Body piercings have been around for centuries. While the trend has remained steadily popular over the years, the popularity of the location of a piercing tends to shift over time.

Thanks to huge international stars like Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, Amber Rose and Bella Hadid, nipple piercings seem to be all the rage.

If you like their cool factor and are considering getting one, it's key to know what to expect and how to care for your new piercing. Read all you need to know about nipple piercings here.

Pain Levels

Pain Levels

Understandably, most people want to know how much pain to expect before making their piercing appointment. Nipples have numerous nerve endings, which makes them very sensitive. This means you should expect some level of pain.

Some people say their nipple piercing was excruciatingly painful, while others term it as a fleeting, manageable pain. Your pain threshold and the physical and mental frame of mind you will be in will also factor into how painful you will find the experience.

The Healing Process

Blood ferries oxygen and nutrients for your body cells to repair trauma. However, the upper torso does not get much blood flow. This in itself lengthens the healing time of a nipple piercing.

This notwithstanding, a nipple piercing should heal in four to six months if you commit to taking excellent care of the wound.

After the piercing, your body forms something much like a fistula. Think of this as a small tunnel through the nipple where the jewelry passes through. The two openings are sealed so that the 'tunnel' can heal inwards.

The two extremes might deceptively look like they are healed even in as little as two months. However, the inside of the wound might still be raw and in the healing process.

Nipple Piercing Aftercare

Do’s

Nipple Piercing Aftercare

• Use warm, clean water to clean the piercing and dry it completely every day
• Soak the piercing in water with some sea salt solution twice daily to sanitize the wound
• Wear loose cotton clothing for a few months after the piercing. These will allow air circulation and prevent dampness which can encourage bacteria growth.
• Wear thick or padded clothes during workouts and for sleep. These will hold the piercing steady. A lot of movement can cause small tears and are painful as well.
• Be careful when dressing and undressing and taking up activities that might cause the jewelry to be pulled or ripped.

Don’ts

Nipple Piercing Aftercare

• Avoid aspirin, alcohol and excessive caffeine. These are blood thinners and can delay your blood to clotting, lengthening the recovery time
• Don’t smoke. if you are not ready to quit smoking entirely, try an e-cigarette as the wound heals
• Keep the piercing away from pools, spas and baths. These can harbour a lot of bacteria that can infect the piercing.

In Summary

Nipple piercings, like any other piercings, will have some degree of pain and will heal perfectly if you follow the correct regimen. As always, go for high-quality jewelry. View some excellent options here.