What Is a Nipple Piercing?
A nipple piercing is a hole pushed through your nipple in which you wear a piece of jewelry.
Nipple Piercing Jewelry
Body jewelry is worn inside a wound and it contacts your internal body tissues. So, body jewelry must be made of an appropriate material, especially when your piercing is fresh and healing. To be appropriate, the material must be:
- Inert and compatible with your body so it doesn't cause irritation, allergy, or infection
- Able to be sterilized in an autoclave (specialized equipment that uses high heat and pressure to kill germs)
Usually, the jewelry you pick for an initial piercing is a metal alloy that has been approved for medical use. These metals will then have an American (now International) Society for Testing and Materials Standard (ASTM) or International Standards Organization (ISO) code. A reputable piercer should be able to provide you with Mill test certificates to show you that your starter jewelry meets these standards. Jewelry that your can choose for your piercing can be made from different metals, including:
- Surgical steel, which is biocompatible steel labeled ASTM F-138 or ISO 5832-1 compliant, ISO 10993-6, -10, or -11 compliant, or, in Europe, EEC Nickel Directive compliant
- Titanium, which may be a good option for you if you have nickel sensitivity. You can find safe, titanium jewelry in many colors (except black). Implant certified titanium will be labeled ASTM F-136 compliant, ISO 5832-3 compliant. Or, commercially pure titanium is labeled ASTM F-67 compliant.
- Gold, either yellow or white. You're looking for 14k or higher, nickel-free, or alloyed for biocompatibility. Don't use gold-plated, gold-filled, or gold overlay jewelry because the gold surface can chip off the base metal into your healing piercing.
- Platinum, which is excellent for body piercings. However, platinum tends to be very expensive and it may be hard to find.
- Niobium, which is similar to titanium. You can also find safe niobium jewelry in many colors, including black. There's no ASTM or ISO certification for this metal, but it has been used for many years in body piercings with good success.
You can also find jewelry made with biocompatible polymers or plastic. Tygon S-50HL or S-54HL, PTFE (Teflon), and Bioplast are all okay for starter jewelry. You may also consider glass jewelry, such as quartz glass, lead-free borosilicate, or lead-free soda-lime glass.
Your piercer will help you pick the right size and style of jewelry for your piercing. You need jewelry that:
- Is the right length or diameter for your body and where you'll wear the jewelry. Jewelry that so too small can increase the chance that you'll get swelling or other complications. If it's too large, it can catch and tear your skin.
- Is the right thickness (gauge). If your jewelry is too thin in gauge it can cause rejection or migration of the jewelry.
- Is the right style for your piercing. For your nipples, your piercer is likely to recommend a circular, straight or curved barbell.
Nipple bars
Nipple shield jewelry
Magnetic nipple piercing
What to Expect
Do nipple piercings hurt?
There will be some pain when you get your nipple pierced. It’ll typically be sore for a week after the piercing. You may also bleed, itch, or see swelling or discharge from the wound. Your nipple may feel sore or irritated as it heals over the next few months.
How much does a nipple piercing cost?
Nipple piercing costs vary, so shop around. It may cost more than ear piercing. The studio will charge you for the piercing and nipple jewelry separately.
Numbing cream for nipple piercing
Nipple Piercing Risks
Nipple piercing infection
Nipple piercing infection treatment
Rejected nipple piercing
Keloid on nipple piercing
Other risks
Nipple piercing has some health risks. If you have a health condition or take medication that makes you more likely to get an infection or bleed a lot, nipple piercing could be riskier for you.
Longer healing time. Nipple tissue takes longer to heal than most other pierced areas of your body. It may take up to 6 months for yours to heal.
Lactation and breastfeeding. Nipple piercing could cause problems if you want to breastfeed. Scar tissue around the pierce or your nipple ring could block your milk ducts. Piercings that damage the nerves in your nipple may make it hard for milk to come out. Nipple jewelry can make it harder for your baby to latch on. Your baby might even swallow or choke on a loose nipple ring. Don’t get your nipple pierced if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Wait a few months after you complete breastfeeding.
Abscesses. A pierced nipple is more likely to form an abscess. That’s a painful, pus-filled lump under the nipple or in your breast. You’ll need to see the doctor for treatment.
Infection. Nipples are sensitive tissue and connected to milk ducts. A nipple pierce is more likely to get infected than some other types of piercings. Infections can happen well after you get your nipple or areola, the darker ring around the nipple, pierced. Like any other body piercing, unsterilized equipment can put you at risk for infection with blood-borne diseases like HIV, hepatitis B or C, or tetanus.
Torn skin. If your nipple ring gets caught on your clothes and rips loose, it can tear your skin and require stitches.
Nipple Piercing Safety
Make sure you get your nipple piercing done by a licensed professional in a clean studio. Never pierce your own nipple or let a friend do it.
When you choose a place to get pierced, make sure:
- The studio is clean.
- They do piercings and tattoos in separate areas.
- A staff member asks you if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and refuses to pierce you if you say yes.
- Nipple piercing equipment and rings are sterilized in a machine called an autoclave.
- Piercings are done with sterile, single-use needles sealed in a packet that’s opened in front of you.
- They don’t use piercing guns. These can’t be properly sterilized.
- The staff member washes their hands before and after the piercing.
- They wear a new pair of disposable latex gloves while they pierce you.
- They give you detailed instructions on how to care for your nipple after it’s pierced.
- Your jewelry is the right size for your nipple.
How to Care for Your Nipple Piercing
While it’s healing, keep your pierced nipple clean to prevent infection:
- Wash your hands with antimicrobial soap and warm water before you touch or wash your nipple.
- If you see any crusty stuff around your nipple ring, gently rinse it off with warm water.
- After you wash your nipple, pat it dry with a clean paper towel.
- You can also soak your nipple in a saltwater solution made of a half-teaspoon of sea salt and warm water. You can let it air dry or pat it dry.
- Try not to let your nipple ring snag on your clothes, towels, or sheets. This could tear your skin and lead to an infection.
You can wear a padded bra, thick sports bra, or cotton T-shirt to protect your newly pierced nipple.
Nipple piercing crust
As your nipple heals, you may see some white crust. Your nipple may be sore, irritated, or itchy at times. Even after it heals, you may notice some waxy ooze or crust.
How to clean a nipple piercing
Nipple piercing recovery
Nipple piercing and breastfeeding
Nipple Piercing Healing Time
How long does it take nipple piercings to heal?
When can I change my nipple piercing?
If you notice these signs of an infected nipple, see your doctor:
Nipple Piercing FAQs
Will the Piercing Close Up?
Some women remove their nipple rings to breastfeed. Milk can leak out of the piercing. The hole may get smaller or close up after a few weeks. But you’ll probably be able to put your nipple ring in again after you’re done breastfeeding.
If your piercing closes up for any reason, go to a professional studio to have it redone. Don’t try to re-pierce it yourself.
