She Strengthens

Protecting Your Piercing: A Guide to Spotting, Treating, and Preventing Nipple Piercing Infections

When it comes to nipple piercings, it’s essential to prioritize aftercare to avoid infections. But what if you do encounter issues? Learn how to identify symptoms, causes, and home remedies to keep your piercings healthy.

Recognizing the Signs of Infection

Mother Nature has made it easy to detect an infected nipple piercing. Look out for:

• Painful swelling
• Skin that’s hot to the touch
• Red, purple, or darkened skin (depending on your skin tone)
• Blood or pus in various colors (usually white, green, or yellow)
• A nasty odor

Additionally, general signs of infection may include:

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Feeling too hot or too cold

What’s Normal for a New Nipple Piercing?

If you’re new to nipple piercings, you might be unsure what to expect. Fresh, uninfected piercings can be:

• Sore or itchy
• A little redder or darker than usual (depending on your skin)
• Mildly weepy or crusty

Keep in mind that nipple piercings take longer to heal than other areas. It’s normal for them to be sore for a couple of months.

Causes of Nipple Piercing Infections

Infections are primarily caused by germs. Nipple piercings can get exposed to germs through:

• Dirty needles
• Touching the piercing with dirty hands, towels, or clothing
• Not washing the piercing regularly
• Swimming in public pools or gym use
• Exposure to saliva (wait until it’s healed, you horny people!)

Health Risks of Infection

Gnarly infections like HIV, tetanus, or hepatitis can get ugly if they spread. Potential long-term issues from nipple piercing infection include:

• Scarring
• Nerve damage
• Formation of large, hard skin lumps (keloids)
• Difficulty breastfeeding or chestfeeding

Left untreated, infections can lead to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening emergency. Seek medical attention ASAP if you’re experiencing fever, dizziness, nausea, or slurred speech along with localized signs of an infected piercing.

Diagnosing an Infected Nipple Piercing

The signs of an infected piercing are clear. You don’t need an official diagnosis to start treating early, mild signs of infection at home. If your symptoms worsen or you develop a fever, nausea, or dizziness, get to a doctor. They can identify an infection with a physical exam.

Treating an Infected Nipple Piercing

If you spot the mild or early stages of infection, you might be able to handle it yourself. Here’s how:

• Keep it clean: Use warm water and sterile saline solution to gently clean the piercing twice a day.
• Try a compress: A warm compress can increase blood flow and help drain the infection. Cold compresses can relieve swelling and pain.
• Sterilization is key: Ditch over-the-counter ointments, which can trap bacteria and worsen the infection.
• Air it out: Wear loose shirts or go braless to keep your piercing from catching and tugging on things.
• Avoid contact sports and sweaty activities.

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor ASAP if you experience:

• Extreme pain around the piercing site
• Expanding red or dark lines around the piercing
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Bloody pee, poop, or puke
• Unexplained nausea or vomiting
• Unexplained headaches

Healing Time

The healing time depends on the severity of the infection. With proper care, most infected piercings clear up after a week or two. If you end up needing antibiotics, ask your doctor when you can expect to feel better.

Prevention is Key

The best way to deal with an infected nipple piercing is to avoid the problem in the first place. Go to a reputable piercer vetted by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Check the tools and materials they use. Follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions.

By following these tips, you can minimize the risk of infection and enjoy your new piercing with confidence.

FAQs

• How do you know if your nipple is infected from a piercing? Infected piercings can feel swollen, itchy, and painful, with surrounding skin growing red or dark.
• What’s the difference between piercing rejection and infection? Infection occurs when bacteria gets into your piercing, while piercing rejection occurs when the body tries to push a piercing out.
• How do you treat an infected nipple piercing? Keep infected nipples clean, wear loose clothes, and treat with compresses or a sea salt soak if the infection persists.
• Should you take out a nipple piercing if it’s infected? No, leave the piercing in while you follow your prescribed course of treatment.
• Should you get your nipple pierced if you’re breastfeeding? Probably not, as babies’ mouths aren’t known for being clean, and there’s a theoretical risk of jewelry falling out and into the infant’s mouth.