Some people [ who?] have noted that they can take up to a year and a half to heal fully. [ citation needed] It is recommended that if stretching a nipple piercing, the piercee waits at least the healing time of their piercings between stretches. [ citation needed] Sensitivity [ edit ] The nipple is fleshy enough to pierce securely behind plenty of skin to prevent rejection. However, if the jewelry gauge is too thin or the piercing is not deep enough to begin with, there is a risk of rejection. Metal allergies, infections, or excessive pulling/tugging can also cause the piercing to be rejected. Most of the prep comes down to finding a piercer who will do a good job, and with whom you feel comfortable—you’re going to be baring your breasts to this stranger, after all. Don’t use drying products: Avoid using products that could dry or irritate skin. That includes harsh soaps, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soap, iodine, or soaps that contain dyes, fragrances, or triclosan. Sterile saline solution is the best choice for nipple piercing aftercare, says Siple. Hudson, Karen L. "Nipple Piercing Questions and Answers". About.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07 . Retrieved 2010-07-31.

Also, consider a tight cotton shirt or a sports bra for sleeping. (Again, you don’t want the jewelry getting pulled out.) For itching, Jaliman suggests an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. To avoid infection, since that is, by far, the most common issue: Make sure the the tools used to pierce your nipples are completely sterile, Jaliman stresses. The area should be cleaned with a skin disinfectant or alcohol before you get started.

Deacon, Jane P.; etal. (June 24, 2009). "Association of Nipple Piercing With Abnormal Milk Production and Breastfeeding". Journal of the American Medical Association (letter). 301 (24): 2550–1. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.877. PMID 19549971.

Duerr, Hans Peter (1997). Der Mythos vom Zivilisationsprozeß. Vol.Der erotische Leib. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main. ISBN 3-518-40855-0. The bar length is measured from the wearable length of the bar, between the balls when they are screwed on.Your piercer will give you detailed aftercare instructions after you get your piercing. Follow all of these instructions as closely as you can. You may feel soreness and see “crusties” around a new nipple piercing for up to a month after piercing. As you can see, the hanger takes up some space from the bar length. Nipple shields with a 16 mm long bar might only leave around 12 mm wearable length inside the shield. It really depends to the size of the hole you create—the typical 14- or 12-gauge size will heal so nicely after removing the jewelry that you probably won't be able to tell it was ever there. Can you get a nipple piercing and still breastfeed? If someone recommended cocoa butter for tattoo aftercare, you might want a second opinion. We've got the details on its benefits and how to use it. READ MORE

While the skin and tissue around nipple piercings will heal and look completely normal within months, the issue is that some folks swap out jewelry too soon. Don’t use any medications or substances that can thin your blood for the first weeks after the piercing. This includes, aspirin, alcohol, or a lot of caffeine. These can all make it harder for the piercing to clot and heal, making bleeding more likely.But know that just how painful the piercing is varies from person to person. "Some people feel excruciating pain for a split second; others are like, 'Oh, that was it?'" says Thompson.