I received this message about nipple piercings:
I was given your book "The Piercing Bible" as a birthday gift this year, I love it! The information is great,and exactly what I have been looking for. I got my nipple spierced about 4.5 years ago after my divorce, a gift to self and I have no regrets, 12 guage rings.
I have 2 questions for you, first i do keep the nipple rings very clean use liquid antibacterial soap in the shower and cleam them well. But they are still constatly looking goopy, meaning there is a lot of really thick white gunk that smells bad. I had heard that perhaps Sterling silver or gold my not cause this effect.
If you have any thoughts that would be great. Also is it cool if a straight guy has a navel ring?
Thanks, Andrew
My reply:
No! Sterling silver would not be advisable, though solid 14 or 18k gold is suitable for piercings. But if you're wearing quality jewelry now in implant grade steel or titanium, then that should be just fine. Wearing gold is not likely to change the natural secretions you're experiencing.
This is from The Piercing Bible:
Sebum is a substance from your oil glands that collects in healed piercing chan-
nels. It is a naturally occurring product of the body, containing fat, keratin (a fibrous
protein), and cellular material.3 The purpose of sebum is to protect your skin and hair,
keep it moisturized, and to inhibit the growth of microorganisms on the skin. People
sometimes mistake it for pus, but it is more solid and cheeselike and has a distinctive
rotten odor that reflects the dead cellular debris it contains.
Read the part on page 218 about regular maintenance. Are you rotating the rings in the shower to get the sebum out? Perhaps a loofa or some other type of mild abrasive might be helpful?
Yes, straight guys can (and do) get navel piercings too--it is a matter of individual preferences and what suits your personal aesthetics.
Sincerely,
Elayne
Elayne Angel, Author
The Piercing Bible--The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing
Medical Liaison, Association of Professional Piercers
[email protected]
http://piercingbible.com/
http://www.facebook.com/elayneangel
http://twitter.com/elayneangel
http://www.linkedin.com/in/authorelayneangel
