Nipple Ring

[Dakota]

I got my nipple pierced back in June.  The guy who did it told me that if I got the bar it would heal relatively quickly, around 1 month, but if I got a hoop it would take around 2 months.

I decided to go for the hoop as that is what I wanted in the first place.  Right enough, for the first couple of months it was still a bit tender and weeping - but getting better and better as time went by.  But now we're 4 months on and I find it flares up around once per week, not necessarily weeping, but just a bit red and raw.  Can anyone advise if this is part of the healing process or should I get this checked out further?

Many thanks in advance :)

[Le Chat]

Did it ever occur to you that the nipple ain't for tampering with?

[Dakota]

Well dear, it's my decision what I do with my nipple.  If you haven't got any advise to give don't say anything at all.

[Lore]

Dak, you could have an allergy to the metal the hoop is made of.  I can only wear certain metals in my ears and i'm the same with other jewelery.

[Dakota]

Thanks Lore, it did cross my mind but I don't have allergies to any type of earrings, so I just wanted to rule out anything else before I go ahead and change the hoop for one made of different material, because I know that if I change it it will irritate it for a while.

[blueeyedlass]

linz i used to have mine done it healed pretty quickly actually but then i woke up one morn and it had been bleeding so i just took it out , i had had alot of trouble with my bellybutton so i wasnt talking any chances.

[Dakota]

Thanks Bel, could you not have just caught it during the night??  I'm loath to take it out as I *do* like it :(

[blueeyedlass]

do you clean it with saline or anything ???

[Dakota]

I did it religeously for the first couple of months, but just once per week now

[blueeyedlass]

you should maybe try teatree oil or something, i tell you my bellybutton went infected and like you i refused to take it out and a piercer friend told me to use iodine and within a week or two if was cleared up.

[Lore]

When I had the top of my ear pierced it didn't heal for soooooo long, a friend told me to spray it with savlon spray a few times a day and it did the trick, same with the tattoo too!  What about a trip to the docs dak?

[Dakota]

Savlon spray?? wow, I didn't even know you got that!!  Trip to the chemist tomorrow is in order then!  I wasn't sure about going to the docs for something so silly! LOL, if it doesn't work, I'll just have to

[Lore]

yep, it's wonderful! lol   hope it gets better soon tho dak.

[mimififi]

Hi there, if it isn't an infection and is still flaring up after a few days with the jolly savlon or salt water (you could use antiseptic wipes a few times of day too, or germalene, anything Anti-s.) it does point to having a reaction to the hoops.  You could change the hoop for a solid silver or gold one, or if you can't afford that, what I have done with earings that irritated me before was to take them out, steralise them, dry them and then paint them with clear nail varnish.  Wait for this to dry properly and replace the ring.  The plastic of the nail varnish acts as a barrier between your skin and the metal, thus relieving the irritation.  Be careful with a nipple though and if you also develop a fever, go straight to your GP.  If it is an allergy, maybe an antihistimine might work for a short time until you adjust to it. 

It could just be aswell that it is just taking longer to heal.  How quickly do you heal generally?  Have you been generally run down.  You could also try a multi vitimin and try to eat lots of protein.  Protein helps us to repair ourselves.

remember, don't take chances and see a doc if it suddenly gets worse or you suddenely feel feverish.

[jacko50]

i would check with the doctor to see what they thought & then if they prescribed antiseptic cream you could just go ahead and buy one of the remedys that have been sugested ,that way you would be reassured and might save money buying from over the counter rather than paying for a prescription, not that i am trying to sugest you are tight or anything ,that is just what i am like. best of luck.