anatomy won’t allow you to get a nipple piercing.

Common reasons why you can’t get your nipples pierced are that your nipples are inverted or you had chest surgery that affected the nipples, making piercing inadvisable.

The only way you can know for sure whether or not you can get your nipples pierced is to visit a reputable piercer and have them take a look for you. 

Can I breastfeed with a nipple piercing?

Your nipple piercing should not affect your ability to breastfeed. However, there are some things that you need to keep in mind.

While some women do successfully keep their jewelry in while breastfeeding, many choose to take out their jewelry to avoid any choking hazard. If you choose to remove your jewelry (which might be a good idea), keep in mind that your piercing may close or shrink. 

While you can breastfeed with a healed nipple piercing, you might consider taking out the jewelry since it poses a choking hazard.

Keep your piercing clean as you breastfeed. There’s a possibility of milk getting trapped in the piercing hole. This can be easily fixed by keeping an eye on it and making sure that it stays clean.

If you plan on getting pregnant and breastfeeding soon, then you should wait to get your nipples pierced. Since they have such a long healing time, it’s possible that your nipple piercings won’t be fully healed once you start breastfeeding, which isn’t ideal. Play it safe and wait to get your nipples pierced when you know you’re not going to get pregnant anytime soon.

Nipple piercings can be a fantastic expression of yourself and your sexuality. But, they also appear in a sensitive area and require diligent, gentle care. Before you get a nipple piercing, make sure that you can commit to the entire healing period and care for your piercing for up to one year.