Concerned About a Nose Piercing? Find Answers Here

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to Dr. Galen. Please find the below response to your query.

I'm sorry to hear about the discomfort you're experiencing with your nose piercing. It sounds like your piercing may have been irritated or possibly infected when it was pulled. Here are a few steps you can take:

Do not remove the jewelry: Even though it's painful, removing the jewelry can cause the hole to close up and trap any potential infection inside, which can lead to an abscess.

Clean the area: Use a saline solution (a pinch of sea salt in a cup of warm water) to gently clean the area around the piercing twice a day. Avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as these can be too harsh and delay healing.

Avoid touching the piercing: Try not to touch the piercing unless you're cleaning it, and always wash your hands first. The bacteria on your hands can cause an infection.

Take over-the-counter pain medication: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and inflammation.

If the redness, pain, and swelling persist, or if you notice any discharge coming from the piercing, it's important to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible, as these can be signs of an infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics. Once the piercing has fully healed and there's no sign of infection, you can then consider changing the jewelry. It's best to have this done by a professional piercer to avoid causing any further damage.

Thanks