Show
I recieved a message from a woman who was concerned about the odor of her healed nipple piercings:
Thanks for your message. If you've had your piercing for over 2 years and the discharge is smelly, I believe I know what you need. An appointment with me is not required. You're welcome to change your jewelry, but that is not required and is unlikely to have any effect on this particular situation. The excerpt below is from my book, The Piercing Bible--The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing, and it explains the issue:
There is a product that was invented to deal with this specific issue and the good news is, it works GREAT! Visit this page of my site for information: http://piercingbible.com/funk-piercing-deodorant
For hard-to-soak areas like nipple piercings, you might have to dip your entire anatomy into a small bowl of saline solution. Remember: avoid harsh chemicals like peroxide, alcohol, or potent oils like tea tree oil. A simple, saline wash or salt bath will suffice! >> Click to read more << In this regard, how do I stop my piercing from smelling?Luckily, there’s a super easy way to prevent—or get rid of—that funky smell if you notice it. You should clean your old piercings in the shower and let warm water run over it, says Maria Tash, owner of Venus by Maria Tash, a fine jewelry and piercing spa in New York City. Regarding this, why does my piercing smell like death?The reason that your body generates this “funk” is because the body isn’t getting oxygen to the spots where your piercing comes in contact with it, and therefore tries to heal up. Why does my nipple stink?Nipple discharge is usually due to a benign condition. Discharge from one nipple is more likely to be caused by a problem in that breast. … Yellow and foul-smelling pus may be caused by a breast infection. Milky white discharge from both breasts may be caused by some medicines or endocrine gland problems. Why does my chin smell like cheese when I rub it?The sebaceous glands are tiny glands in the skin which produce an oily/waxy substance, called sebum, to moisturise the skin and hair. … Sebum has no smell, but its bacterial breakdown can produce a bad smell. Excess sebum can be caused by fried and oily foods. Why do belly piercings smell?Belly button piercings can become infected. An infection can create fluid or pus, known as discharge, that can smell bad. Discharge may be thick and yellow or green in color, and it may harden into a crust around the piercing. Do nipple piercings make your nipples hard forever?Do pierced nipples stay hard forever? “No, the nipple will not stay erect, but it will be more pronounced.” What is the white stuff coming out of my nipple piercing?Lin tells us that early signs may be subtle, but will likely include redness, warmth, swelling, discharge, and sensitivity around the piercing. … White fluid or crust, on the other hand, is normal — it’s called lymph fluid, and it’s a sign that your body is healing. Do nipple piercings get infected easily?Nipples are sensitive tissue and connected to milk ducts. A nipple pierce is more likely to get infected than some other types of piercings. Infections can happen well after you get your nipple or areola, the darker ring around the nipple, pierced. Do piercings smell when healing?When your piercings heal, they create a piercing tunnel where these dead skin cells gather along with the oils in your skin and bacteria. When you get enough of this mixture in your piercing tunnel, your piercing starts to smell. Is it normal for piercings to smell?It is totally normal (albeit kind of gross), but it does not mean that you have an infected ear piercing or that you are reacting to your earrings. The smell comes from naturally occurring oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. Do piercings smell while healing?The key is to continue your cleaning routine throughout initial healing time. Piercings (including healed piercings) that are not cleaned daily may smell unpleasant. This does not necessarily indicate a problem. Jewelry should not be expected to rotate or move freely in most piercings, even after healing. Nipple piercings are popular but can be risky. The nipple is a sensitive part of the body, and piercings need to be treated with care. If an infection occurs, there are some steps to take quickly to ensure it clears up. Also, there are some crucial things to avoid when treating nipple piercings. Understanding these may mean the difference between a quick healing time and an infection. Share on PinterestNipples are very sensitive and an infection due to a piercing is a common side effect. A nipple piercing is a self-inflicted wound that starts healing, as soon as it happens. Usually, this wound heals around the jewelry, meaning a successful piercing. The healing process can cause side effects, such as redness, itching, or small amounts of discharge. These symptoms are normal and usually go away as the piercing heals over the following few months. Nipple piercings can also cause hematomas to form at the site of the insertion. These are cysts filled with blood that require medical drainage. Scarring is another common side effect caused by nipple piercings. Certain scar tissues, such as keloid scars, create a growth of permanent scar tissue at the site of the piercing. These scars can only be removed surgically. A common side effect of nipple piercing is an infection. Some signs of an infection are very obvious. If pus is coming from the piercing, it is a clear sign that there is an infection. Other signs of infection are subtler. The skin around the piercing may become red and irritated. It may also be inflamed or continuously itchy. Any of these signs could mean there is an infection. Other symptoms of an infected piercing include:
Anyone who is unsure about their piercing should talk to their piercer and a doctor. Having an experienced eye look at it can help determine if there is an infection, or if the cause of concern is the normal healing process. Anyone with signs of a serious infection should contact their doctor immediately for treatment. Infection vs. rejectionThe nipples are also one of the areas of the body that may be more prone to reject a piercing. Rejection happens when the body tries to heal over the piercing instead of around it. While rejection is not truly an infection, people may experience similar symptoms. Symptoms, such as redness and itching, can occur near the piercing. Also, the skin around it may show signs of an allergic reaction to the metal of the piercing. It might force the jewelry out of the skin if not enough skin was pierced. Share on PinterestIf home treatment for an infected nipple piercing is unsuccessful then a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Treating an infection from a nipple piercing is usually a simple process if it is caught early enough. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics in serious cases. There are also plenty of things that can be done in the home to help treat an infected nipple piercing. Washing Washing the area should be part of a basic after-piercing care routine, but it is more important if the piercing has become infected. Keeping the area clean, by using warm water and a gentle soap, can help support the body, as it tries to clear out the infection. Hot or cold compress A mixture of warm and cold compresses may help speed up the healing process. A warm compress can increase the blood flow to the area, which can help reduce inflammation and drain the infection. A cold compress can help reduce swelling and relieve pain when it is applied. A cold compress should be used carefully around the nipple, as the skin is sensitive. Sea salt wash A simple treatment method is to rinse the area with sea salt water. This is done easily by filling a small shot glass with purified water and then adding pure sea salt to it. There should be just enough salt to dissolve in the water easily. Gently place the infected nipple into the shot glass and then tip the glass up and press it into the skin, to create a seal around the infected area. Hold the water there for 5 to 15 minutes and remove it. Rinse the area with warm water and gently dry. A sea salt rinse, such as this, can be done twice a day for a few days. If symptoms of infection do not clear up, it may be time to see a doctor. Wear loose clothing When the piercing is infected and irritated, adding friction to the mix does not help. Wearing tight-fitting clothing that constantly rubs against the piercing may make symptoms worse. Tight clothing can also hold more sweat and bacteria against the infected site. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing, undershirts, or bras while the infection is healing. What not to doThere are some very important things to avoid when treating an infected piercing. These things may make the infection worse or slow down healing time. Jewelry should not be removed from an infected piercing. The jewelry acts like a drain for the discharge caused by the infection. If the jewelry is removed and the wound closes over while it is still infected, an abscess can form. Abscesses are more difficult to treat and make the infection much worse. The jewelry may need to be changed in cases where the body is rejecting the metal, but it should usually not be removed completely. It is also important not to use over-the-counter antibiotic creams. While these are good for minor scrapes and cuts, they can trap bacteria in a wound and make the infection worse. When cleaning the infected area, avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as these can irritate the skin and cause additional symptoms. Perfumes, harsh soaps, and excess detergents should also be avoided around the infected area. Share on PinterestA professional piercer should supply detailed instructions on caring for the piercing and how to avoid any infections. The best way to treat an infection is to prevent it. A knowledgeable piercer will give their customers detailed instructions on how to care for their piercing, and these should be followed closely. In general, piercings should be treated with great care as they are healing. The area should be gently washed every day and multiple times when the body is sweating a lot. Any unnecessary friction should be avoided during this time as well. Keeping the piercing loosely covered and protected may help reduce the chance of infection. The piercing, jewelry, and surrounding skin should not be touched during the healing process. Doing so can introduce different bacteria every time and influence an infection. It may also be helpful to avoid public pools, baths, and gyms as the piercing heals. These places are full of bacteria and may increase the chances of an infection. When to see a doctorWhen home treatments do not work or symptoms persist or get worse, it may be time to see a doctor for prescription antibiotics. Doctors will prescribe a cream to apply to the area in most cases, but some infections may call for oral antibiotics, as well. It is important to follow the doctor’s instructions on treatment to avoid complications. People who follow proper self-care techniques while treating the infection will usually heal within a couple of weeks. People who do not follow proper self-care techniques may end up with a lingering infection. Infections that are not treated quickly may contribute to lasting complications, such as reduced sensation in the pierced nipple or permanent scar tissue. Diagnosing and treating the infection, as quickly as possible, may help avoid these complications. |