How to Care for a Nipple Piercing

This article was medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013.

There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.

This article has been viewed 606,890 times.

A nipple piercing can be done for self-expression, increased sensitivity, or aesthetic reasons. Whatever your motivation is, a nipple piercing requires some attention and care. You must be particularly careful during the healing process. Cleaning can be tedious, but good aftercare is necessary and important if you want to maintain good health and avoid infection, irritation, or rejection.

Caring for a New Piercing

• Only use a sterile solution or a salt water soak to clean your new piercing.
• If you over-clean your piercing or use harsh products, your piercing will become irritated and take longer to heal. [2] X Research source

• In addition to saliva, any rough play, rubbing, or touching should be avoided as well.

• Wash and change your sheets once a week as well.
• Sleeping in a fitted sports bra or tank top will also keep you from snagging your piercing on your sheets or comforter.

• Pay attention to the amount of discharge and crust that you have. This will help you gauge what is normal for you.

• Pay attention to your body, if you feel like something is not right, look into it.
• If you notice a bad odor, an increase in discharge, or your discharge changes color, you may have an infection as well.

• Reach out at the first sign of infection. The longer you wait the worse it will get.
• You may be advised to remove your piercing, take antibiotics, or have some type of surgical intervention. Most infections can be treated with antibiotics. [5] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source

Cleaning Your Nipple Piercing

• If you do not wash your hands first, germs and bacteria from your hands can infect your piercing.
• You can hum the "Happy Birthday" song in your head twice instead of counting to 20.

• Use fragrance-free, dye-free soap. Stay away from harsh soaps that may irritate the skin around your piercing. [8] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
• Do not apply the soap directly to your piercing and don't let the soap sit for more than 30 seconds.
• Do not use soap more than twice a day.

• Let your piercing soak for approximately 5-10 minutes or longer.
• Heat the water in the microwave before you soak your nipple. Do not burn your skin, but the warmer the water the better.
• Discard the solution from the glass once you are through.
• Soak your piercing twice a day or more often if it is not healing well.
• You can make a gallon of the solution and keep it in your refrigerator. Then just heat up the amount you need for each soak. If you are preparing a large batch, mix 4 teaspoons of salt with 1 gallon of distilled water.
• After 4 weeks, clean your piercing once every 2 or 3 days.

• The two most popular brands of sterile saline solution are H2Ocean and SteriWash.
• Do not spray the solution on a cotton ball or swab before applying. You need to apply the solution directly to your skin.

Dry your piercing. Once you have finished cleaning your piercing, gently pat the area with a clean, disposable paper product. Cloth towels harbor bacteria and can snag your piercing. [11] X Research source Talk to your piercer about whether or not they recommend rotating your piercing. [12] X Research source

Avoiding Infections

• These cleaners and ointments will hurt the healing process and keep your piercing from getting oxygen.
• Also avoid getting any of your personal care products (e.g. lotion, shampoo, conditioner) on your piercing. If you are cleaning your piercing in the shower, clean it after you have washed your hair and used your other products.

Do not mess with your piercing. It can be tempting to touch and play with your piercing, but you must avoid doing this. If your piercing is still healing, do not touch it unless you are cleaning it. [14] X Research source Do not rotate or twist the jewelry either.

• Do not submerge your piercing in a lake, pool, or hot tub. It is best to not go swimming until your piercing is fully healed.
• If you do go swimming, wear a waterproof bandage and clean your piercing as soon as you are finished.

Expert Q&A

Take good care of your overall health during the healing process. Eat well, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.

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1. ↑https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/body-piercing/
2. ↑https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
3. ↑https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/body-piercings.aspx
4. ↑https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/body-piercings.aspx
5. ↑https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1496593/
6. ↑https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/
7. ↑https://youngwomenshealth.org/guides/body-piercing/
8. ↑https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
9. ↑https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/

1. ↑https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/keloids-self-care
2. ↑https://uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings
3. ↑https://uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings
4. ↑https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
5. ↑https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/body-piercing-safe.html

About This Article

This article was medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2013. This article has been viewed 606,890 times.

To care for a nipple piercing, start by cleaning it twice a day, since piercings typically take only 3 to 6 months to heal if cleaned properly. If you want to decrease your chances of infection, clean your new piercing with a sterile or salt water solution, and wear light, breathable fabrics like cotton, which absorb sweat, making it harder for germs to linger. However, be careful not to over-clean your piercing or it could become irritated and take longer to heal. You should also avoid taking part in any sexual activity that involves your nipple piercing, such as saliva, rough play, rubbing, or touching. Instead, focus on keeping good hygiene and resist the urge to touch your piercing, so it will heal faster and better in the long run. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to clean your piercing in the shower, keep reading!