Nipple piercings are one of the most common piercings and their popularity is still growing. The myths surrounding them have grown in popularity as well. This article separates the myths from reality.

Do Nipple Piercings Make Nipples Permanently Hard?

When you first get your nipples pierced, they are likely to swell up. This effect doesn’t last forever though. Within two to four weeks the nipples should return to normal. However, this piercing can make your nipples more sensitive. So it’s easier for them to get hard. The extent to which, sensitivity is affected varies from one person to the next. Wearing loose shirts can help to prevent nipples from getting hard. Verdict: Myth

Will Nipple Piercings Set Off Metal Detectors?

Every day thousands of travellers quietly lean over to TSA agents to inform them that they have nipple piercings. And every day, they don’t need to. Nipple piercings aren’t large enough to set off metal detectors. So there is no need to remove them before going to the airport. Verdict: Myth

Do You Need to Rotate and/or Remove Nipple Piercing Jewellery?

Too often people give the advice of rotating or removing nipple piercing jewellery. Reasons given vary from hygiene to promoting healing. Whatever the reason this is bad advice, especially while the piercing is healing. Rotating the piercing can tear freshly healed flesh. This results in longer and more painful healing. Removing the jewellery is an easy way to lose the piercing. During the first year, it only takes a few minutes without jewellery for the hole to close up. Once you’ve had the piercing for a few years the piercing can close quickly, the only reason to remove it is to change the jewellery. Even if you have an infection, you should leave the jewellery in. Verdict: Myth

Can You Breastfeed With Nipple Piercings?

Most reputable piercing shops won’t perform a nipple piercing on a pregnant woman. This may be the source of the misconception that you can’t breastfeed with pierced nipples. There is no effect on your ability to lactate. The reason you can’t get this piercing is a fear of infection. Infections are rare, but if they happen it puts the baby at risk. It is best to avoid a nipple piercing while still breastfeeding as well since you can still transmit an infection to the baby this way. All that said, so long as you get your nipple pierced before having a baby (usually a year in advance is recommended) or after you finish breastfeeding, your ability to breastfeed is not impeded. Although you can breastfeed with a nipple piercing, we do recommend you remove the jewellery while your child is breastfeeding. The jewellery can present a serious choking hazard for a child. Once your child grows out of breastfeeding, we suggest revisiting a piercer. They can assess the piercer and determine whether the piercing needs to be reopened if it has healed over. Verdict: Myth

Can a Nipple Piercing Affect a Defibrillator?

This is a common myth that parents use to scare their kids away from nipple piercings. The proper placement of defibrillator pads is away from the nipple. Even if the AED operator is inexperienced the instructions and drawings on the pads clearly show the proper placement. Even if the pads are placed directly on the nipple the worst potential result would be a minor skin burn. Which is hardly a concern while facing a heart attack. Verdict: Myth

Can You Clean Nipple Piercings With Scented Soaps?

Scented soaps, oils, and scrubs are best avoided for cleaning piercings. The fragrances come from chemicals that can irritate piercings, especially while healing. Stick with the products outlined in your piercing aftercare plan. Usually, this includes unscented soaps and saltwater soaks. Verdict: Myth

Will The Areola Get Bigger After Piercings?

This is one of the weirder nipple piercing myths, but it’s a common one. In some cases, the jewellery will make the nipple itself appear a bit larger. The areola, however, remains the same size. Verdict: Myth

Are Nipple Piercings Genderless?

Nipple piercings are, in fact, common amongst both men and women. It used to be more common for men to pierce both nipples and women to pierce one or the other. More recently, women have also been piercing both nipples. Verdict: Fact

Does Nipple Size Affect the Ability to Pierce?

It seems like easy logic that a large nipple would be easy to pierce and a small nipple is difficult. In reality, any nipple is pierceable no matter how small. Even flat or inverted nipples are eligible. Verdict: Myth

Getting a Nipple Piercing in Toronto & Vancouver

If you have any other questions or concerns about nipple piercings, our Toronto & Vancouver piercing artists can help. We can help you discover which nipple piercing is best for you.