Thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water in the sink before cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason. Avoid touching your nipple piercing except to clean it for the first few weeks.
Be careful not to twist the ring too much while removing the crust. Only move the ring enough to get the scab off; don’t rotate it all the way through the piercing. Be very gentle during this procedure, as removing the crust too forcefully could cause a tear in the skin around the piercing and require a new healing process, or even result in infection. You could be depositing bacteria into the piercing if you don’t wash your hands first. [2] X Expert Source Sasha BlueProfessional Body Piercer Expert Interview. 25 November 2019.
You can also try inverting the cup with the sea salt mixture on top of your nipple so that it creates a kind of vacuum seal and lie back while your nipple soaks. But be careful not to spill the water. Do this every day for the first two weeks after piercing. After the first two weeks, you can switch to regular cleaning in the shower. But use return to this method if you develop an infection or any irritation. Make sure to use distilled water, as tap water contains impurities that can promote infection. You can also use packaged sterile saline (this is different than saline solution for contact lenses) to soak your nipple piercing and clean it. Usually the packaging for this kind of saline indicates that it is intended for wound care. Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments.
Try to wear loose fitting clothing and avoid tight, scratchy bras. Don’t wear constrictive clothing. If you need a little extra padding, consider using nipple pads intended for nursing mothers. This can help protect your piercing while it is healing.
Avoid soaps that have fragrance, dye, or other added ingredients that could irritate your nipple piercing. Again, do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments.
Be sure to use a disposable paper towel to pat your nipple piercing dry each time. Towels can be a host for bacteria, so using your towel to dry the piercing could cause an unwanted infection.
Green or yellow pus coming out of the piercing Swelling that won’t go away after several weeks (or returns later) Excessive redness or pain A large lump in the breast or around the nipple
After a couple months, you can switch to a barbell if you would like. Just wait until the piercing is completely done healing.
Jewelry made out of other materials may irritate your new piercing and may even lead to infection.
Ask your piercer for advice on what kind of jewelry to choose for your nipple piercing and be sure to follow all of their aftercare instructions.
