Nose Piercing Aftercare

Past few decades has seen a growing popularity of nose piercing in the Western world. However, nose piercing, which has become a fashion statement in recent times, has actually been a part of the traditions of various cultures, since several centuries. It is supposed to have originated in the Middle Eastern countries, 4000 years ago, from where it spread to other African and Asian countries. Though piercing either side of the nose, also known as nostril piercing, is the most common type of nose piercing, there are two more types of nose piercings which are, the septum and the bridge piercing. Though getting a nose pierced is considered to be really cool among youngsters, without proper aftercare, there are chances of a nose piercing infection to develop. Hence, it is crucial that people know about the proper nose piercing aftercare. However, before we go into it in detail, let us try to know about the nose piercing procedure, and some other facts about it.

Nose Piercing Facts

Though nose piercing has become a craze among the young Westerners, many people, especially parents and elders, are still against it. Hence, there is an age limit attached for any type of body piercing in most of the Western countries. However, some teenagers see piercing as a way of rebelling against their parents and get a piercing done by an unprofessional piercer. This is because such a piercer is not only inexpensive, but also does not ask for age proof. Nevertheless, one must realize that a nose piercing done badly can lead to infections which can cause further health problems. Hence, parental advice is of utmost importance, when it comes to the decision of getting the nose pierced, especially for teenagers.

Nose Piercing Procedure

The nose piercing should only be done with a surgical needle and never with a piercing gun. This is because piercing guns are made for piercing ear lobes which have sensitive skin, whereas our nose is made of thick tissues and hence, the chances of scarring are very high. Moreover, a surgical needle is sterilized and is thrown after use. This reduces the chances of infection at the nose piercing site. On the other hand, the piercing gun is not a sterilized instrument, and the same equipment is used for everyone which increases the chance of transmitting bacterial infection and sometimes, even some dangerous diseases like HIV, etc.

Before piercing the nose, the piercer marks the spot which has to be pierced and then creates a hole by inserting the needle. Then, a ring or a stud is inserted into the hole. Though both these types of nose jewelry is fine during nose piercing healing, the ring is best, because it gives the piercing space to breathe. If you are opting for a stud, then see to it that the jewelry is not too tight. The material used during the healing process is also important, because a wrong type of material can cause nose piercing infection. The type of metal used during the nose piercing healing includes white or yellow gold, niobium, platinum, titanium, etc. It is best to avoid jewelry that is made of silver for a nose piercing.

Nose Piercing Aftercare

Just like any other type of piercing, taking good aftercare of your nose piercing by following the required nose piercing care instructions is of utmost importance so that you are able to enjoy your piercing for a very long time. The usual nose piercing healing time is 8-10 weeks, and it is necessary to follow the aftercare instructions carefully given by the piercer during this time. Here are the crucial nose piercing aftercare instructions that you have to keep in mind to make sure that you do not have to deal with any kind of infection on it:

• Cleaning the nose piercing regularly is the most important aftercare instruction that one has to follow. However, before cleaning it, you should wash your hands, as unclean hands can give rise to bacterial infection. Also, you should touch your nose piercing only when you want to clean it and not at any other time, as too much fiddling with the nose piercing area can also cause damage to the piercing.
• The nose piercing should be cleaned by soaking it with saline solution. Make a saline solution with ½ teaspoon of sea salt in ¼ glass of warm water. Dip a cotton ball into the solution, and hold it over the piercing till the water becomes cold, and then repeat the procedure. See to it that the solution soaks the piercing fully, however, you have to be careful and make sure that the jewelry does not come out of the piercing while cleaning it.
• One should not remove the jewelry from the nose piercing because if you do it many times, infection can form in that area. Also, removing the jewelry for more than a day for the first 5-6 months can make the hole close.
• During the healing period, you should see to it that the piercing does not come in contact with any kind of beauty products, including makeup, sun tan lotions, cleansers, etc. If you want to use hair spray, do not forget to cover your piercing with your hand.
• Though many people advice the use of hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, alcohol, etc. to clean the nose piercing, these can cause harm to the tissues of the nose, leading to the formation of scars and lumps on it. Hence, it is better to avoid them completely.
• Apart from the saline solution, using lavender oil on the piercing can also help in speeding up the healing process. Other than this, you should see to it that the nose piercing is not rubbed too much while sleeping and even while wearing or removing clothes.

So, now that you are armed with all of this nose piercing information, you are better equipped to understand and deal with nose piercing aftercare. If you find any kind of infection on the pierced area, even after taking good care of it, it is extremely crucial that you consult the doctor or your piercer, who will give the appropriate treatment measures to cure the piercing infection.