How To Clean An Infected Nose Piercing

A new nose piercing is more prone to infection. But the good thing is that an infected nose piercing is not a big challenge to deal with. Find out here some simple steps to treat the same.

If it is about nose piercings, these are extremely popular across the globe. While some people love to get a nostril piercing, there are others who wish to have a pierced septum. No matter which type you desire, these have the potential to add in more grace to your personality. This is true unless it becomes infected.

Can my nose piercings turn infected?

Yes, it is not unusual for you to experience an infection during the healing process. Do you know infections can occur in up to 30 percent of body piercing sites? And nose piercings are not an exception. In most of these cases, these infections are minor and localized to the piercing area. But if you are overlooking the problem, these infections might get severe and spread throughout the body.

How can I treat my infected nose piercings?

The answer is in prompt treatment of the infection. You need to look for a method which speed up the healing process and prevent its spread. To help you out, here are some must follow aftercare instructions. Have a look:

Step 1: Check for the level of infection:

You need to first determine if you need to see a doctor immediately or not. For those who are already dealing with severe health problems, like heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, you must seek professional assistance. It is necessary even if you have a minor infection.

For others, minor problems can be treated at the comfort of your home. But if you are dealing with symptoms like swelling, pain, foul smelling, excessive discharge, or red streaks coming from the piercing site, you need to be more careful. And in case you find any signs of severe infection including fever, disorientation, nausea, chills, or vomiting, rush to a doctor right away.

Step 2: Don't remove jewelry:

You must keep your jewelry in your nose. As the wound is intentional, for optimal healing you have to be patient. Removing the nose jewelry immediately can cause an abscess, or more pus in the area. Unless your doctor recommends, don't remove it.

Step 3: Clean carefully:

To clean your piercing site, use a mixture of mild soap and water. Simply, move the jewelry back and forth, and allow the soapy water to work around. Gently, rinse the area with clean water and make sure the soap gets washed away. Avoid usage of the harsh substances like hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or any over-the-counter ointments which might interfere with the skin's healing process.

Step 4: Soaking will help:

For faster recovery, you must soak the area in warm saline water, at least twice a day. Simply, stir a teaspoon of sea salt in a glass or cup filled with warm water. Now soak a clean cotton ball in this solution, squeeze out most of the excess, and press this gently over the infected area. You can hold the cotton ball for at least 5 minutes.

Step 5: Avoid scratching:

You have to be extra cautious with cleaning and rinsing of the piercing site. Make sure you use a dry, clean paper towel. Avoid contaminating your hands with more germs or you can wear disposable gloves. Reason being, it might cause severe itching. In case of itching, when you need to resist the urge to scratch, you can switch to a topical anesthetic cream. Dr. Numb can be a good choice. It comes with 5% lidocaine and is one of the best ways to desensitize your skin to keep itching and pain away. Buy it online now.

Remember, you must get the piercing done by a professional. And even after following these steps, you see no improvement visit your doctor without any delay.