Signs of Infected Nose Piercing, How to Clean, Heal & Home Treatment

An infected nose piercing is a condition where the pierced area of the nose is attacked by infections which are usually caused by bacteria. A nose bump may be one of the signs and symptoms of the infection. Here are pictures and how to clean and heal an infected nose piercing.

The bacteria attack the nose when a person does not maintain cleanliness of the piercing and when unsterilized materials are used in the piercing process. To avoid an infection in the piercing, one has to clean the place twice a day. It is important to know the symptoms of the condition so that one can seek early treatment and use of remedies to get rid of the condition.

Infected nose piercing

Infected nose piercing is a condition where the pierced region of the nose is attacked by infections usually caused by bacteria. Bacteria get to the pierced region if a person has a habit of touching the region with dirty hands, use of unsterilized equipment to do the piercing and poor personal hygiene. Below are some of the ways one can avoid infecting the piercing with bacteria:

1. Regular change of bed sheets because they come in contact with the piercing daily.
2. Avoid public swimming pools.
3. Cleaning the piercing twice daily using saline water or an antiseptic.
4. Use water free from bacteria to bath. Use antiseptic to kill bacteria in water.

Infected nose piercing can be treated. People are supposed to know the signs of the condition so that it can be identified during its initial stages where home remedies can be used to get rid of it. In an advanced stage, use of antibiotics is advised.

Signs and symptoms of infected nose piercing

An infection in nose piercing occurs just after piercing. It may take a long time before it occurs. It is important to treat the infection during its early stages because it may affect the functioning of the nose if not treated early enough. It is therefore important to know the signs and symptoms of an infected nose piercing. Below are some of the symptoms:

1. The piercing becomes red and tender for more than two weeks.
2. Swelling of the nose longer than expected.
3. Increased amount of green or yellow discharge from the pierced area after a week of piercing.
4. Formation of lots of crusts on the pierced region.
5. The pierced place taking longer time to heal.

How to know an infected nose piercing

To ensure that infected nose piercing does not bring complications in the functioning of the nose, it is important to treat it during its initial stages. Below are some of the indications that one is suffering from an infected nose piercing:

1. Discharge from the pierced site which lasts for more than a week from the day of piercing.
2. The pierced part becomes red and swells for a longer period than the normal one week.
3. Bleeding in an old piercing is also an indication of infected nose piercing.
4. Fever, nausea and chills. This may be an indication that bacteria have infected the part to a bad extend that the whole body is affected.
5. Pain and aching in the piercing which lasts longer than usual. Normal pain should end within a week.

Bumps on nose piercing

It is a swelling that may develop either a few days or after months of piercing of the nose. It is normal for the bump to develop a few days after piercing but if it does not disappear after two weeks, it becomes an indication of an infection.

It is mainly caused by trauma on the skin caused by piercing before it heals completely. It is more evident in people who have keloids. Keloids are a condition characterized by abnormal growth of skin fibrous tissues as a result of trauma.

Causes of bumps on nose piercing

Bumps on nose piercing are mainly caused by trauma on the skin during and after piercing.  They appear few days after piercing or take a longer time to appear. Below are some of the causes:

1. Lack of experience and poor piercing techniques

Lack of proper piercing skills and use of unsterilized equipment are the major cause of bumps on nose piercing. Lack of skills may make the piercer to pierce the part of the nose that is very sensitive. The sensitivity will cause bumps to form. Use of unsterilized equipment may transfer bacteria to the pierced area leading to formation of bumps.

2. Allergic reactions to the jewelry

Because the jewelry is in direct contact with the skin, it should be chosen with care. Some are rough and may cause trauma on the skin and give rise to bumps. Some jewelry are made of nickel may cause the body’s immune system to overreact by producing lots of white blood cells to the pierced region causing bumps to appear.

3. Poor personal hygiene

Touching the piercing with dirty hands may infect it with bacteria which may lead to formation of bumps. The piercing should be kept clean by using saline water to clean it twice in a day. Any material that may come in contact with the piercing should also be clean.

4. Changing of jewelry before piercing heals

Changing of jewelry may cause trauma on the piercing which can give rise to bumps. It may also distort the healing process making it to start afresh by removing the outer skin of the piercing.

How to get rid of bumps on nose piercing    

As explained above, a bump on nose piercing may arise as a result of poor hygiene, allergic reaction and poor piercing techniques. The bump can be prevented and treated using the below explained ways:

1. Aspirin paste to reduce inflammation

Aspirin reduces itchiness caused by bumps because of their anti-inflammatory properties. They also increase blood circulation to the bump thus reducing the healing period. To make aspirin paste, crush a tablet, add some water into the paste then stir until a paste is formed. Use a clean cotton ball to apply the paste on the bump.

2. Use of lemon juice to kill bacteria

Lemon juice has acidic properties which kills bacteria. Because a bump on nose piercing may be caused by bacterial infections, lemon juice can be used as an effective remedy. To use it, cut a lemon into pieces, squeeze out juice from the pieces, add some water to the juice then use a clean cotton wool to apply it on the bumps.

3. Keep the piercing clean

To avoid infecting the piercing with bacteria and pathogens which may cause bumps to appear, keep the piercing clean. This can be done by washing it twice daily using saline water or antiseptic.

How to clean an infected nose piercing, aftercare

An infected nose piercing is a complicated condition that requires careful handling because the nose is a delicate organ performing an important task of warming and trapping dust from the air we breathe.

An infection in the nose should therefore be handled with care to reduce the healing period and avoid migration. When cleaning an infected nose piercing, avoid antiseptics with hard chemicals because they may cause irritation on the infected area. The chemicals include: alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and tea tree oil. Below steps to clean an infected nose piercing:

1. Clean your hands

Cleaning of the hands must be the first step because hands are capable of transferring more bacteria and pathogens to the infected nose, the hands should therefore be cleaned thoroughly using antiseptic and clean water. Any chemical substances should not be used to clean the hands because some chemicals may cause damage to the infected area.

2. Prepare a salt or antiseptic solution

Dissolve a quarter teaspoon of sea salt in a cup of water. The salt should be non-iodized. The solution will be used to clean the infected area because it kills bacteria which cause the infections. An antiseptic solution which functions just like salt solution can be prepared by adding bacterial soap solution in water.

3. Use clean cotton or sterile gauze to dab the area.

Soak a clean cotton swab or sterile gauze in the antiseptic or solution then rub it around the infected part gently to soften dried discharge, blood and debris. This is to ensure that no bleeding will occur once they are removed.

4. Remove softened debris, discharge and crusting

After softening debris and discharge in the infected part, remove them gently from the infected part. Ensure that no blood oozes while removing crusting. This should be done both in the inner and outer surface of the nose. After this process, rinse the part with clean warm water to remove salt and soup remains from the infected part.

5. Dry the infected area

Pat the infected area dry using a clean paper towel. Do not use towel made from cotton to dry the area because they might pull the ring and cause bleeding. They may also leave behind some cotton materials in the infected part.

Home remedies to get rid of infection in nose piercing

An infection in nose piercing is a manageable condition using home available products. This is because it is majorly caused by bacteria due to dirty piercing tools and others. Below are some of the home remedies to get rid of infection in nose piercing:

1. Tea tree oil and virgin coconut oil for aftercare

Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties; it is therefore effective in healing bacterial infections associated with nose piercing. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory on the affected area by reducing the redness of the infected part.  Below are the steps to be followed when using tea tree oil to get rid of infection in nose piercing:

• Soak a clean cotton wool in a few drops of tea tree oil.
• Use the wet cotton wool to gently rub around the infected area.

Virgin coconut oil can be mixed with tea tree oil and be applied around the infected area using the steps above. Virgin coconut oil acts as a skin moisturizer therefore prevents skin from drying. For better performance, this steps should be repeated twice or thrice in a day.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar to get rid of irritation

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid which makes it possess antibacterial properties. It is therefore used to kill bacteria which cause infections after nose piercing. It also helps to reduce the amount of pus flowing from the wound. To use apple cider vinegar as a remedy, follow the steps below:

• Mix equal amounts of unprocessed apple cider vinegar with water.
• Dip a clean cotton ball into the mixture.
• Use the wet cotton ball to rub around the infected part.

Some people have sensitive skin which may itch after using the above steps. To avoid the itchiness, dilute the apple cider vinegar mixture with more water.

3. Aloe vera to speed up healing process

Aloe vera has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties make it to speed up healing process of wounds and reduce skin redness and itchiness. It speeds up the healing process by activating the skin to produce collagen which makes the skin to look better and nourished. To use aloe vera to get rid of infections in nose piercing, follow the step below:

• Apply aloe vera gel to the infected part using clean cotton.

This remedy can be used two to three times in a day until the infection is completely healed.

4. Chamomile tea compress to heal wounds faster

Chamomile has properties to help reduce skin inflammation, heal skin infections and help wounds to heal much quicker. Studies have also revealed that it helps healing wounds to heal much quicker than corticosteroids and medicated skin creams.  To use this remedy, follow the steps below:

• Put one chamomile tea bag in a cup of hot water.
• Wait until the water becomes warm then squeeze out some water from the tea bag.
• Put the bag on the infected part and compress until the bag cools.

The above steps can be repeated twice to thrice in a day. Chamomile can also be used in the form of essential oil and mixed with virgin coconut oil. This forms an antibacterial ointment which can be applied on the affected area to kill bacteria.

5. Saline solution to speed up healing

A saline solution like sea water can help to soften any discharge from the infected nose. It is also effective in killing bacteria which causes infections and helps to heal the wound much faster by drawing pus and any other discharge from the wound through osmosis process. To use saline solution as a remedy to get rid of infection in nose piercing follow the steps below:

• Dissolve a quarter tablespoon of sea salt in a cup of warm water.
• Soak a cotton ball in the solution.
• Use the ball to compress on the affected area for few minutes.
• Rinse the area with warm water and dry it.

Using warm water helps to increase blood circulation to the infected area therefore speeding up healing process. This process can be repeated two to three times in a day until the infection is gone.

Treatment for infected nose piercing

Infected nose piercing is a manageable condition if it is discovered early enough by the victim. When the infection is in an advanced stage, use of antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Augmentin is recommended.

Use of antibiotics to treat infected nose piercing

When infected nose piercing is in an advanced stage, it is recommended to use antibiotics to cure it by killing bacteria and pathogens that cause it. Below are the antibiotics used:

 1. Amoxicillin

It is a penicillin antibiotic used to kill bacteria. It is mostly used to treat diseases caused by bacteria. Such diseases include: pneumonia, bronchitis and gonorrhea. The drug should be taken at the same time daily without failure. It should be taken one hour after a meal.

Side effects of amoxicillin

Some people are allergic to amoxicillin or any penicillin drug. The effects of this drug on such people include: stomach pains, swollen tongue, headache and diarrhea.

2.  Augmentin

Just like Amoxicillin, Augmentin is also a penicillin antibiotic. It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They include: unitary tract infections, bronchitis and infections of the skin.

Side effects of Augmentin

Just like amoxicillin, Augmentin also has effects on people who are allergic to it. The effects include: watery diarrhea, weak muscles, pale skin, dark colored urine and unusual thoughts and behavior.

Sources and references

1. Heal cure:
2. Health & fitness: .
3. Disease pictures:
4. com: .