hi! got any advice for a trans guy with nipple piercings and binding? is it dangerous?
mod chris says:
[disclaimer: i’m not a trained piercer or a doctor. i can’t give you any direct medical advice, but i will share my thoughts as a person who has non-nipple piercings and who binds. if you think your piercing has become infected, see a doctor.]
there are a few things that come to mind that might cause issues with your piercings:
1) sweating. binders are made from notoriously unbreatheable fabric, which can cause a buildup of sweat and oil, and this could cause bacteria to get into your piercing.
2) pressure. binders compress your skin tightly, which might cause irritation and swelling around the piercing, increasing the chance of infection.
3) pulling. this just tends to happen every once in a while when you’ve got piercings, and it’s a pain when it causes some mild redness or irritation. however, if your piercings are already iffy from binding, it can seriously damage your skin when this happens.
if you want to try binding with your piercings anyway, i’d advise you use caution and be on the lookout for any signs of infection. as goes for anyone binding, it’s important to take it slow and listen to your body. try wearing your binder for an hour or two, and if you feel okay after that, gradully increase the time you’re wearing it.
it’s especially important that you take your binder off as soon as you can- the longer it’s on, the more time your piercings are under stress. make sure you’re cleaning them well, once in the morning and once at night (use saline solution).
overall, binding increases the risk of complications with your piercings. i can’t say whether or not you should do it, so it’s up to you to decide. if you want more information on this, ask your doctor or a professional piercer.
