Nose Piercing

Nose piercing is the perforation of the soft cartilage surrounding the outer part of the nasal passage. An important part of Asian tradition, it has gained immense popularity at present, becoming an important fashion statement all over the world.

Nose Piercing
Nose Piercing

How to pierce your nose

Choosing a good piercing studio should be your priority. The point to be pierced is marked to ensure that the correct place is being perforated. After the piercing is done, the jewelry is clamped into the hole. Using a sterilized needle is vital as it reduces the chances of infection.

Nose piercing pros and cons

Pros

  • Piercing your left or right nostril gives you a cool, trendy look.
  • Being the commonest of all piercings, it causes little pain while involving less healing time.
  • A wide variety of cool and cute looking jewelry are available to adorn your nose.
  • You can remove the jewelry when you do not want it, without causing a scar.

Cons

  • Nose piercings go against the decorum of many offices, causing inconvenience to the wearer.
  • The ring may come out while performing daily activities.
  • There is a high chance of the hole getting infected resulting in bleeding or pain.
Nose Piercing Pictures
Nose Piercing Pictures
Nose Piercing Images
Nose Piercing Images

 

Nose piercing pain: Do nose piercings hurt?

Though the pain level varies from person to person, this piercing form does not hurt much. The pain during piercing is just like a sharp pinch that occurs on and off for a day or two. It is common to have tears in your eyes when the needle is inserted. As there are tiny nerves present in the nose region, a little bleeding may occur during piercing. However, the pain may be intensified when pierced with a gun.

Nose piercing aftercare

How to clean your nose piercing

  • The nostril should be cleaned twice a day for at least three days by forming a lather out of anti-bacterial soap and applying it gently on the pierced region during a shower. It ensures proper hygiene preventing the nose piercing to smell.
  • Wipe dry with a paper towel or you may even leave it to air dry in order to avoid any friction.
  • Keeping the piercing clean externally as well as internally avoids infection.

Other care to be taken

  • Be careful while changing, blowing your nose or sleeping.
  • Keep the pierced region free from any makeup or powder till it heals.
  • Avoid using betadine, table salt, Neosporin, Tea Tree Oil or any commercial skin care products.
  • Light jewelry like rings is preferred to studs as they help to quicken the healing process.
  • Change your pillowcase regularly as the accumulation of dirt and germs from your skin and hair may cause irritation to your piercing.

Nose piercing healing time

Though the general healing time spans between one and two months, it takes almost a year for the piercing to toughen. Swelling or bleeding in the pierced region is common during healing.  The formation of crusts or a pink color around the area or even a whitish-yellow discharge is normal. Changing jewelry too often or wearing cheap and improper jewelry prolongs the healing process. Avoid wearing fishtails and nostril screws during healing as they may cause irritation to your nose.

Nose piercing infection

Piercing with a gun or unsterilized needle, not maintaining personal hygiene or wearing tight jewelry may result in infection, causing bleeding or pain. Inflammation of the region around the hole, reddening of the skin and discharge of green or yellow smelly pus are some common symptoms of infection. In its severe form, it may even lead to fever and blood poisoning.

Nose Piercing Infection
Nose Piercing Infection

Nose piercing bump

Bumps are commonly seen on, next to or inside the pierced region after a few days or a month. Though most bumps tend to go away in a few days, the ones caused by infection are tender, pink in color, resembling a pimple, also resulting in pus formation. They may even lead to scars unless treated properly. Hypertrophic scars, one of the common forms of bumps caused by nose piercing, are pink, purple or skin colored bumps that may bleed if touched or poked. However, unlike keloids, they are not permanent.

Nose Piercing Bump
Nose Piercing Bump

Granulomas

They are overgrown tissues of the body often leading to bumps though they not harmless or infectious. Touching the area while cleaning it may cause it to bleed. Applying hot compress helps in treating granulomas.

Keloids

Keloids are a kind of raised scars formed on or around the pierced region without any fluid secretion. In case of such a condition, medical help should be sought immediately.

How to treat an infected nose piercing

In the case of an infected piercing, it is best to seek medical assistance. Compressing your nose gently with warm saline water can help to get rid of common infection and bumps. After the compression, the nose should be rinsed with warm water to prevent the salt from getting dried in the nostril.

Common home remedies for painful bumps include a solution of aspirin, chamomile tea or tea tree oil. Vitamin E oil may also help as it gets absorbed into the skin, providing relief.

However before trying any self-treatment, it is better to seek expert advice.

Nose piercing jewelry

Captive bead rings (CBRs) and L-shaped rings are a good option during the healing period. Clear nose studs are highly suitable to be worn in school, college or office where piercings are prohibited. Other variations of nostril jewelry include hoop rings, open nose rings, ball closure rings, heart shaped rings and so on. By using a retainer, you may hide your nose piercing or make it almost invisible.

Nose Piercing Hoop
Nose Piercing Hoop
Nose Piercing Retainer
Nose Piercing Retainer
Nose Piercing Ring
Nose Piercing Ring
Nose Piercing Stud
Nose Piercing Stud

If you do not desire to go through the piercing pangs, you may go for fake rings or a magnetic stud.

How much do nose piercings cost

With the price varying from one store to other, a single nose piercing costs around $45 whereas a double piercing may go up to $80.

Other types of nose piercing

Double nose piercing: This fashionable but relatively complicated piercing style has a wide range of variation. Perforations may be on both sides of the nostril, two piercings on the same side or a combination of a septum-nostril piercing with one ring in the nostril and other on the septum.

Double Nose Piercing
Double Nose Piercing

Triple nose piercing: Another unique piercing form may include three piercings on one nostril resembling a triangle or formed in a line. Moreover you may also have two piercings on one nose and the third on the other. Wearing diamond studs make this arrangement look very cute.

Triple Nose Piercing
Triple Nose Piercing

Septum or bull nose piercing: The sweet spot or the fleshy region below the nose cartilage is pierced.

Septum or Bull Nose Piercing
Septum or Bull Nose Piercing

Bridge piercing: The bridge region, running between the eyes is pierced vertically or horizontally.

Bridge Piercing
Bridge Piercing

Vertical nose tip or Rhino piercing: Being one of the most painful piercings, it begins from the cartilage running between the nostrils and goes up to the nose tip.

Vertical Nose Tip or Rhino Piercing
Vertical Nose Tip or Rhino Piercing

Nasallang piercing:  If you desire a three-in-one nose piercing then go for this one as it starts from the right nostril going through the septum and ending up to the left nostril.

Nasallang Piercing
Nasallang Piercing

High nostril piercing: This involves piercing your right or left nostril in the area where the bony structure ends.

High Nostril Piercing
High Nostril Piercing

References:

http://tattoo.about.com/od/piercingsgeneralinfo/g/pguide_nostril.htm

http://www.pacificbodyjewellery.com/aftercare/nostril_piercing_care.htm

http://www.skin-artists.com/nose-piercing-healing.htm

http://www.newhealthguide.org/Nose-Piercing-Bump.html

http://www.beautyhows.com/nose/nose-piercing/double-nose-piercing-same-side-nostril-pictures-what-is/

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