How to Clean a Nose Piercing Correctly, According to Dermatologists (2024)

From delicate stud nostril piercings to ornate hoop septum piercings, nose piercings are more popular than ever, thanks to celebs like FKA Twigs, Florence Pugh, and Rihanna. But whether you've had experience with body piercings before or are going under the needle for the first time, caring for a nose piercing might be a bit different than what you expected.

It may seem obvious that a new nose piercing requires frequent cleanings to help keep irritants out of the hole and prevent infection—but the aftercare doesn’t stop there. You’ll need to keep an eye out for possible side effects and ensure that the jewelry placed in the piercing remains in good condition. To assist in your piercing healing process, we spoke with dermatologists Rachel Nazarian, MD, and Azadeh Shirazi, MD, as well as fine jewelry expert Maria Tash, to get their tips on how to clean your nose piercing and when to head to a doctor for treatment if things aren't healing properly. Keep reading to learn what else you need to know to ensure proper care for your new nose piercing.

The Importance of Nose Piercing Aftercare

Like a tattoo, a nose piercing is an open wound requiring safe aftercare. The risks for nose piercings are even greater thanks to their location between your upper lip and eyebrows. Because the veins in this area are connected to your sinus cavity, any problems could be serious. Common issues that stem from improper aftercare include bleeding, loose jewelry, scarring, oran infection.

"The greatest concern following a nose piercing is to minimize any chance of infection. Infection can lead to scarring and even jeopardize your overall health—and many infections prevent continued use of your piercing," says Nazarian.

To ensure the healing process goes as smoothly as possible, wash your hands before touching your piercing or jewelry. Don't soak your piercing in water (other than a saline solution) until it fully healed. This means avoiding swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, and baths during healing.

According to Nazarian, nasal piercings take about 90 days on average to heal, but the first few weeks are when the most significant risk of infection happens. No matter how long you wait, replace any removed jewelry quickly because all piercings can close up without jewelry, even if they're fully healed. Shirazi adds, "The nose area varies from person to person but generally takes longer than other sites.Typically healing time is 3-6 months, although some may heal as quickly as 6 weeks, depending on the thickness of your tissue."

How to Safely Clean a Nose Piercing

• Always use clean hands whenever touching your piercing."The nose is filled with a high volume of bacteria, and infections are common in this area, so don't manipulate the piercing within the first two to three weeks," notes Nazarian.
• Use saline or saltwater solutions."Clean the area of the piercing twice a day with saline or salt water solution, which prevents infection by preventing the growth of bacteria and is a gentle way to clean a new piercing," advises Nazarian. Shirazi also recommends "SkinSmart Antimicrobial Spray Piercing & Tattoo Aftercare for Rapid Recovery ($17), formulated with hypochlorous acid, which is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. It’s easy to use twice daily."
• Avoid using a cotton swab or round as the fibers can get caught in the piercing."Apply a saline wipe to both the inside and outside of the piercing. After five minutes, gently wipe away any visual discharge or softened crusting with the edge of the saline wipe or a piece of gauze," Tash adds.
• Clean your nose piercing twice a day, every day until the healing process is complete.(Again, this can take several months.) During this time, cleaning both inside and outside the nostril is important. "Try not to blow your nose during the healing time unless after cleaning said piercing or in the shower," says Tash.
• Keep the jewelry clean.Wash the metal lightly with mild or gentle soap daily (the best time is during a shower) to remove any bacteria or crust around the jewelry.

Stud vs Hoops

If you're wondering whether the aftercare differs for a hoop versus a stud piercing, Tash says it's the same. "A ring takes a bit longer to heal because it is more likely to get hit or moved by outside factors (towels, clothing, rolling over while sleeping, etc.)."

What to Do If You Have a Bump

Piercing bumps are fairly common and are usually the result of poor cleaning habits. In most cases, these bumps are the result of mild infections around the piercing site, which only emphasizes the importance of effective cleansing. These small infections can come from inappropriate aftercare products, dirty piercing tools, allergic reactions to jewelry, and more. However, bumps around your piercing can also be keloids or thicker, raised scars that tend to develop near the puncture area.

The best way to avoid bumps is to follow the steps above and cleanse the piercing site thoroughly, according to our experts.

When to See a Doctor

"Make sure to contact your physician if the area has increasing or worsening redness, tenderness, crusting, or draining. The surrounding skin area might be slightly pink following the piercing, but not exquisitely painful or tender," says Nazarian.