Gone are the days when piercing the nose before the wedding was a part of the tradition. The practice of nose piercing and wearing trendy nose jewelry has become a style statement these days. You have to get your nose pierced first if you want to be in vogue by flaunting some cool nose accessories. But as exciting as it may sound, the task is not that much fun in reality, and you may not be fortunate enough to carry your nose stud with panache. It goes wrong for some women who do not follow specific guidelines before and after undergoing the procedure. So, if you are also planning for a nose piercing, this is the right place for you. Let us talk about the most effective pre and aftercare tips for nose piercing that could help you avoid future disasters.
What Is Nose Piercing?
Nose piercing is the third most popular body piercing practice worldwide after earlobe piercing and accessories. It is a fashion statement that entails puncturing the skin or cartilage of an individual’s nose. The procedure’s primary purpose is to enable the person to wear a nose-jewel, such as a stud, a ring, or anything similar to these. The practice of nose piercing is originated from eastern and southern parts of Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and so on). Though it has primarily been associated with Indian culture and fashion, other cultures like Australian Aboriginal and Philippian Ilocano consider it part of their tradition. However, cultural diffusion and exposure have made nose piercing quite popular globally, including South America, the United States of America, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, Africa, Japan, and Europe. While nose piercing was a women’s affair in the Indian Subcontinent, men opt for it these days (1).
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Different Types Of Nose Piercing
The piercing can be done on any part of the nose, depending on the individual’s choice. Nostril piercing is the most common choice of women across the globe. However, there are various parts of the organ, which you can choose to get pierced, such as:
- Nostril piercing
- High nostril piercing
- Septum piercing
- Vertical tip piercing
- Bridge or surface piercing
- Nasallang piercing
- Septril piercing
Based on the location of the piercing and the taste of styling, nose jewelry can be of various types. Ring, loop, stud (L-bar closure / ball closure / flat backing), etc. are some of the most popular choices among them.
The Process Of Nose Piercing
Before moving on to the ways of taking the utmost care of your pierced nose, let us have a quick look at the steps that are involved in the 10-minute journey of piercing:
1. Sterilization
The piercer puts on a pair of latex gloves and sterilizes the cartilage on the part of the nose chosen to be pierced. This reduces the chances of developing infections.
2. Marking
Then, he/she marks the spot with a marker exactly where the piercing will be done.
3. Piercing
Finally, a hollow needle or a piercing gun is used to pierce the nose cartilage.
10 Best Pre And Aftercare Tips For Nose Piercing
Here are the most effective ways everybody should follow to make the most of the nose piercing procedure. We have divided them into pre and post-care tips. Keep reading.
Pre-Care Tips For Nose Piercing
Before getting your nose pierced, make sure that you take the following precautions to avoid infections:
1. Evaluate Your Decision
Think twice whether you want the piercing and are ready to maintain it. Remember that getting the nose pierced is a matter of a few minutes, but you will have it for your whole life. So, go ahead only when you are very much sure that you will be comfortable with an accessory on your nose all along while maintaining the piercing clean.
2. Find The Right Piercer
Nose piercing is not just about running to your nearest spa or salon and getting it done by anyone. A right piercer should be a trained professional with a proper license and enough experience of piercing the nose. Always look for a beautician or piercing artist whose job will make your piercing turn out well.
3. Ensure Cleanliness
Ensure that your piercing artist is following necessary safety rules and maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness while getting prepared for the task. He/she must start by putting on a pair of clean gloves. All equipment used for piercing, including the gun and needle, should be sterilized (if not disposable). The nose accessory should also be sterilized with disinfectants to avoid reactions.
The nose-jewel should not contain metals like nickel. The best materials to avoid skin sensitivity and allergic reactions are surgical-grade steel, titanium, 14-karat (or higher) gold, etc.
4. Drink Lots Of Water
The more your body will be toxin-free, the lesser your chances of developing infections after nose piercing. Hence, drink plenty of water a day before and on the day of the piercing. It will help you detoxify your body by flushing all toxins out of it.
5. Take A Painkiller
Nose piercing is over fairly quickly, and it hurts roughly 5 minutes. But if it is not being performed under anesthesia, it is advisable to take a painkiller. Though everyone’s pain threshold is different, you certainly do not want to writhe in pain and tear your skin while pierced.
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Aftercare Tips For Nose Piercing
Ok, so now you withstood the pain and got your nose pierced. What will help you flaunt your nose accessory is currently a wound, and you need to take the best care of it. The following tips will help you to heal the pain of piercing faster:
1. Maintain Sanitation
Try not to touch your wound now and then. It is even better to avoid all sorts of contact with your hands or fingertips and use only a cotton pad or q-tip for this purpose. However, you can clean your hands well with an excellent antibacterial handwash and touch it if needed.
2. Do Not Play With It
While drying, the wound will create a sensation of itching. Control all the urges to touch it or dislodge it to ease irritation. Your fingers can cause contamination, or the jewelry can cause further tearing of the wound. So, any tampering is best avoided until the wound dries.
3. Clean The Wound Daily
Clean the wound of piercing and the area around it every day while taking a shower. Make use of a cotton bud and an antibacterial liquid for this purpose. You should also clean the inner side of your nose daily with a cotton bud and some warm water.
4. Take Supplements
Use supplements rich in zinc and vitamin B as they help relieve the pain and heal the wound faster at the same time.
5. Try Home Remedies
If you have redness and swelling around the wound, massage the area with lavender oil. This will induce a soothing effect and speed up the process of healing. You can also make a paste out of turmeric powder with some hot edible oil and apply the paste around the wound. The antimicrobial properties of turmeric will keep any infection away and dry out the wound quickly. The application of gentle heat on the pierced area of the nose will also decrease your pain to a great extent.
How To Clean A Nose Piercing?
Here comes the most crucial question. Well, the wound of your nose piercing is vulnerable to infections because of its location. Hence, always follow the right way to clean it, which includes the steps mentioned below (2):
- Prepare a saline rinse by dissolving (1/4) teaspoon of sea salt in a cup of warm distilled water. Avoid strong over-the-counter antiseptics for this purpose.
- Wash both of your hands thoroughly with an excellent antibacterial hand wash or mild soap.
- Dip a fresh cotton ball into the saline solution and let it soak thoroughly in it. You can also replace the cotton ball with a bulb syringe, thick paper towel, tissue paper, or 100% pure cotton cloth.
- Clean the area gently for 3 minutes. Never rub the wound with the cotton ball.
- Repeat at least twice (more is even better) every day.
How Long Does It Take To Heal?
Your nose piercing will get cured in 8-10 days if everything goes well. However, the wound will take 2 to 4 months to heal completely, and you must follow the aftercare instructions (especially the saline rinse) meticulously during this period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How To Treat An Infected Nose Piercing?
If your piercing site becomes red, swollen, extremely painful, and starts oozing discharge, you have an infection that needs to be treated immediately. Bathe your wound in a saline solution or saltwater mix several times throughout the day, and it should subsidize automatically. However, you must get some antibiotics from a doctor in case of severe infection.
Why Have I got A Bump On My Piercing?
Nose piercing bumps are non-permanent scar tissues that several factors can cause. Some of the most common reasons behind the appearance of a bumpy lump near the piercing are – the wrong piercing instrument, wearing an infected nose ring, inadequate aftercare, bumping or jostling the piercing accidentally, etc. They usually go away after squirting saline solution continuously for a few weeks.
What To Avoid After A Nose Piercing?
Never use products containing hydrogen peroxide, neosporin, alcohol, bactine, etc. You need to clean and wash the wound lightly so that the soap does not enter the piercing hole. Also, avoid bathing in a swimming pool or sea. Finally, do not use cotton balls or q-tips to dry your piercing.
References:
- “Nose Piercing“, Wikipedia.org
- “How To Clean And Maintain A Nose Piercing And Jewelry“, Healthline.com
