Nipple piercings tend to dry out quickly during cleaning. For this reason, moisturizer will probably become part of your aftercare. Be aware too that lactation occurs whether you are male or female. Some periodic appearance of crusts on the jewelry does not necessarily mean that something is wrong with your nipple.

To clean your nipple piercing, apply a good soap and water lather around your nipple, and, using the ring, scrub the inside of your piercing. Then flush with fresh water, again using the ring to rinse the soap out. Your nipple piercing should be left alone (do not turn or play with ring) between cleanings.

For the first three to five days, wash your nipple piercing twice per day (morning & evening). Over the next week or so, the second cleaning should be skipped occasionally, then more frequently, until, by the end of the first two weeks, you are down to once per day.

Continue cleaning once per day or less for a maximum of two more weeks. After that, only occasional cleaning should be required. Over cleaning is one of the most common problems we see. Over cleaning irritates and dries out your nipple; your skin chaps and cracks, exposing the underlying tissue to dirt and bacteria. Don’t be obsessed with cleaning; the less you do the better.

We recommend that you use an antibiotic ointment like Polysporin after each wash for the first ten days. The ointment will provide a barrier to infection during the initial healing. Use the ring to spread the ointment through your nipple, working the ring back and forth until it slides easily through your piercing. Clean off the excess ointment, as it can collect dirt and cause problems.

If you participate in sports or other strenuous physical activity, you should shower afterwards, cleaning your piercing in the shower.

If you are exposed to a dirty environment (such as dusty working conditions), clean more frequently. To clean the area, use baby wipes or a similar product. As soon as you return home, a full cleaning of your nipple piercing is recommended.

At the end of the first four weeks, you should not have to clean your nipple piercing any more. If it looks dry, moisturize tyour nipple with a regular moisturizer.

Barbells should not be placed in your nipple until it is certain that your piercing is healthy and stable. Generally, this means at least six to eight weeks with the ring before the change. When a barbell is chosen, it must be properly fitted: too short will constrict the nipple and swelling will result, and to long will make the barbell catch on clothing and injury to your piercing will result. A typical female nipple requires an 8mm to 10mm straight shaft between the balls. Male nipples will sometimes need a 6mm shaft. The best way to fit a barbell is to measure the length and position of you piercing with an accurate pair of calipers. A fitted barbell for your nipple piercing should be straight, not bent, to prevent stress and stretching of the tissue.

Nipples accommodate upgauging well. If larger rings, pendants or nipple play are being considered, the nipples either should be pierced with a 12, or upgauged to 12 or 10 g.