How do you remove or change a nipple ring?

Nipple Rings > Body Jewelry FAQ > How do you remove or change a nipple ring?
by All Piercings Staff Writer

A) You can change your nipple ring as and when you like once the nipple piercing has healed properly. With the availability of innumerable designs of nipple rings it has now become more necessary to be able to change it properly. Here’s what you can do to make removal of your nipple ring easier.

Changing a nipple ring:

· Clean your hands, the piercing, and the new nipple ring with antibacterial soap.
· Press the skin near one hole of the piercing and start removing the nipple ring, massaging gently all the time.
· Take the new nipple ring and hold it in one hand. With the other hand pinch the skin next to the nipple. Insert the new jewelry slowly and massage the piercing with the hand pinching the skin. Slowly keep pushing in the ring till you feel it exiting the hole.
· Screw or clip on any accessory. After changing the nipple ring wash the piercing once more to reduce chances of infection.

Tips to facilitate changing of your nipple ring:

· Grease the piercing and the new nipple ring for easier changing. Put a small amount of water-based lubricant on the old nipple ring and rotate it to grease the piercing. Open the new nipple ring before greasing it.
· Make the change continuous so that the hole does not close and the piercing remains intact. Always keep contact between the two pieces to be changed. When ends of certain rings cannot be held closely easily, try using an insertion taper to help with the changing.
· Jewelry which is externally threaded needs to be oiled very well. If the threads get stuck on the inside of the piercing, then removal can become very excruciating and painful. Use a tissue or gauge to hold the balls and then tighten the jewelry. Never use pliers as this can tear away the threads from the balls of threaded jewelry.
· A hot bath or a hot compress can help to soften your skin so that your nipple ring can be changed a lot more easily.

Remember:

The new jewelry should be of the same gauge as the old one. If it is thinner, then the piercing can shrink and you will not be able to wear the original piece of jewelry. If it is thicker, then your piercing will have to be stretched which is not always easy to do.

A piercing which has not fully healed can be very difficult to change. In this case it may definitely be worth your while to pay a professional piercer to change your nipple ring so that you do not end up damaging the piercing or hurting yourself.

Disclaimer: The materials on the AllPiercings.com web site are presented for informational purposes only, and are not intended as a substitute for professional dental / medical advice, and accordingly you should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.