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| Nipple piercing | |
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| Location | Nipple |
| Jewelry | Barbell, captive bead ring |
| Healing | 2 to 4 months |
A nipple piercing is a piercing, centered usually at the base of the nipple. It can be pierced at any angle but is usually done horizontally or, less often, vertically. It is also possible to place multiple piercings on top of one another. A nipple piercing typically takes 2-4 months[1] to fully heal. Some people have noted that they can take up to a year and a half to fully heal. It's recommended that if stretching a nipple piercing, the piercee waits at least the healing time of their piercings between stretches.
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Jewelry rejection
The nipple is fleshy enough to pierce securely behind plenty of skin to prevent rejection. However, if the jewelry gauge is too thin or the piercing isn't deep enough to begin with, there is a risk of rejection. Metal allergies could cause it to reject. Problems with infections and/or too much tugging and pulling on it could also cause it to reject.
History
The perforation of the nipple to apply jewelry has been practiced by various people throughout history. Male nipple piercing was reported to be done by the Karankawa Indians, female nipple piercing is practiced by the Kabyle people in Algeria.
It is sometimes claimed that there was a fashion for nipple-piercing among society women during the Victorian period around 1890. However, the historian Lesley Hall has determined that these claims can all eventually be traced back to a few letters published in the magazine Society during 1899, which were almost certainly erotic fantasies rather than descriptions of actual activity[2].
In the late 1970s the practice was revived again by Jim Ward, proprietor of the Gauntlet in West Hollywood. The mainstream popularity of the practice is partly due to celebrities who publicly displayed their piercings or confessed to have one in the 1990s, such as Tommy Lee, Corey Taylor and Lenny Kravitz. Nipple piercing has gained much popularity in recent years with many celebrities and fashion models having this type of piercing[3].
Nipple piercing and breastfeeding
A common question among women who consider nipple piercings is how it may affect breastfeeding. There is no evidence to suggest that proper nipple piercings can cause any complications with lactation[4]. A letter in JAMA suggests improperly pierced nipples and scarring may result in blocked ducts.[5]
However, it is recommended that good care is taken to prevent infection by using a piercing professional and good body piercing aftercare. Frequent re-piercings can also damage the nipple and cause complications. It is also recommended that the piercing be healed before breastfeeding. Most body piercing professionals will refuse to pierce a pregnant woman for this reason and because piercing causes stress on the body that could potentially complicate a pregnancy.
Several complications have been noted involving breastfeeding with a piercing present, so it is recommended to remove nipple jewelry before nursing. Several complications resulting from nursing with nipple jewelry inserted can include poor latch, slurping, gagging, and milk leaking from the baby's mouth.
It can also be a potential choking hazard for the baby. As the baby sucks, the ends on a barbell (if worn) may come loose and could possibly lodge in the baby's throat (a captive bead ring, properly inserted, would lessen the risk of anything becoming loose, falling out, and lodging in the throat). The baby's gums and tongue as well as the soft and hard palate could be injured by the jewelry.[6]
Popular wearers
A nipple piercing gained considerable media attention after Super Bowl XXXVIII, during which Janet Jackson exposed her right breast on which she had a nipple shield applied to a piercing. This incident is humorously called Nipplegate. Nicole Richie set off an alarm at the Reno Airport as she passed a metal detector with her nipple piercing. [7] Pink had her nipple pierced backstage after a concert she was giving in Germany; in the presence of her mother. The whole scene was filmed and later published on her Live in Europe DVD.[8] Christina Aguilera had all her piercings removed except for her right nipple piercing.[9] Also, R & B singer Cassie Ventura has both of her nipples pierced. Pictures of her breasts were posted all over the internet when someone hacked into her private photos.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nipple piercing |
Sources
- ^ http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/551430 Laurie E. Scudder, MS:Teens and Body Art -- Into the Mainstream
- ^ Hall LA. [Victorian Sex Factoids].
- ^ Mayers LB, Judelson DA, Moriarty BW, Rundell KW. Prevalence of body art (body piercing and tattooing) in university undergraduates and incidence of medical complications. Mayo Clin Proc 2002; 77:29–34
- ^ Nipple Piercing: Is It Compatible with Breastfeeding? Report by the La Leche League International
- ^ Jane P. Deacon et al, Association of Nipple Piercing With Abnormal Milk Production and Breastfeeding (letter), JAMA Vol. 301 No. 24, June 24, 2009
- ^ Armstrong ML, Caliendo C, Roberts AE.(2006): Pregnancy, lactation and nipple piercings. AWHONN Lifelines;10(3):212-7.
- ^ Nicole Richie's Nipple Piercing sets off alarm
- ^ Pop singer Pink enjoys the nipple piercing
- ^ Christina Aguilera
External links
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