How to Clean a Nose Piercing

Clean your nose piercing twice daily. You should clean your nose piercing twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening—until it’s fully healed. Cleaning too infrequently can cause the piercing to become dirty and infected, while overcleaning may lead to irritation and slow down the healing process.

Prepare a saline solution. The simplest way to clean your nose piercing is by using a saline solution. To make your own, dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into 240 ml (1 cup) of warm water. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-packaged, sterile saline solution from a pharmacy.

Wash your hands. Before touching your nose piercing, it’s crucial to wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Otherwise, bacteria from your hands can come in contact with the piercing (which is essentially an open wound) and lead to infection.

Dip a cotton ball in the saline solution. Take a clean cotton ball and dip it into the saline solution. Gently press the cotton ball onto your nose piercing and hold it there for 3-4 minutes. Be careful when removing the cotton ball, as it may get caught on the jewelry or stud.

Pat dry with a clean tissue. After cleaning, use a clean cotton ball, wet wipe, or dry tissue to gently pat around your nose piercing to dry it. Avoid using a bath towel as it may contain bacteria and get caught on the piercing or stud.

Use a cotton swab to remove crusts. You should also clean the underside of your nose piercing to remove any skin crusts. If not removed, these crusts can cause skin tears and lead to an inflamed piercing hole.

• This step can be done by dipping a clean cotton swab into the saline solution and gently rubbing it around the back of the stud or jewelry inside the nostril.
• Don’t scrub too hard to avoid pushing the stud out of place.

Use a little lavender essential oil to help your piercing heal faster. Lavender oil lubricates the nose piercing, reduces pain, and promotes faster healing. After cleaning your piercing, you can apply a small amount of lavender essential oil using a cotton swab.

• Twist the stud or rotate the jewelry so the oil reaches the piercing hole, then use a clean tissue to wipe away excess oil to avoid skin irritation.
• Lavender essential oil is available at health food stores, supermarkets, or pharmacies. Be sure the bottle is labeled "BP" or "pharmaceutical grade" for safety.

Avoid using strong antiseptics. It’s not recommended to use harsh antiseptics like Bactine, Bacitracin, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or tea tree oil to clean your nose piercing, as they can irritate the skin and/or cause damage, slowing down the healing process.

Avoid covering your nose piercing with makeup. Don’t allow makeup products to come in contact with your nose piercing, as this can cause blockages and lead to infection. The same goes for tanning lotions and other cosmetic products.

Don’t remove your nose jewelry until the piercing is fully healed. The piercing hole can begin to close within hours if you remove the jewelry.

• Trying to reinsert the stud into the hole after it starts to close can cause pain, swelling, and infection.
• Therefore, you should avoid removing the jewelry from your piercing until it has completely healed (usually taking 12-24 weeks).

Avoid hot tubs, soaking in hot water, or swimming pools. Steer clear of submerging your piercing in hot tubs or swimming pools, as these are often breeding grounds for harmful bacteria that can lead to infection. If necessary, you can use a waterproof bandage (available at pharmacies) to cover and protect the piercing site.

Avoid using dirty pillows while sleeping. Dirty pillows are another potential source of bacteria, so be sure to change your pillowcases regularly.

Avoid touching your nose piercing unnecessarily. Refrain from touching or playing with your nose piercing. Only touch it when cleaning the piercing, and always wash your hands first. There’s no need to twist or turn the stud/jewelry while waiting for the piercing hole to heal.