Bacterial Infection: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Thinking Of Getting A Nose Piercing? Here's How To Avoid Infection

An infected nose piercing may cause pain, pus, and an abnormal odor at the piercing site.

You can use home remedies like a sea salt solution or a warm compress to combat the infection.

To prevent infection, don't use skincare products until the piercing is healed, and avoid swimming.

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Download the app

By clicking "Sign Up", you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email.

While nose piercings are commonplace, getting one comes with the risk of infection, especially when the piercing is new and still healing.

It's important that you treat an infected nose piercing as soon as you notice it. Otherwise, it could worsen, spread, and end up costing you unnecessary time, money, and trips to the doctor's.  

Here's how to know if your nose piercing is infected, and if so, how to treat it. 

Is my nose piercing infected?

If your nose is newly pierced, it's normal to experience some swelling, tenderness, and redness, says Jeannette Graf, MD, board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. 

However, symptoms beyond this should be closely monitored for infection. Graf says signs of an infected nose piercing are similar to other infected piercings and can include:

More pain than usual

Throbbing

Abnormal odor

Pus oozing from piercing site (white pus is normally a sign of a very mild infection, while green or yellow pus indicates a more serious infection)

Even just one of these symptoms may be an indication of an infection, says R. Peter Manes, MD, FACS, a rhinologist at Yale Medicine.

If you're experiencing a fever or severe pain, it's advised that you see a doctor ASAP.

How to treat an infected nose piercing

If your infection isn't causing you serious, persistent, or worsening pain you can first try treating it at home with the following remedies:

Warm compresses: Using a warm compress on the infected area can help reduce swelling. Be sure to use a clean cloth, soak it in warm water, and apply gently to the area.

Sea salt solutions: Saline solutions are a natural antiseptic, Graf says. You can make your own by mixing about 1/8th of a teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. 

If the infection doesn't respond to home remedies, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, and if the infection leads to an abscess — a swollen collection of infected pus —, your doctor will likely need to drain it. 

If you don't treat a serious piercing infection, Manes says it's possible for the infection to spread to nearby areas of the face and, in rare cases, result in a life-threatening condition called sepsis. 

How to care for your nose piercing to avoid infection

It's important to diligently take care of your new nose piercing to avoid infection — especially when the piercing is new and fresh. 

Piercers typically provide clients with specific aftercare instructions. You can also follow these tips from Graf to avoid infection:

Only go to reputable piercing shops that use sterile techniques and hypoallergenic jewelry.

Using soap or saline solution, clean the piercing first thing in the morning and before you go to bed with clean hands. 

Avoid applying skin care products — such as sunscreen, creams, and serums — around the piercing until it is fully healed as these products can irritate the piercing. 

Avoid touching or playing with the piercing, since your hands carry bacteria and can result in an infection.

Avoid swimming in natural bodies of water and swimming pools until your piercing is healed, since water can harbor bacteria. 

It's most important to follow the above steps while the piercing is still fresh and not yet fully healed. After that, you can become more lax with it. 

"When your nose piercing has completely healed after several months, you can stop cleaning it as frequently and even start using mild, unscented soap occasionally to clean," says Graf. 

Insider's takeaway

It can take around four to six months for a new nose piercing to completely heal, Graf says. This will depend on the individual and how diligently the aftercare routine is followed. 

Any piercing, including nose piercings, has the potential to get infected, which in minor cases can cause discomfort and in severe cases can cause fevers, abscesses, and spread to other areas.

This is why it's so important to take good care of your new piercing as soon as you leave the studio. 

If you suspect an infection, and it doesn't look too serious, try cleaning the site with a saline solution and reduce inflammation with a warm compress. 

However, if the infection isn't clearing up or worsening after a week of home treatment, Manes says you should make an appointment with your doctor to get it checked out. 

If Your Nose Piercing Caused A Bump, Here's What It Could Mean And How To Remove It

A nose piercing bump can be caused by a keloid, a granuloma, tissue damage, and more.

An allergy to the metal in your piercing, especially nickel or cobalt, can also cause a bump. 

A granuloma will go away on its own, but you might have to see a doctor to remove a keloid.

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Download the app

By clicking "Sign Up", you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email.

A nose piercing can be a cute accessory, but it's not so cute when a bump pops up on the skin next to your piercing. 

You might be able to treat the bump at home, but other times it could be the sign of a dangerous infection that needs medical aid. 

Here are five causes for that bump and what to do in each case.

1. Allergic reaction

"Allergic reactions cause inflammation and swelling, which can create a bump," says Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, and clinical instructor at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Your body views the piercing as an invader and may react by causing itching, swelling, and blistering at the site.

An allergic reaction to a piercing is often caused by an allergy to the metal in the jewelry. You can be allergic to any metal, but the most common metal allergies are nickel and cobalt.

Nose piercing allergy bumps are generally small but may be surrounded by a rash of red, scaly skin.They can be incredibly itchy and tend to be more irritated than painful.

How to treat it: "Hypoallergenic piercings should be used, such as surgical steel or titanium," King advises. Switching to a less irritating metal can allow your skin to calm down and get rid of the nose bump. The reaction can take two to four weeks to fully fade.

2. Granuloma

A granuloma is a reddish bump that appears when your immune system forms extra blood vessels around a foreign object like a piercing. Granulomas are usually less than a centimeter wide and they tend to show up on or right next to the piercing site.

The granuloma acts as a barrier to protect your body, says King.

Granulomas on nose piercings are often red or brownish-black, feel tender to the touch, and may bleed easily.

How to treat it: If you have a granuloma, it's best to leave the piercing alone and let your body heal on its own.

Don't switch out your nose jewelry and don't move it any more than is needed for cleaning, King says, as this can interrupt the healing process and cause irritation. Granulomas can take a few months to fade on their own, or you can see a dermatologist to discuss treatment options.

If you need to rotate the jewelry for cleaning, make sure the area is wet first so it moves with less friction.

3. Infection

If you don't clean a new nose piercing regularly, bacteria can get into the open wound and cause an infection. Most often, you'll have redness and swelling around the infected area and your nose may feel extra tender.

You may develop a small red bump around the piercing, particularly if there is any trapped pus under the skin.

How to treat it: Some infections may be dangerous if you don't get medical treatment. "If there are signs of infection such as pain, throbbing or pus, the area should be evaluated by a doctor," King says. To avoid infection, make sure to clean your piercing twice daily with a saline solution.

4. Keloid

A keloid forms when your body produces too much scar tissue during the healing process, King says. They look like firm, raised scars and can be flesh-colored, reddish, or darker than your skin tone. Keloids generally don't hurt but can become irritated if they rub up against your clothes. 

You're more likely to develop a keloid if you have a genetic predisposition or you have a darker skin tone.

How to treat it: If your nose bump is from a keloid, then you should remove the piercing right away. This may help slow your body's exaggerated healing reaction.

Keloids usually don't go away on their own, so you'll have to see your doctor to treat it. A dermatologist can freeze the growth, inject steroids, or use laser therapy to help it heal. Depending on which treatment you use, it can take a few months for keloids to be fully treated. Even after treatment, the skin may not go back to it's normal appearance, but the keloid should be reduced.

If you're prone to keloids, you may have to give up your nose piercing and know that future piercings may also cause keloids, so it's probably best to avoid them.

5. Tissue Damage

"Damaged tissue can become inflamed and swollen, creating a bump," King says.

This type of bump is generally reddish, puffy, and very painful. The size of the bump will depend on how much tissue was damaged.

The skin on your nose is sensitive and can be easily damaged if you are too rough on a new piercing. This can happen from changing the jewelry too soon or even wiping your nose forcefully.

How to treat it: If the tissue damage was minor, such as from a minor blow to your nose, you likely won't need to see a doctor and the bump should improve with time. If there is significant bleeding or intense pain, see your doctor to determine what type of treatment you need.

How to care for your nose piercing

You should clean your piercing at least twice per day with a solution of water mixed with antibacterial soap or salt. You should keep this up for at least two months, or until the piercing no longer feels sensitive to the touch. In some cases, nose piercings can take up to six months to heal. 

Insider's takeaway

Nose piercing bumps are an unpleasant side effect, but you can often get rid of them on your own or with help from your doctor. Cleaning the piercing, using hypoallergenic metals, and not touching the area can all help to get rid of nose bumps.

See your doctor if you have any concerning symptoms like excessive bleeding and swelling. And to prevent future bumps it always helps to, "have piercings done by a reliable and experienced professional," King says.

How To Clean A Nose Piercing The Right Way, According To Professional Piercers

You should clean a nose piercing two to three times a day with a .09% sodium chloride solution.

Wash your hands before touching the jewelry and keep the piercing in your nose while you clean it.

After cleaning, pat the piercing dry with a disposable paper product like a paper towel. 

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Download the app

By clicking "Sign Up", you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email.

Nose piercings are becoming increasingly popular as a form of body modification many people use to express themselves. About 19% of women and 15% of men in the U.S. Have their noses pierced. If you are considering getting a nose piercing, it's important to understand how to take care of it so you can avoid complications. 

Any new piercing, including a nose piercing, requires frequent cleaning to reduce the risk of infection and encourage healing. Here's a guide on how to care for a new nose piercing. 

Nose piercing aftercare

If you've just gotten a nose piercing, you'll have to take extra care of it while it heals over the next three to six months.

Following aftercare guidelines can help you avoid infections, which occur in about 20% of cases, says Gabe Gajate, a senior piercer with Inkahollik Tattoos and Piercing. 

Here are some general guidelines about what you should and should not do: 

Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing. 

Rinse your piercing at least twice a day with a packaged sterile saline solution labeled for wound wash. Do not use contact lens saline, eye drops, or other saline products.

Refrain from touching your piercing, especially with unclean hands.

Try not to sleep on the side of your nose where your piercing is while it heals. Pressure from sleeping on the piercing can make it swell. 

Avoid makeup in the area for at least two weeks, Gajate says. Trying to apply makeup on or around the piercing can irritate the tissue surrounding the piercing.

Do not expose your new piercing to pool,beach, or hot tub water for about two weeks, Gataje says. These bodies of water can harbor bacteria that may cause an infection. 

You should follow these instructions throughout the entire healing process, which can take between three and six months, says Jef Saunders, a piercer and public relations coordinator for the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). 

How to clean a nose piercing

Keeping your nose piercing clean can help reduce the risk of complications, like infections, and help it heal more quickly. Aim to clean your piercing two to three times a day.

Here is how to clean a nose piercing:

Always start by washing your hands. "Touching with unclean hands is a surefire way to introduce bacteria which can result in problems like infections," Saunders says.

With the piercing still in your nose, spray a 09% sodium chloride saline solution directly on the piercing. You can also saturate a piece of gauze to clean the jewelry, Saunders says. 

Gently pat dry your piercing with a disposable paper product, like a paper towel. Cloth towels can carry bacteria and are more likely to snag on the jewelry, which may result in tugging and irritating the piercing.

You do not need to rotate the jewelry to clean it, and in fact, you should refrain from doing so, Gataje says. Rotating the jewelry can irritate the wound and interfere with the healing process. Spinning the jewelry can also cause it to loosen and fall out, which can then result in the piercing closing up, Saunders says. 

Note: Some people may try to mix their own sea salt solution, but professional piercers recommend against this because it can result in the solution being too salty, which can dry out the piercing and slow down the healing process. 

It's normal to experience some bleeding, pain, tenderness, swelling, and discharge for about one to two weeks after getting your nose pierced. 

Changing the shape of the jewelry from a stud to a ring or hoop-style piece of jewelry should only be done once the piercing has completely healed, which takes about six months or longer.

Saunders recommends consulting with a piercer before trying to change the jewelry on your own. The piercing needs to be completely healed before changing the jewelry and an expert piercer can evaluate whether or not the tissue is ready for this step. 

Insider's takeaway

A nose piercing can take three to six months to heal and it's important that you clean it regularly and properly for that entire period. Otherwise, you risk a longer healing time, or worse, an uncomfortable infection.

Clean your piercing at least twice a day with a saline solution labeled for wound wash. Always wash your hands before touching your piercing to reduce the risk of infection and consult with a professional piercer before trying to change the jewelry in your new piercing.  

---