For those who choose to have their nipples pierced, healing times run between three and six months for most men, and six to twelve months for most women. This is a major piercing, considered a deep tissue wound technically. The piercing heals from the outer edges back towards the center and can often take a long time to become comfortably established. Women experience longer healing times as their piercings are often through more body tissue and their breast tissue changes with hormonal fluctuations.


Once the piercings are healed, there are many jewelry choices available for nipple piercings. Barbells can be straight or curved with many decorative end balls. Bead rings can be fixed or captured, again with many bead options and dangles available. All nipple jewelry should be at least 14 gauge thick to avoid slicing into the tissues. Breast tissue responds well to slow stretching and nipple jewelry gauge can easily be increased by enlarging with professional tapered stretching. Consult a professional piercer for recommendations for increasing jewelry diameter and thickness.


Nipple piercings are through erectile tissue. They get better blood supply than a navel piercing but are subject to more body movement and rubbing with clothing than an ear piercing. Nipple piercings can initially be tender for a few days or a few weeks depending on the individual. Increasing redness, swelling and tenderness usually signal some form of infection. Don't be afraid to contact your piercer if you think you are having a healing issue.


New jewelry should be surgical stainless steel or 14k or 18k gold. See what your piercer recommends as far as starting diameter. You cannot wear sterling silver in nipple piercings, and it is recommend to save niobium and titanium for established piercings. For washing, use a natural soap without dyes, perfumes or heavy anti-bacterials. These can all irritate the new piercing, as can over-cleaning the piercing. Some people find that soaking the fresh piercing with hot salt water is suitable. Clean any dried lymph fluids from the edges of the healing piercings for comfort.


Piercings heal from the outside in, so what your nipples are doing is growing a tunnel from the two sides of the nipple to surround the new jewelry. The surfaces can look healed whereas the inside areas might not be healed totally together, so don't rush to change into new jewelry for the first year. You will also want to avoid hot tubs or pools as the chemicals in the water can irritate and inflame healing piercings. Use laundry products without dyes or scent additives while the nipple piercings are still healing to avoid reactions.