How to Remove Swelling Around Your Nose Piercing

Swelling around a new nose piercing is quite normal and can occur for several reasons. It may be due to accidentally touching the piercing, brushing against it while changing clothes, or even pressure from resting on the piercing while sleeping. In most cases, these swellings will disappear within a few days. However, to help speed up the healing process, you can treat the swollen area with products suggested by your piercer, such as sea salt or natural remedies like baking soda. In rare cases, swelling could indicate an infection, and if this happens, it’s best to consult your piercer or a doctor for proper treatment advice.

Using Anti-Inflammatory Medications. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce swelling around the nose, which may lead to a swelling bump at the piercing site. This method is often effective for swellings caused by piercings and other minor injuries. If the swelling doesn’t subside, you could try other medications, such as ibuprofen.

• Be sure to consult with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re currently taking prescribed medications to ensure that over-the-counter drugs won’t interfere with your current treatment.

Soak with saltwater regularly. After getting your piercing, the piercer will usually provide you with a bottle of saline solution. If not, you can make it yourself by mixing 1/8 teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water. Soak the piercing regularly to reduce swelling and eliminate any bumps.

• Mix sea salt into a cup of water. Tilt your head to one side and dip the pierced side of your nose into the saline solution. Hold it there for 15 to 20 minutes. For more comfort, you can also soak a cotton ball in the sea salt solution and apply it to the swollen area of your piercing for 15 to 20 minutes.

Use cortisone cream. You can purchase cortisone cream at most pharmacies. This cream helps reduce swelling and prevents the formation of bumps around the piercing site. Apply it to the skin surrounding your nose piercing to reduce inflammation.

• Be sure to read the directions on the cream for proper application.

Use aspirin. Add water to an aspirin tablet until it dissolves into a thick paste. Apply this paste to the swollen area of your nose piercing every night, leaving it on overnight, and wash it off in the morning.

• Before and after applying the aspirin paste, clean your nose piercing as usual.
• The strength of the aspirin is not crucial, but a stronger paste may yield better results.

Apply chamomile tea compress. Drop a chamomile tea bag into warm water until it becomes slightly damp. Then, press the tea bag onto the swollen area of your nose piercing for about 10 minutes. Once the tea bag cools down, dip it back into warm water and reapply it to the swelling.

Use tea tree oil. Be cautious not to apply tea tree oil directly to your skin, as it may cause a rash or irritation. Instead, mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a small amount of carrier oil, such as olive oil. Then, dip a cotton ball into the mixture and gently apply it around the swollen area to reduce inflammation.

• Some individuals may be sensitive to tea tree oil, so discontinue use if you experience a rash or any other adverse reactions.

Use baking soda as an exfoliant. With its gritty texture, baking soda can serve as an exfoliant to help reduce swelling and irritation around your nose piercing. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a little water to form a thick paste. Apply this paste to your piercing area and rinse it off with warm water afterward.

Recognize the signs of infection. If you suspect an infection, it's essential to see a doctor or contact your piercer. Your nose piercing may be infected if you notice the following symptoms:

• A bump near the piercing site that resembles a pimple and is discharging pus
• A soft pink bump
• A hard, painful swelling

Consult a professional for treatment or draining the bump. Many people attempt to drain the swollen area themselves with a needle or similar tool. However, self-draining can worsen an infection. If the bump needs to be drained, it's best to see a doctor for proper treatment.

Do not remove the nose ring. If your piercing gets infected, you might instinctively think that removing the ring is the best solution. However, in most cases, infections can be treated while the ring is still in place. Removing it can actually increase the risk of scarring or make the infection worse.