Help with nipple piercing (sorry for gross details!)

[Avelandra]

I had my nipple pierced around 10 years ago. I’ve always had an anodised steel bar in it, cleaned it frequently and looked after it. Occasionally it would get little crusty bits, but from reading online that seemed normal so I would just clean it. Around a year ago it started to get slightly pusy every now and then. I cleaned with salt water whenever it happened, but now it’s more and more frequent. I recently changed to a bio flex plastic bar, and for a while there was no sign of infection, but now it’s worse than ever. Have been cleaning and salt bathing lots, but today I squeezed it and pus actually came out of the centre of my nipple rather than the piercing holes🤮 I’m fed up, and it doesn’t seem healthy to keep putting up with the reoccurring infections, but I also don’t want to give it up if I don’t have to. Is there anything I can do to stop it reoccurring or do I just have to get rid? I have lots of other piercings and this is the only one I’ve ever had any problems with

Hi - have you spoken with your piercer, and seen a doctor? It does sound like an infection and you may need antibiotics. It's unusual for a piercing of that age to be having lots of these kind of issues - I wonder if perhaps it's due to it being in contact with the breast ducts. If it was a metal allergy, changing to plastic should have fixed it so it sounds like something else. Hope you get it sorted - when I used to have lots of piercings, a few were never really happy and they eventually grew out, which was a bit gross!

When I had mine done if I changed it from the titanium bar to anything else it would get irritated.
I would get it checked out as it shouldn't be pussing from the centre of your nipple and when I first read that, pregnancy did cross my mind. Apologies if not, I'm only basing it on my experience when pregnant as even the plastic bars caused discomfort and irritation.

@chestnutmares unfortunately the piercing place I had it done at has now closed down. Looking back, I don’t think it was a great place but I was young and naive and hindsight is a wonderful thing! haven’t spoken to a dr as I didn’t want to waste their time, and wasn’t sure if they would be willing to provide antibiotics or anything for a piercing. I have always wondered if it’s pierced a bit too far back as its very very close to the areola, but not sure if that affects it or not?

@Starburst8 I thought it may have been that I had developed a reaction to the metal, so hoped that changing to the plastic one may have helped but sadly not definitely not pregnant, but it’s interesting to hear that it can cause that, worth knowing for the future!

Not sure if this makes it "normal" but mine does the same thing intermittently, and I've had it years.

I just do the same as you, and it comes and goes. Never really hurts or looks inflamed so I mostly ignore it

I'd love to have my nipples pierced.....DH has always said how much he would love it and I would just need to get over the nerves and also lockdown of course.

The real problem I have is if they show through my bra/top. Saw a pic of a celeb the other day and it was apparent she had a nipple piercing. I have a professional job and waking around with nipple piercings on show is frankly not an option.

In reality do they always show through and am I going to be spending ages trying to hide I've had them done ? Any tips welcome as well as on the level of pain lol

Thanks

Mine doesn’t show unless I wear a very tight t-shirt with no bra, but I just have a plain bar at the moment (I am treating it like a new piercing again after I put some cheap jewellery in and it went completely mental and I thought I was going to die from the unendurable agony.......). So would depend on your voice of jewellery - but no it wouldn’t have to show. I don’t even think this bar would show in a bikini or swimming costume to be honest (not that I have tried, because lockdown).

Oh, and barely hurt at all getting it done or after (but my piercer is excellent). Only hurt when like a dick and totally against his advice I bought cheap metal jewellery.

So I finally got some courage..went shopping with my mate today and had booked to have them done...a fair ouch factor but was over very quickly. Have a plain bar in each nipple. DH doesn't know yet...going to let them settle before letting him see and have a feel lol

Many thanks for the advice

@Namechangednorth how are yours getting on? You're very brave getting both done at once, no way could I have gone through it twice!

@Avelandra
Hi. Yes they are are great. Were sore for a while but no infection at all. DH didn't see for a while for various reasons and which worked but was a lovely surprise for him when he found them.

He is still complete complimenting them every time we DTD.

Yes...was more uptight for the second nipple after feeling the first but was very quick. I call them my Covid piercings...after all the shit it was me living and doing stuff I had fancied trying lol

But am careful about bras for work as can't have them showing!!!! Not bothered about if we ever manage to get on holiday abroad....quite fancy them showing through my bikini or might even go topless!!

Hi

This happened to me I had a mammogram and had to see a surgeon this was years ago
I had mine in for 7 yrs

She said my ducts / glands were infected and could turn nasty
If they did she would have to operate and cut across my nipples etc 😳
I had to take mine out and was advised to stop smoking
Which worked for me

Please don't ignore this I had titanium bars in