Getting your nose pierced is a popular and fun way to enhance your appearance. But do you know how to take care of a nostril piercing after you get it? The process is different than other piercings, and doing it wrong can result in infections.
We’ll break down a step-by-step aftercare regimen for nose piercings. Following these steps will reduce healing time and ensure that your piercing stays clean and healthy.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about nose piercing aftercare.
Daily Cleanings
Once or twice per day, you need to wash your piercing with a saline solution. You should do this consistently until your piercing is completely healed. This varies for everyone, but it will likely be several months.
You can use a store-bought saline solution, or you can make your own. Combine 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt with 8 oz of warm distilled water. The water should not be hot or it will burn your skin.
Stir the salt into the water until it dissolves. Next, wash your hands to make sure you don’t get dirt in your piercing while you clean it. You should now apply the saline solution to the piercing for a few minutes.
You can either do this by soaking your piercing in the solution, or you can use cotton balls and hold them against the piercing. Do not use fabric or rags, as they will catch on the piercing and can hurt you.
After a few minutes, rinse your piercing with distilled water and dab it dry.
Don’t use anything more abrasive than saline solution. Saline solution will keep your piercing from getting infected and shouldn’t irritate the skin.
Don’t Mess With It
As much as possible, you should try to avoid touching or messing with your piercing. However, there may be times you need to clean your piercing a little more thoroughly because of crust or pus that has accumulated around it.
Never scrub at your piercing, even if it doesn’t hurt. This can result in bumps or scarring. If you cannot wipe away a piece of “crust,” soak it a little longer in the saline solution until it dislodges.
If you need to moisturize around the piercing, ask your piercer what you should use. They are likely to suggest something like a combination of coconut oil and tea tree oil. The coconut will moisturize the spot while the tea tree oil’s antimicrobial properties will keep it from getting infected.
It is tempting to play with your new piercing. Many people try to swap out their rings too early.
But if you wait, it will be worth it. In the meantime, shop bodypiercejewelry.com for nose rings you can wear after your piercing heals.
Watch For Allergic Reactions and Infections
A big part of your job after you get a nose piercing is to watch for infections, irritations, and other negative reactions.
A little redness and discomfort are normal in the first few days after your piercing. But you need to watch out for any reactions that are more extreme or last longer than that first week. Redness, peeling, pus, and swelling are all signs that you should call a doctor.
Infections left unaddressed can cause scarring or damage to your skin. They can also be unsightly to look at.
Sometimes you won’t be able to solve these problems without antibiotics. Contact your doctor early before the problem becomes too serious.
If you mess with your piercing too much you may also notice that a small bump develops near your piercing. Talk to your doctor about how to handle this, and in the meantime, stop touching your piercing.
Infections and other issues can occur for a variety of reasons. Some of these include:
- You touched your piercing too much
- You neglected cleaning your piercing
- Your skin is reacting poorly to the metal of the ring
- You used hygiene products that irritated the piercing
- You tried to exchange the ring too early
- You applied make-up to the piercing area
You can avoid most of these issues by taking good care of your piercing from the beginning. The other thing you can do to avoid problems is to ask your piercer for the highest quality ring possible. This is especially recommended if you know that you are sensitive to some metals over others.
Watch What You Eat
Remember, a piercing is essentially a wound. That means that your body will be working hard to heal it. Did you know that there are some foods that are better for healing your body than others?
Eat lots of fruits and vegetables with antioxidants. Spinach and citrus are also good choices since they are loaded with Vitamin C. Eat meat to replace iron in your body.
More than anything else, stay hydrated.
Foods to avoid after nose piercing:
- Fast food
- Overly processed or greasy food
- Sugary snacks or beverages
Maintain a healthy diet, and it could shorten the amount of time your piercing takes to heal!
Consult The Experts
Your piercer knows best how to take care of their work. They can tell you exactly what to expect after a nose piercing.
Ideally, they will give you a piece of paper or send you an email with care instructions. Follow these instructions perfectly.
Sometimes, piercers will sell a saline solution or other care products like moisturizers in their shop. If you can buy directly from your piercer, you know you are getting the materials you need to preserve your piercing.
Take Care of Yourself With Nose Piercing Aftercare
Getting your nose pierced is an exciting upgrade to your personal style. But nose piercing aftercare is necessary if you want to enjoy your piercing. Pretty soon, you’ll be trying out different rings and studs and thinking about your next piercing!
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