How Painful Is Nostril Piercing?
Nostril piercing pain is comparatively lesser than that of a septum piercing or ear cartilage piercing, but it all comes down to an individual’s pain tolerance. People generally feel the pinch, and the actual piercing process is over before you know it. However, nostril piercing is a needle going through cartilage over the bone of your nose, so it will hurt more than getting a piercing on softer areas like an ear lobe. Lauren, a blogger, shares her experience of getting her nose pierced in her blog. She says she wasn’t sure about getting a nose piercing a while back but she found it completely worth the pain. She adds, “It hurt as much as you would expect a needle being shoved through your nose would hurt, but it wasn’t PAINFUL. I’d give it maybe a 5/10 (i).” So once the piercing is done, how long does a nose piercing take to heal? Besides enduring the pain during piercing, you should also be aware of the healing time and process. Let us learn more about it in the next section.
Nostril Piercing Healing Time
The functions of our nostrils include passage of air, humidification, and filtration. It is an area that is exposed to the outside germs and also has bacteria inside. This is why a piercing takes about 2-4 months to heal (1). Also, the exterior of a nose piercing usually heals faster than the interior, so it is always a good idea to talk to a professional piercer before removing or changing the jewelry. However, the healing time varies from person to person depending on an individual’s health, hygiene routine, and aftercare routines. On that note, check out the next section to learn more about aftercare for your nostril piercing.
Nostril Piercing Aftercare
Follow the aftercare steps suggested by your professional piercer. This way you might be able to accelerate the recovery time of your piercing. Here are a few things you may do to ensure proper healing (2):
- Avoid Touching Try to touch your piercing as little as possible as it is very easy to infect your piercing with germs in your hand or those already present in the area. Only touch your piercing after properly washing or sanitizing your hands for cleaning.
- Clean Timely Your nose piercing needs to be washed or cleaned at least 2-3 times a day with sea salt solution to avoid the potential risk of infection. It will be even better if you soak your piercing for one minute a day in the sterile saline solution.
- Avoid Moving The Jewelry Refrain from twisting, or rotating the nose piercing jewelry as it may hamper the healing and introduce new germs into the piercing potentially leading to symptoms of infection such as redness, smelly discharge, or tenderness.
- Skip Makeup Avoid applying makeup products like foundation or primer while your piercing is still new as the chemicals used in certain products may irritate the skin around the piercing location and delay the healing process.
- Visit Your Piercer At any time if your piercing looks weird, there is a foul-smelling discharge, or your jewelry gets broken, visit your piercer to make sure everything is alright. Ensuring appropriate aftercare for nose piercings is crucial for the healing process as well as for estimating the total cost of the procedure in terms of money and time spent on maintenance. Scroll down to find how expensive these piercings are in the next section.
How Much Does A Nostril Piercing Cost?
A nostril piercing is not an expensive affair. However, it depends on your piercing location, the experience of the piercer, the studio or salon’s reputation, and the kind of jewelry that you opt for. You can get a nostril piercing for anywhere between $35-$80 in reputable piercing salons. However, if you are getting premium treatment and are sure of the salon’s quality services and hygiene, there is nothing wrong with a little splurge for safety and satisfaction. The cost of a nostril piercing naturally affects the choice of jewelry for the piercing, since personal taste and quality blend with affordability to enhance the adorned look. Scroll down to find out different types of nostril piercing jewelry.
Nostril Piercing Jewelry
The overall experience of your piercing and its healing process is significantly influenced by the type, material, and size of the chosen jewelry, as well as when you opt to remove or change it. It’s important to learn about the specifics of the major nose piercing jewelry options and assess their suitability for the piercing before making a final decision on type or material.
Types Of Jewelry
- Nose Studs Studs are a common type of nose jewelry and a go-to option for people going for their initial piercings. Twist studs are considered the best as they remain in place and are comfortable. You can add a diamond, a captive bead, or any gemstone of your choice for some sparkle.
- Hoops Hoops or simple rings are also a popular choice because they sit nicely on the nose and are appropriate for even formal settings without being too noticeable. You can also opt for faux hoops that come in a C-shape and do not fully close.
- Nostril Screws Nose screws or a fishtail are one of the toughest nose jewelry to carry in a fresh piercing. They may fall out as they are often loose or poke you with the thin wires. It is better to leave for when your piercing has healed.
Tips To Choose The Right Material And Size
When And How To Change The Jewelry
You should only change your jewelry after your piercing has fully healed as it may infect or irritate the piercing if you try to change it during the healing period. It is recommended to wait for 4-6 months before you attempt to remove your nose jewelry. Follow the steps below while changing your jewelry after it has healed- Examining the various options of nostril piercing highlights how important it is to understand the possible risks connected to this type of body modification. Scroll to the section below for more information.
Risks Of A Nostril Piercing
However popular, a nose piercing is a hole through your nose that disturbs the cells and tissues in the area and takes time to heal. Like any wound healing, there are certain risks associated with a nose piercing and some of them are given below (5):
- Pain Pain is obvious during a piercing, however, if it does not subside or the pain level increases after 2-3 days of the actual piercing, consult your piercer or medical professionals.
- Infection Infected nose piercings are common and can be tackled easily. Additionally, the nasal passage is rich in bacteria which further increases the risk of infection, which includes a runny nose.
- Scabbing Scabbing or crusting is a part of the normal healing process of a piercing. While not posing a serious health risk, it may temporarily affect the appearance of your face.
- Allergic Reactions Redness, blistering, or oozing are signs of infection that can occur if you are allergic to the jewelry material you are wearing. It is advisable to check for metal allergies and use safe material jewelry.
- Keloids Keloids or nose piercing bumps are large, protruding scars that can happen in case of improper piercing or aftercare during the healing period (6). You may also notice granulomas (small, raised bumps that can form around piercings) that are particularly common inside the nostrils. They develop around the piercing site as a result of the body’s reaction to discomfort. Alcohol-based treatments may help prevent the cellular overgrowth that otherwise may lead to granulomas. Look out for any thickening tissues and consult your doctor. What is the scientific reason for nostril piercing? While there is no concrete proof of the potential benefits of a nose piercing, it has some historical significance and religious status, and it is believed that this type of piercing on the left nostril can stimulate certain acupuncture points and help reduce menstrual pain levels. Can I go swimming with a new nostril piercing? It is not advisable to go into swimming pools with a new nostril piercing as it can increase infection risk and irritation. It may also stretch the healing time. If you are looking for more information on nostril piercings, the video below will serve as a comprehensive guide to nostril piercings with the procedure, healing, aftercare, pros and cons, and much more. Check it out!
