I had my nipples pierced for the last 5 1/2 years (over 4 years prior to HRT) and today I decided to remove the piercings as I went to put longer barbells in due to nipple changes and I didn't like the way they were looking (health wise and aesthetically speaking). They ends look dry and even though my HRT doctor said they were OK to leave in, and I could have given them some moisturizer, they looked like they may have to be re-pierced in the future anyway because the position was a wrong.
On the plus side, this is the first time I've been able to play with them without the piercing and I have really nice sensitivity there that's different and more sensual 🙂 I had them pierced initially because I liked the increase sensitivity, but now with HRT, I have plenty of sensitivity 🙂