Nose Piercing Infection

Body piercings, including nose piercings, may be more likely to get infected than ear lobe piercings, states the Iowa Department of Public Health. Nose piercings are at an increased risk of infection because of bacteria that occur naturally in the nostrils; however, this doesn’t mean that every nose piercing will become infected.

Cause

• Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, is a bacteria that can cause infection. It is present in the nostrils of approximately 25 to 30 percent of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This bacteria, along with others, can cause an infection in a nostril piercing.

Time Frame

• It takes a nostril piercing anywhere from two months to eight months to heal. The nasal bridge heals in approximately 8 to 10 weeks, states the Center for Young Women’s Health. For the nostril, healing takes two to four months, and the nasal septum heals within six to eight months. During this time, infection is more likely than once the nose piercing heals.

Symptoms

• An infected nose piercing will be painful. It may appear red and possibly swollen, states FamilyDoctor.org. In some cases, the piercing may begin to ooze pus or drain fluid that may be foul smelling. Immediately after you get your piercing, the area may be slightly red or pink and may hurt a little, but extreme pain and/or discoloration isn’t normal. In some cases, an allergic reaction to the jewelry can mimic the symptoms of an infection.

Prevention

• By visiting a piercing shop that is clean and follows sanitary procedures, you can minimize your risk of getting a nose piercing infection. The person who pierces your nose should wear gloves and use a single use needle or a needle that is taken out of an autoclave sanitizing device. FamilyDoctor.org states that piercing guns shouldn’t be used to do any piercings except for the ears, so if the shop you visit gets a piercing gun to pierce your nose, find another shop. Additionally, you must follow the aftercare instructions provided by the person who pierces your nose. This will include regular cleanings and possibly the application of some antibacterial products.

Treatments

• A trip to the doctor is in order if you think you have an infected nose piercing. In some cases, a mild infection can be treated with compresses, over-the-counter antibiotics or soaks. Some more serious infections may require either oral or topical prescription antibiotics. Regardless of the severity of the infection, you should keep the jewelry in the piercing because it helps the infection to drain and prevent an abscess from forming.