How To Clean Your Nose Piercing With Spray

I have such a vivid memory of getting my nose pierced on my 15th birthday. Like, I remember exactly what I was wearing (low-rise flare jeans and a pink tube top) as I basically ~strutted~ out of the tattoo shop with my shiny little stud. You know what else I remember? How f*cking painful it was to heal. Between the constant irritation, redness, and swelling, it wasn’t exactly a shocker when I eventually let it close up.

But since those piercings will always have a special place in my heart—and TBH, my nose—I decided to chat with a legit professional to find out exactly how to clean a nose piercing so it heals beautifully, so you can live the piercing dream I couldn’t (sigh). Ahead, the best tips and tricks for taking care of your piercing.

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Here’s the good news: Even though a nose piercing takes a while to heal (more on that in a sec), you really only need to clean it a few times each day. “I recommend doing a saline rinse twice a day—on the inside and the outside of your nose, ” says Ava Lorusso, professional piercer at Studs in NYC. “Healing isn’t something that can be rushed, and overcleaning can actually lead to irritation and a longer healing process.” Got that, folks? Once in the morning, once at night—nothing less, nothing more.

Nose Piercing: Types, Aftercare, Risks & More

The only thing you’ll want to look out for while you’re cleaning is any irritation or bumps, says Lorusso, which—although common—might be a sign of infection. When in doubt (or in pain), book an appointment with a dermatologist or head back to your piercer to get a second set of eyes before you do anything. And in the meantime, keep up with your twice-daily cleanings. These saline sprays and mild soaps (read: no fragrances or harsh detergents) are great to have on hand:

Heal during the suggested four to six months, but it usually takes between nine months to one year until your piercing is healed and ready for new jewelry, ” says Lorusso. Keep in mind that nose piercings don’t heal identically to ear piercings because they’re way more susceptible to makeup and skincare products (and any other junk you slather on your face every day).

. “Nose hoops are very hard to clean thoroughly and they rarely heal efficiently, ” says Lorusso. “Nostril piercings are also especially prone to piercing bumps, so keeping a stud in for the full duration of healing is a great way to avoid complications down the line.”

What Is Piercing Spray (and Where Can I Buy It)?

Remember: This piercing is on your face (!!!), so you’ll want to take extra care and make sure it’s totally healed before you swap in new jewelry (Lorusso even suggests waiting an extra month or two for good measure). And when you

Ready for new jewelry, it’s always a good idea to have a professional piercer help you out. “Nose piercings are particularly sensitive, so any jewelry change can cause swelling, irritation, and scarring, ” says Lorusso. “The best way to avoid any problems is to see your local body piercer.”

Say it with me: Saline spray twice a day. That’s all you need to safely clean your nose piercing. And as with any piercing, remember that the healing process takes time—so even though you might be trying to swap in new jewelry or try out a hoop ASAP, do yourself (and your nose) a favor and hold off for at least a year.

Care Instructions After Nose Piercing

Ruby was the beauty editor at , where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram.

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Part of the reason for this conflicting information is because everyone heals differently. While one person may experience an easy healing process with their new septum piercing, another might have a difficult time. The fact of the matter is that one healing practice doesn’t fit all, and in the end, you’ll have to figure out what works best for you.

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One universal truth about piercing aftercare is that you must keep your piercing clean and many piercers recommend using saline solutions designed specifically for piercing aftercare. However, even here you can see some conflicting information about when to use a saline spray for surface cleaning versus a saline soak.

How To Sleep With A Nose Piercing

With so much information floating around about piercing aftercare, it’s hard to know when you should opt for which one. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a handy little guide. Here’s what you need to know about the difference between saline soaks and saline sprays.

The name isn’t meant to confuse; saline soaks (also known as saline baths) are simply a bath of saline solution in which you soak your new piercing. You conduct a saline soak in a few easy steps:

Saline baths help to flush out the piercing, draw out any discharge, and stimulate circulation. This helps keep the piercing clean, inside and out, for easier healing.

Piercing Aftercare: Helping Your New Piercing Heal

Typically, you’ll want to opt for a warm saline bath. The warm water encourages blood flow in the area, bringing oxygen and other nutrients to the piercing. Colder water might offer pain relief to soothe swollen skin in the early days of healing, but blood flow is imperative for happy healing practices. Once you’ve completed your salt bath, you can put a cold compress on the new piercing for a short period of time to offer some pain relief.

Saline baths are important to clear your piercing from harmful bacteria and dead skin cells that can cause infection. In the beginning, it’s a good idea to do a soak around two times a day for any piercing type.

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Some piercing types are more susceptible to infection, such as nose and lip piercings. If your piercing is in an area that sees a lot of exposure to foreign contaminants, it’s a good idea to continue doing saline soaks throughout your healing process.

How Long Does It Take A Nose Piercing To Heal?

If you start to see signs of an infection or your piercing is having difficulties healing, you should increase your daily saline baths. This will help clean the inside of your piercing and clear away contaminants. If you’re concerned, please see a doctor. Don’t do a saline bath in lieu of medical attention.

The major difference between saline soaks and saline sprays is that sprays are intended for surface level cleaning while soaks clean the piercing inside and out. Saline sprays are designed for quick, on-the-go aftercare. The process is simple: spray the saline directly onto your piercing, and let it soak in. That’s it.

Unlike saline soaks, saline sprays don’t fully flush the piercing. This is why it’s important to do a combination of both saline sprays and soaks during the first weeks of healing in any piercing.

Can You Safely Get Rid Of A Nose Piercing Bump?

However, some piercings, like ear piercings, don’t always require saline baths throughout the healing process. After a few weeks, you can simply opt to spray the piercing 2 – 3 times daily to keep it clean.

Even for piercings that should need saline baths throughout the healing process, saline sprays are excellent for cleaning in between soaks or when your piercing gets contaminated by foreign substances while on-the-go.

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Since saline consists of just salt and water, it’s safe to let the solution soak into your skin. Because you let saline sprays soak into your skin, it’s important to find a solution that’s all-natural and free from preservatives like NeilMed NeilCleanse Piercing Aftercare.

How Long Does It Take For A Nose Piercing Bump To Go Away Using The Seasalt And Water Remedy?

E lazier with their aftercare practices. While we always recommend stringent healing habits, we know that life gets in the way, and some people struggle with discipline. If this is you, then saline sprays offer an easy aftercare solution that only takes a moment of your time.

For optimal aftercare, you should make use of both saline baths and sprays. Each has their place in the aftercare process, and they are important in their own ways. Everyone heals differently, and while one person might never conduct a saline soak in their life, someone else might find it imperative for their healing. Listen to your body, know your limits, and talk to a professional if you have any concerns surrounding your new piercing.

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Base Labs Piercing Aftercare Spray Kit