got both my nipples pierced today. mine are pretty small, so i started at 16 gauge barbells. pain during piercing was sharp, but quick. a few deep breaths and i was ok. i did a sea salt soak about 2 hours after i got home. they have been a bit sore, a worn down cotton shirt was the most comfortable thing at the moment. they are def still really tender. i am really happy with the results, and can't wait for them to heal. my nipples were almost inverted before, and i they look good now. what is a good anti-bacterial soap that i can find easily at the grocery store? i couldn't find anything good at CVS. i want to get some spikes to put on my barbells eventually. how long should i wait to change them? let me know what you think!
ha ha! welcome to the club I go tmine done several yers ago and it hurt like hell! didnt even want to wear a shirt as it would rub on them. I just washed mine real good with soap and water in the shower. BUT mine were weird it over a year for them to heal completly, I mean they would bleed and be tender for over a year, sometimes a puss would come out and I'd apply more hydrogen peroxide... good luck with yours but it'll take awhile for them to heal... Mike...
they look good! unscented undyed dial is a good soap to use, and typically avalible at all grocery stores and drug stores. i would say 2-5 months to heal depending on how healing goes for you. if they get hit and knocked around a lot, they will obviously take a bit longer to heal.
thanks for all the responses! i slept pretty good last night on my back. the swelling hasn't gone down, but they sure aren't as painful this morning. no crusties or anything yet. i'm gonna goto the grocery store now and get some anti-bacterial soap. so for the first 2-3 weeks my cleaning plan is this: -gently clean 2x day with anti-bacterial soap. from what i've read, im gonna avoid rotating too much. right after a shower seems best right? -sea salt soak for 5-10 min with bottled or distilled water. it says to use warm water, so what should i do, pour some of the distilled water in the dixie cup and microwave it for a bit? i've had to deal with pins in my bones before, so i know how to clean open wounds well. i dont want to overclean the piercing (ESPECIALLY with hydrogen peroxide like mike said, h2o2 is way too harsh for your skin and drys it out). http://www.bmezine.com/pierce/articles/ptafter/nipple.html "DO use Lavender oil as it promotes healing and lubricates the wound reducing tenderness. Apply a small amount with a cotton-wool bud after cleaning then move the jewellery gently so it gets into the wound. Remove any excess with a tissue as leaving it on can cause the skin to become irritated. It may be purchased at supermarkets (medicine section) or at chemists and must be marked (BP) or medicinal grade." Has anyone used lavender oil before on their new piercings? BMezine seems like a pretty legit site. I'm gonna try to find it at the grocery store, and the local health shop. anyone know when I can change the ends from round balls to spikes? i guess i should wait a few weeks before really messing with it too much. my ex-gf had spikes before and i loved them, but i remember them being harder to tighten down.
your aftercare plan sounds splendid. yeah, a dixie cup would be perfect. you can put it right over top of your nipple and completely submirge the piercing in the water. as for the lavender, i've use it diluted in warm water for oral piercings before, and it worked AWESOME. however, i wouldnt suggest using pure oil, its strong stuff. i used like 2 drops in 8 oz of water. wait to change any part of the jewelry til its healed. you sound like youre on the right track, keep it up.
well i got some lavender oil by trinity essentials from the local health shop. it is not "medical grade" but it is organic essential oil. is this stuff ok to use as long as I dilute it with some distilled water and apply it with a que tip. i have no idea where i can get some "medical grade" oil. i hope this stuff is OK. would whole foods carry something better?
