Keeping your nose piercing clean is very important. If the nose piercing is not kept clean, healing may be delayed or infection may occur. Luckily, cleaning your nose piercing takes very little time and effort--so, there's really no reason not to! Read Step 1 below to get started.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Cleaning the Nose Piercing
Step 1. Clean your nose piercing twice a day
Nose piercings should be cleaned twice a day--once in the morning and once in the evening--until they are fully healed. Too infrequently cleaning the piercing can cause the piercing to become dirty and infected. On the other hand, cleaning the piercing too often can irritate the piercing and slow down the healing process.
Step 2. Make a salt solution
The easiest way to clean your piercing is to use a saline solution. To make a salt solution, dissolve 1/4 tsp of non-iodized sea salt in 240 ml of warm water. Alternatively, sterile saline (physiological saline solution), which can be purchased at a chemical store, can be used.
Step 3. Wash your hands
Before touching your piercing, it's important to wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Otherwise, bacteria from your hands can spread to the piercing (which is basically an open wound) and cause an infection.
Step 4. Dip a cotton ball in the saline solution
Take a clean cotton ball and dip it in the saline solution. Gently press the cotton ball on the nostril for 3-4 minutes. Be careful when moving the cotton ball away from the piercing, as it can get caught in the nose ring/stud.
Step 5. Pat your nose piercing dry with a clean tissue
After cleaning, pat the piercing area dry with a cotton ball or clean tissue. Do not use towels, because towels can be a breeding ground for bacteria, as well as getting caught in the nostrils/rings.
Step 6. Use a cotton swab to clean the crust (fluid exudate, from the wound, that moves)
Clean the crust at the bottom of the piercing. If not cleaned, the crust can tear the skin and cause inflammation of the piercing hole.
- Dip a clean cotton swab in the saline solution, and wipe it around the back of the ring/earring inside the nostril.
- Do not rub too hard, because the earring can be pushed out of the piercing hole.
Step 7. Use a little lavender oil to help the healing process
Lavender oil lubricates the piercing, relieves pain, and helps the healing process. After the piercing is cleaned, apply a small amount of lavender oil with a cotton swab.
- Twist the earring or twist the ring to allow the oil to reach the inside of the piercing. Then, wipe off the excess oil with a clean tissue (otherwise skin irritation may occur).
- Lavender oil can be purchased at health food stores, supermarkets, or chemical stores. Make sure the lavender oil bottle is labeled "BP" or "medicinal grade."
Part 2 of 2: Know What to Avoid
Step 1. Do not use harsh antiseptic products
Strong antiseptic products, such as Bactine, bacitracin, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or melaleuca oil, should not be used to clean the nose piercing, as they can irritate and/or damage the skin, hindering the healing process.
Step 2. Do not line the piercing with beauty products
Do not let beauty products hit the piercing, because it can cause blockages that lead to infection. This applies to sun-tan lotion as well as all other beauty products.
Step 3. Do not remove the ring/nostril until the piercing has completely healed
Nose piercings can be closed in just a few hours if the earring/ring is removed.
- Replacing the earring after the piercing has begun to close can cause pain, inflammation, and infection.
- So it's important not to remove the earring/ring until the piercing has healed completely, which can take about 12-24 weeks.
Step 4. Don't soak, swim, or use the hot tub
Do not wet your piercing by swimming in a pool, bathing, or using a hot tub, because the water from these places has the potential to contain harmful bacteria that can cause infection. However, if you have to swim / bathe, the nose piercing can be wrapped with a waterproof wound dressing (can be purchased at the pharmacy) to protect it.
Step 5. Don't sleep on pillows wrapped in dirty pillowcases
Dirty pillowcases can be a breeding ground for bacteria. So, it is important to change pillowcases regularly.
Step 6. Don't touch the piercing unnecessarily
Don't touch or play with your piercing--touch only when cleaning, after washing your hands. Do not twist or twist the ring/earring while it is healing.
Tips
- Never insert dirty fingers into the nostrils, as this can cause infection.
- Take a hot bath, as this can loosen the dried blood around the piercing.
- Do not clean the piercing more than three times a day, as this can cause the piercing to dry out and become infected.
Warning
- Don't peel off the dried blood covering the wound (no matter how tempting it may be), as this can lead to infection.
- Always use a new, clean cotton swab when cleaning the inside of the nostrils, to prevent germs from spreading from other places to the inside of the nostrils.
- Don't wear silver nose rings, as they can oxidize the sores and cause permanent black spots on the nose, called argyria, as well as triggering an allergic reaction.
