Nipple piercing and the risks & bull; hello healthy

Making piercings in strategic locations of the body has been a trend that has long been loved by young people. Some choose to get piercings in the ears, nose, lips, tongue, and even nipples. If you are challenged to get a nipple piercing, first know the risks behind this nipple piercing.

The risks of breast piercing are worth knowing

Ear piercings sound commonplace. However, to get a nipple piercing, there are a lot of things you have to think about.

When piercing, the earring needles will penetrate the sensitive skin of the nipple which has the blood vessels around it. Nipple piercing naturally injures the skin, which is the first layer of defense against infection.

When a foreign object enters the deeper layers of the skin, it can increase health risk complications; irritation and infection.

When the tissue pierced by the earring becomes swollen, the skin will start to turn red. This irritation usually occurs shortly after the skin is pierced. Leaving it for a few days can at least relieve irritation symptoms.

However, if the piercing causes infection, the following symptoms will occur:

• the piercing feels hot
• the area feels very sensitive or hurts to the touch
• the skin on the piercing area turns green, yellow, or brown
• the piercing smells bad
• rash
• itchy rash
• fatigue
• fever

Maybe not all piercings cause infection. In some cases, piercings can have an infectious effect. Infection occurs when the piercing is touched too often.

Touching your breast piercings can expose you to bacteria in the delicate tissues, increasing the risk of infection.

Also, tight clothing and sweat that come into contact with the piercing can cause irritation and infection.

Long term risks of breast piercing

Infection with nipple piercings can pose a long-term risk. It is possible that the infection will not go away within a few weeks. Here are the complications that you should know about nipple piercings.

• bleeding
• wound
• nerve damage
• rips
• keloid
• other health problems that need medical treatment
• interference with breastfeeding

The above symptoms are common infections that can be experienced by people with nipple piercings. But in certain cases, the infection can spread to the nipples and breasts. Its spread can increase the risk of endocarditis (infection of the heart valves) and infection of the bloodstream.

Nipple piercings interfere with the smooth operation of breastfeeding

Especially in women, nipple piercings can cause problems during breastfeeding. This is because the tissue around the piercing can block the flow of milk. So that the milk is difficult to get out.

In addition, piercings on the nipples make it difficult for the baby to latch on. Babies may choke on their piercings when they receive breast milk.

Therefore, it would be better if women do not do nipple piercings, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

First aid during infection

The infection causes discomfort in the area where the breast is pierced. If you have already had your breast pierced and you find signs of infection, it's a good idea to do the following treatments.

1. Clean the area

Before cleaning it, you need to wash your hands first. Afterward, wash the nipple piercing area with soap for sensitive skin. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, ointments, alcohol, harsh soaps, detergents, or cleansers.

2. Use warm water or sea salt to compress

If there is a mild infection in your nipple piercing, you can apply warm water to it. Do this method so that the infection can heal quickly.

You can also dissolve sea salt in warm water and compress it for just a few minutes. Do this 2-3 times per day. After that, clean the nipple area gently and dry it.

3. Avoid over-the-counter antibiotic creams or ointments

Applying antibiotic cream or ointment can trap bacteria on the piercing and the area under the skin. This can make the infection worse.

You can use antibiotic ointment or cream if recommended by your doctor.

4. Caring for piercings

If you've already had your nipple pierced, don't neglect to do the treatment. Follow the instructions provided by your piercing service.

However, if the infection gets worse, there is no other way but to consult a doctor. There you get proper treatment.

Some of the above can be considered before you decide on a nipple piercing

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