Can you use contact solution to clean nipple piercings?

Answer 1

Fair enough question, but I need to ask why would you use a product that is meant only for contact lens on your nipple piercings? See there are ingredients in the contact lens solution that are intended to keep the lenses moist and to extend the life of the solution. These should not be used on piercings, there is no need to use it on any piercing.

Nipple piercing aftercare, like any other piercing is very simple, unscented anti bacterial liquid soap diluted with water and lathered up and lots of warm running water as a rinse, that's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Sure you got the saline solution story from your piercer but he/she didn't fully explain why.

Sea Salt is naturally derived by the evaporation of sea water leaving mineral rich salt. Once refined to remove unwanted ingredients it is available in many health food stores and domestic grocery stores. Iodized table salt is mined from the earth refined and usually has iodine added to the mix, available at most grocery stores.

In body piercing the salt is not used to clean the piercing, it has no antibacterial qualities other than it's high caustic value when improperly used on piercings. This whole salt water and piercings thing got carried away years ago and is just a run away train. Saline solution is what they really meant to say.

Saline solution is a water and salt solution of distilled water and 3% sodium (salt), used in hospitals as an I.V. to carry medications and rehydrate the body. Sterilized and in great quantities in the hospital, it is used to irrigate wounds and as an I.V. carrier. 3% Saline solution has been used to wash wounds because it is sterilized where domestic tap water may carry unwanted minerals and toxins into open wounds.

Ultimately both forms of salt should not be used on any piercing because the concentrations of actual salt is too high and is actually caustic to the new forming tissue, most folks don't want to purchase pre made saline solution and end up using contact lens solution which is another bad move.

Treat your nipple piercings like cuts (that after all is what they are, but we call them puncture wounds) clean them with anti bacterial soap and lots of running water while moving the jewellery and low an behold they will heal.