How Long Do Nipple Piercings Take to Heal? Here’s What Professional Piercers Want You to Know

Whether you’re thinking about getting your nipples pierced or you’ve recently had them done, chances are you have a few questions about what happens next. As you wonder whether the soreness, swelling, crusting, or sensitivity you’re noticing is still normal, you might ask yourself, “How long do nipple piercings take to heal?” We reached out to professional piercers to share what you can expect during the healing process, how long it typically takes, and how to know when your piercing is fully healed.

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Meet the Expert

Josh Parkhurst is the founder, owner, and lead piercer at Above & Beyond Body Arts. He began piercing in 2003 and joined the Association of Professional Piercers in 2011, with a focus on safe piercing and helping clients express themselves through body art.

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How Long Nipple Piercings Usually Take to Heal

Nipple piercings generally take at least six to eight months to heal, and for some people, they can take longer. “Everyone’s body is different and any piercing can take longer to heal than a piercer may quote,” Parkhurst explains,

There are quite a few things that can affect the timeline, including “climate, location, activities, lifestyle, diet, and health.” In other words, two people can get pierced on the same day and have very different healing experiences. If you’re past the six-to-eight-month mark and still noticing some crusting, discharge, or discoloration around the piercing, Parkhurst considers that a sign it’s still healing.

What the Healing Process Looks Like

During the first few weeks, some bleeding, swelling, tenderness, itching, bruising, and redness can all be part of the healing process. Parkhurst notes that redness “may occur on and off for the entire healing period,” so seeing a little come and go doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong.

You may also notice a clear, whitish-yellow fluid that dries around the jewelry (yes, crusting can be normal). According to Parkhurst, that discharge can appear “on and off during the entire healing period.” Once the initial swelling goes down, he recommends visiting your piercer after about two to four weeks to see whether the jewelry needs to be shortened or adjusted.

As for knowing when you’re finally healed, Parkhurst has a few things he looks for. The piercing should have had at least six to eight months, dried skin and discharge should be gone, and there shouldn’t be lingering discoloration around the site. Most importantly, he asks whether it looks and feels completely normal, “as if [it is] just ‘a part of you’ now.”

Of course, there are a few things we wouldn’t brush off. Redness, swelling, or tenderness spreading away from the piercing, red streaks, warmth around the site, an elevated body temperature, or purulent drainage can be signs of infection. Parkhurst recommends seeking medical care if those symptoms show up.

What Can Help or Slow Down Healing

There isn’t much you can do to rush a nipple piercing along. “Piercings simply take time to heal,” Parkhurst explains. Getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and generally taking care of yourself can help support a steady healing process, but patience is still a pretty big part of the equation.

Bras and tight clothing can also cause problems because they put “uneven and constant pressure” against the piercings. Parkhurst recommends wearing a bra as little as you comfortably can while healing and choosing looser clothing when possible. Exercise, recreational activities, and sex can irritate the area if there’s too much rubbing or pressure. His advice for all of the above is straightforward: “If it hurts, don’t do it!”

We’d also be careful about swimming and soaking. Parkhurst notes that submerged piercings can be exposed to water or environments that aren’t ideal for healing, although waterproof sealing bandages can “effectively provide a layer of protection” when needed.

Lastly, don’t underestimate aftercare. Parkhurst says people who neglect their piercings or don’t follow the instructions from their professional piercer are “more likely to experience a slower and potentially more problematic healing process.” The day-to-day aftercare really does matter.