Nipple piercing is one of the most common body piercings for men and women. Many people use nipple piercing as a form of reclamation, commemoration or initiation. Many people who have their nipples pierced state that sensation increases in the nipple after a piercing, although some people do experience a decrease in sensation.
History
One of the earliest nipple piercing fads took place in the late 1300s when Queen Isabella of Bavaria began the trend of wearing gowns that were open down to the navel, according to the information website PainfulPleasures.com. With the breasts bared, women started piercing their nipples using diamond-studded gold chains. In the 1890s, wealthy European women began wearing what they called bosom rings. While the practice of female piercing was typically popular among upper class, fashion-conscious women, male piercings were generally found on the working-class, most commonly sailors and carnies. American and British sailors were said to have their nipple pierced to commemorate the crossing of certain latitudes and longitudes.
Placement and Procedure
Typically, a nipple piercing is placed at the base of the nipple and can be placed horizontally, vertically or any angle in between. Piercing procedures include marking the entry and exit points onto the nipple, using antiseptic to wipe the area clean and tightly clamping the nipple. The client is instructed to take a few deep breaths with the piercer pushing the needle through the nipple on the final exhale. The needle is connected to a sharp, thin tube that is used to core out the tissue and skin.
Healing
A nipple piercing typically takes between two and six months to heal completely. During this time, you should follow the aftercare instructions given by your piercer. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should soak the nipple piercing in saline and clean it daily with a diluted betadine solution or a mild anti-bacterial soap. With the exception of the cleaning process, the piercing should not be touched during the healing process as it is an open wound that is prone to infection from bacteria. You should allow the piercing to heal completely before changing the jewelry.
Potential Complications
According to the Center for Young Women's Health, infections, allergic reactions, nerve damage and bleeding are the most frequent complications of a nipple piercing. If you experience an infected piercing, you should contact your piercer to get a recommended treatment plan. On extremely rare occasions, a nipple piercing that has been improperly placed can block a milk duct, causing an infection to be trapped inside the breast. This condition, known as mastitis, is very serious and you should contact your physician if you develop it. To avoid complications, those taking immunosuppressive medications or anticoagulant drugs should not get piercings of any kind.
Jewelry
The most common types of jewelry for new piercings are barbells and rings. Barbells tend to heal faster since the don't move around inside the piercing. Barbells are a little longer than the piercing to make cleaning easier and to accommodate any swelling. The jewelry should be 14 gauge or higher due to smaller gauges being uncomfortable and having the tendency to migrate out of the nipple. Most piercers use surgical stainless steel due to the minimal chance of the material causing an infection. Once the piercing has healed, popular nipple jewelry includes titanium, 18-carat gold and niobium.
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