One of the advantages of the nose piercing is that you can change the type of jewelry to match your style or mood of the moment! However, it is important to know how to proceed safely and precisely, as this type of piercing is susceptible to infection for months or even years after being pierced. Luckily, a little common sense is all you need to take care of your piercing and make sure it is always well cleaned.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Remove the Old Jewel
Step 1. Wait until the hole has completely healed before changing the jewelry
For most new piercings, you have to wait a long time for the wound to heal before inserting a new piece of jewelry. If you do this too soon, you risk experiencing pain and potentially irritate and infect the site. In addition to all this, it is very likely that the healing times will dilate even more.
- Although every piercing is different, most new nose piercings need at least a month to heal and to endure a risk-free jewelry change. In general, however, people prefer to wait even longer (up to two months or more). As a general rule, you shouldn't change the piece of jewelry as long as you feel pain from touching it, as it means the wound hasn't healed completely yet.
- Remember that if the piercing site becomes infected, your doctor may suggest that you remove the jewelry right away. Read this article for more information.
Step 2. Wash your hands or wear sterile gloves
Hand hygiene is a key aspect of piercing removal. Human hands can carry millions of bacteria, especially when they have come into contact with objects full of microbes, such as doorknobs or raw food. To protect the hole site, which is susceptible to infection even once it heals, remember to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or a sanitizer and water.
Alternatively, you can wear a pair of sterile latex gloves (unless you are allergic to this material, in which case do not touch it). The gloves also offer the benefit of a firmer grip on the piece of jewelry inside the nostril
Step 3. Remove the bead or closure system
You are now ready to remove the jewel! To get started, you need to detach or open the mechanism that secures it to the hole. Depending on the piercing model you have placed, the closure system may vary. Most of them open intuitively, but below you can find a brief description of the nose jewelry:
- Seamless ring: it is a metal ring or circle with a slot in the center. To prepare this type of jewelry for extraction, bend the two ends in different directions to widen the gap.
- Ring closed by the bead: this jewel is similar to the previous one, but it is equipped with a bead that closes the opening. To remove it you have to pull the ends in opposite directions, the bead will eventually come off the ring. Generally beginners find it difficult to remove this jewel, for this reason consult a professional piercer in case of problems.
- "L" bar: in this case you are facing a classic "bar" but bent at 90 ° in the thinnest part so that it assumes an "L" shape. To remove the jewel you have to grab it by the decorative portion that is on the outside of the nose and gently pull down, until the curved part becomes visible. Remember that you may feel a little tingling when the folded part of the bar goes through the hole.
- Spiral bar: it is similar to normal bars, but the portion that enters the nose has a spiral shape, so it must be rotated when it is inserted and removed from the hole. To prepare it for extraction, gently push out the end that is inside the nose. This way the jewelry should start to slip out a bit. Then you have to turn it following the curves of the spiral as you push it out of the nose. Depending on the model, it will take two or three full rotations before removing it completely. In some cases it is useful to apply a small amount of water-based lubricant to prevent the bar from becoming blocked.
- Bone or FishtailThese types of jewelry are shaped like miniature "sticks" or "stakes" with beads or other clips at the ends. The central body can be straight or curved. Although some models come with removable clasps, most are made from a single block, which means that it is one of the most difficult pieces of jewelry to take off. To prepare it for extraction, press a finger or thumb on the end of the stick inside the nose and push so that the jewel protrudes slightly outside.
Step 4. Carefully slide the jewelry out of the nose
When the piercing is ready to be pulled out, the next steps are usually a trifle. Gently pull the jewelry through the hole slowly and at a steady pace. If it is a curved model, follow its conformation and change the extraction angle to accommodate it.
- In some cases it may be easier to insert a finger into the nostril and guide the inner portion of the jewel outwards. If so, don't be ashamed to do it; It will probably look like you are picking your nose, but if you do this in a place with some privacy, you will save yourself from unnecessary inconvenience.
- If you have a "bone" piece of jewelry without a removable clasp, you will need to pull it harder than other models. Try to pull it out with a firm but gentle motion. Be prepared for some pain, as the inner bead has to go through the hole. Don't worry if some blood comes out, especially if this is your first time taking the jewelry off. Remember to clean the piercing area well in case this happens (for more details on cleaning read the rest of the article).
Step 5. Clean your nose with an antibacterial solution
Once the jewel is extracted, store it in a safe place so as not to lose the small components. Then use a cotton swab to clean "both" sides of the hole with an antibacterial solution. This kills the bacteria that are on the surrounding skin and reduces the risk of infections. As for the cleaning solution, there are many options available to you. Below is a list of examples, but read the next section for more details:
- Saline solution (water and salt);
- Denatured alcohol;
- Skin disinfectant;
- Antibacterial ointment.
Part 2 of 3: Cleaning the Piercing
Step 1. Use the saline solution to clean the jewelry
After removing it, you have two cleaning tasks: cleaning the "old" jewel and disinfecting the new one before inserting it. For convenience, you should use the same method for both. The first choice solution is plain salt water. This product is very inexpensive and simple to make at home, although it does take some time.
- To make the saline solution, heat 480ml of water in a small saucepan. When it starts to boil, add 2 g of salt and stir until completely dissolved. Keep boiling the water for 5 minutes to kill any microorganisms inside it.
- To proceed, pour the saline solution into two separate clean containers and place the old and new jewelry respectively. Let them both soak for 5-10 minutes.
Step 2. Rub the piercings with alcohol
Another good solution to kill bacteria on jewelry is denatured alcohol, which is readily available in all supermarkets at an affordable price. In this case, just pour a little liquid into a small container, dip a cotton swab and use the latter to scrub the jewelry thoroughly.
Let the new piece of jewelry dry on a sheet of kitchen paper before inserting it into the hole. Denatured alcohol "burns" if it comes into contact with the piercing (although it does not cause any serious harm)
Step 3. Use a skin cleanser or antiseptic liquid
These products (such as Lysoform Medical and other benzalkonium chloride-based disinfectants) are perfect for cleaning nose piercings. Not only do they kill dangerous bacteria, they are also simple to use; just moisten a cloth or cotton swab with disinfectant and then rub the jewel. At this point you just have to wait for it to dry before inserting it into the hole.
Another advantage of skin disinfectants is represented by the fact that they are able to slightly soothe the pain related to the first change of the jewel; for this reason do not be afraid to apply the liquid also on the nose itself
Step 4. Consider applying an antibiotic ointment
If you have an antibacterial cream or ointment in your medicine cabinet, you should use it in combination with one of the solutions described above. In this case, spread a small amount on both jewels, taking care to cover especially the portion that enters the nose. The active ingredient in these ointments is usually polymyxin B or bacitracin.
- Know that the use of antibiotic ointments on piercings is a hot topic; While they are perfect for killing bacteria, there is evidence that they slow down the wound healing process in some way.
- Remember that some individuals are allergic to common antibiotic creams. If you notice swelling or pain in the jewelry insertion area after applying the medication, remove the piercing and stop using the ointment. If the problem persists, call your doctor.
Part 3 of 3: Insert the New Jewel
Step 1. Gently slide the pointed end of the jewel into the hole
Once the new piercing has been sterilized, its insertion is quite simple. Remove the clasp or bead that secures it and gently insert the thinnest portion of the jewelry into the hole.
- If you have a septum piercing (the "middle" portion of the nose), you will need to insert the jewelry through one nostril. If, on the other hand, you have the classic piercing on the side of the nostril, you will have to insert it starting from the outside.
- Reminder: Remember to wash your hands or wear gloves before handling or touching the sterilized jewelry.
Step 2. Feel for the end that "pops out" on the other side of the hole
To help the jewel go through the piercing, insert a finger in the nose at the exit hole of the jewel, while with the other hand you push it through the skin. In this way you can perceive and correct the angle of insertion; when the tip of the jewel "pricks" the finger, the hole has been completely crossed.
Step 3. As the body of the jewel passes through the hole, follow its curves
Keep pushing it using both hands to guide it and change its direction as needed. If it is a curved piece of jewelry, rotate it gently or turn it so that the angled portions also enter the hole without causing unnecessary pain.
Step 4. Close the jewel with its bead, clamp or fastening system
Once the piercing has been fully inserted into the hole, the last thing you have to do is close it so it doesn't come out. Depending on the model you have chosen, the locking technique varies, just like the extraction technique described in the previous sections. Below you will find the instructions for closing several very common jewels for nose piercings:
- Seamless ring: Simply bend the two ends of the ring to align them inside the nose and close the ring securely.
- Ring closed by the bead: Bend the ends of the ring to fit inside the fixing bead. As already stated above, this is a bit of a complicated piece of jewelry for beginners, so it would be better to ask for the help of a professional in case of problems.
- "L" bar: Insert the narrow end into the hole. The decorative part should be above the hole if you want the "L" portion to point up into the nostril or under the piercing if you want the opposite to happen. Push the jewel until the curve reaches the opening of the hole, then change the angle of insertion so that the bar goes through the nostril (pull it down if at first you put the decorative part up or vice versa).
- Spiral bar: put the tip of the bar in the hole. Place your thumb or finger against the inner wall of the hole to guide the jewelry. At this point, push the bar by rotating it clockwise until you feel the tip hitting your finger inside the nostril. If necessary, keep turning the jewelry until the flat part rests on the outside of the nostril.
- Bone and Fishtail: as already stated, this kind of jewelry is comfortable to wear in the long term, but rather difficult to take off and put on. To insert bone or fishtail jewelry, start by placing the bump on the outside of the hole. Place your thumb or finger inside the nostril to provide support to the skin and push the jewelry until you feel it sticking out the other side. Don't be scared if you experience some pain during the procedure.
Step 5. Clean your nose one more time
When the jewelry is in place inside the nose, you can congratulate yourself on changing the piercing! Now get the job done by once again cleaning the hole site with an antiseptic to prevent bacterial infections from developing. Apply warm soapy water, an antibacterial sanitizer or one of the cleaning solutions described above both on the outside and inside of the jewel.
Step 6. If you experience severe pain or severe bleeding, go to a professional piercier
Inserting new jewelry can cause some discomfort, but it shouldn't be painful or cause heavy bleeding. If you show any of these symptoms or the skin around the jewelry appears red, inflamed and / or irritated, then the hole may not have had time to heal or an infection has developed. Either way, go to a reputable piercer to figure out the problem. If the situation does not improve in a short time, see your doctor.
Advice
- Don't buy jewelry made from cheap metal; these materials could cause unpleasant allergic reactions.
- In most piercing studios, lotions are sold to heal the hole. Although not essential, these products represent an extra scruple in the process of cleaning the nose ring.
- Another good antiseptic is benzalkonium chloride (available in most drugstores without a prescription).
