Nipple care on the playa?

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FossaFerox
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Nipple care on the playa?

Post by FossaFerox » Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:29 am

Does anyone have any tips for keeping exposed nipples happy on the playa? This was probably the third biggest failure of my virgin burn and I haven't seen it addressed anywhere before. I went topless every day and wore an open fur vest every night (see my avatar) and despite my best efforts, my nipples were raw by the end of the week.

I did the normal lemon water + coconut oil treatment twice a day which kept my hands and feet happy (and even kept my perpetually barefoot camp-mate's feet happy) but my nipples are apparently slightly more sensitive. Who knew?

I hit a breaking point early on Saturday night as the wind started to pick up and the dust along with it. When a kind girl came by and gifted electrical tape pasties to the girls I was with, I asked for a set without thinking about it. She was a bit taken back by my request, but she was happy to oblige with a laugh and a smile once she realized I wasn't joking. Still, as life saving as those little black Xs were, I felt a little silly wearing them.

Does anyone have any alternative suggestions?
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by danibel » Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:03 am

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as nipple guards. I hear they are mostly used by runners that are male, due to the wearing of cotton tees and no bra. As they jog the shirt rubs and makes their nipples raw. A co-worker I had used to talk about it. One recommendation is to use vaseline, but not sure how that would be on the playa. I see nothing wrong with black X's on your nips, if it works.

When I was pregnant I was told I should "roughen up" my nips to get ready for breastfeeding. I would rub my nipples a bit more vigorously in the shower with the washcloth for a few minutes. Not sure it helped much, I ended up with cracked nipples from nursing with both of my babies anyway. I did use nipple cream (vitamin E mostly) to help with healing and only had the cracks in the beginning.

Find some nice pasties and bring something you like. My campmate is always crying function over fashion, seems like physical comfort should win the nipple battle, but at least have fun with it. :D
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by FossaFerox » Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:13 am

Vaseline might work. The reason I used the coconut oil for hands/feet is because of how well it absorbs, but the Vaseline might form a bit of a lasting barrier. Certainly worth trying, in the daytime if not at night so I don't end up smearing it all over my vest. I looked into nipple protectors; they're basically really expensive pasties. I felt silly wearing them (unique, but not in a way I wanted to be/felt myself) but I'll probably bring a roll of electrical tape as a back up plan if no one else has insight.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by BBadger » Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:25 am

Man, this conversation reminds me of when I was in a lab and two of the people in there were discussing breast pump brands and tips.

These were two guys talking about their wives though, not themselves... I think.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by FossaFerox » Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:42 am

Haha, sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable, but I promise it's nothing compared to wind burnt nipples. :P
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by AntiM » Mon Oct 14, 2013 3:32 am

Get a tiny tin of Bag Balm and see if that helps. I hate the smell of it myself, but MyLarry uses it on his hands, he gets playa paws. Unlike vaseline, playa dust does not stick to bag balm at all. I have no idea why.

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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by lucky420 » Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:54 am

Just wear pasties. Your nipples will thank you. :mrgreen:
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by VultureChow » Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:32 am

Bag Balm was my thought as well. Or any lanolin heavy ointment. But just keep a backup pair of pasties in case. Like an extra pair of socks. But for your nipples.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by Drawingablank » Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:29 am

Or get a set of pasties that's fun.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by trilobyte » Mon Oct 14, 2013 10:01 am

Chapstick or any other lip balm would work, as well.

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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by maladroit » Mon Oct 14, 2013 10:03 am

Toughen them up so that they rub holes in your vest, not the other way around.

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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by BoyScoutGirl » Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:10 am

If you do choose pasties, be careful about the adhesive. There was a pastie-removal horror story at our camp this past year that involved the loss of patches of skin - ouch!

Also, I believe eplayan Nipple would have a few things to say about his care and feeding. Something about unicycles?
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by FossaFerox » Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:41 am

BoyScoutGirl wrote:If you do choose pasties, be careful about the adhesive. There was a pastie-removal horror story at our camp this past year that involved the loss of patches of skin - ouch!

Also, I believe eplayan Nipple would have a few things to say about his care and feeding. Something about unicycles?
I'm almost afraid completely terrified to ask.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by BoyScoutGirl » Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:06 pm

FossaFerox wrote:
BoyScoutGirl wrote:If you do choose pasties, be careful about the adhesive. There was a pastie-removal horror story at our camp this past year that involved the loss of patches of skin - ouch!
I'm almost afraid completely terrified to ask.
So was I. All I know is that everyone was saying to dissolve the adhesive before attempting to remove the pasties. I imagine a bit of dust on the nips before applying the pasties would have helped a great deal.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by illy dilly » Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:24 pm

Sunscreen might help them from getting sunburned during the day. :roll:
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by FossaFerox » Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:09 pm

I wore sunscreen everywhere. It wasn't a question of the sun, it was the constant sand blasting with caustic dust.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by VultureChow » Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:38 pm

Okay I have a crazy suggestion. One of the mods mentioned using liquid bandage on their cuticles. What about that? It would be like clear pasties that you paint on.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by Drawingablank » Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:47 pm

Liquid bandage is essentially super glue so I imagine that might be uncomfortable.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by VultureChow » Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:48 pm

Ouch no. Is there a clear liquid latex product?
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by Savannah » Mon Oct 14, 2013 1:50 pm

VultureChow wrote:Okay I have a crazy suggestion. One of the mods mentioned using liquid bandage on their cuticles. What about that? It would be like clear pasties that you paint on.
I'm guessing it would be too drying. Liquid Bandage is great, but it's basically antiseptic skin sealant; dries clear and a little hard. It's best for fine lacerations and injuries that are inconvenienced by bandaids and neosporin.

Yours & AntiM's endorsement of Bag Balm seem to me the most promising.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by FossaFerox » Mon Oct 14, 2013 3:12 pm

Liquid latex does indeed come in clear, though I'm worried about how it would hold up on the playa. The absolute last thing I want is to have it MOOP off without me noticing leaving my nipples unguarded and leaving a strange souvenir for the restoration team to find. Anyone want to report back on how liquid latex fairs out there?

Bag balm might work, but I have an absurdly sensitive sense of smell so it might not be ideal from what you've said...
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by Elliot » Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:34 pm

.
I wonder if I once read that Super Glue was invented for first aid in war?

Anyway.... This will sound downright strange coming from a "card-carrying" nudist and straight-guy-who-loves-boobies. But I'm thinking of that fur vest you wear on cool evenings. If the roughness of that vest is a significant part of the problem, I would suggest wearing a comfortable garment like a bikini top or a silk blouse or some such. Comfort and health matter, so you have my permission to cover the girls for legitimate purposes. :wink:

(I hope that wasn't out of line.)

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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by theCryptofishist » Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:16 pm

If you do choose pasties, be careful about the adhesive. There was a pastie-removal horror story at our camp this past year that involved the loss of patches of skin - ouch!
There are such things as "adhesive remover preps" which will help, if you're using something appropriate to use on skin. There's a smell, but it will dissipate.
Certainly worth trying, in the daytime if not at night so I don't end up smearing it all over my vest. I looked into nipple protectors; they're basically really expensive pasties. I felt silly wearing them (unique, but not in a way I wanted to be/felt myself)
Drawingablank is right--you have almost a year to make pasties that express you.
When I was pregnant I was told I should "roughen up" my nips to get ready for breastfeeding. I would rub my nipples a bit more vigorously in the shower with the washcloth for a few minutes. Not sure it helped much, I ended up with cracked nipples from nursing with both of my babies anyway. I did use nipple cream (vitamin E mostly) to help with healing and only had the cracks in the beginning.
BDSM folk may have nipple toughening tips, as well.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by atomicray » Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:48 pm

Not sure on the linking to commercial sites, so I will defer to "don't do it"...in a word the clear winner for me, Judo gi wears something terrible...NipStrips...should work out to $1.66 a day...a thought on electrical tape, I use it for work all the time, it reacts to UV and to sweat...I would avoid putting this on area with surface level membrane skin like the nipples for any length of time, especially if a off-brand...you could get an aggressive adhesive that may cause a reaction...just saying.

I have used spirit gum for pasties and such (on others) at festivals, mostly with costume and body painting work...so you could go that route...spirit gum and then baby powder?

Keep a small baggie of baby powder on hand for touch ups?

A quality question OP...friction burned nipples are quite the source of aggravation and irritation.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by FossaFerox » Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:21 pm

Some of you seem to have missed that I'm a guy. It's not a question of finding pasties I like, it's that I personally find wearing pasties weird. All things being equal I was more comfortable wearing nipple clamps than the pasties, but those little black Xs saved my Saturday night. The vest had a super soft liner and I don't think it was to blame. Holding the vest closed when the wind and dust kicked up was helping on Saturday before the pastie-fairy found me.

So far my takeaways:
  • Bag balm will help, but may smell too much to make it worth it.
  • Vaseline will probably help. It might smear on my vest at night, but I could wear it during the day to reduce the amount of windburn so that I'm still okay near the end of the burn.
  • Clear liquid latex might be perfect assuming it won't MOOP off. Looking for first hand experience in how it holds up between dancing and whiteouts.
  • Crazy glue might work and also might be the worst thing ever.
  • Electrical tape or more proper pasties are a backup, just not ideal.
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by Elliot » Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:48 pm

I thought you looked awful ugly for a girl. :lol:

And I should have picked up on it -- I wondered why the pastie-fairy was surprised by your request, but the bell didn't ring.

But you said you went topless, and that word has a certain meaning in Standard American English. Guys go shirtless.

Wimp. :P

Seriously, a nipple-covering garment would make sense to me.

I'll shut up now. See you on the Frat Boy thread. :D

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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by FossaFerox » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:01 pm

I believe the phrase you're looking for is "ruggedly handsome", but you're right. I'm not sure why I went with the word "topless". It probably has something to do with wanting to draw a distinction between being bare and wearing my vest, which is a top but is definitely not a shirt? Oh well, it made sense when I wrote it, I swear.

But in any case, I hate wearing shirts. I feel more myself and more alive when I'm barechested. Even the vest, which I love, was simply to keep me warm, and the compromise there was it had to be open and sleeveless (hence the thick fur and hood to keep it relatively warm).
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by atomicray » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:32 pm

FossaFerox wrote:Some of you seem to have missed that I'm a guy.
Elliot wrote: But you said you went topless, and that word has a certain meaning in Standard American English. Guys go shirtless.

Yes the topless thing threw me off also...but either way, the advice offered remains the same...NipStrips were invented by guys and intended for guys, though anyone can use them :D
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by FossaFerox » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:41 pm

NipStrips actually look really promising, but I wish I could find a picture/video of them in place to see how "discrete" they actually are if I'm shirtless/topless/barechested. :P
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Re: Nipple care on the playa?

Post by theCryptofishist » Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:43 pm

Band-aids with dinosaurs on them. Dinosaurs are a boy thing.
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