Q&A for How to Clean Your Nose Piercing

The more informed you are as a young adult, the better your chances are that your parents will recognize that you've done your research and be open to letting you get it done. Consider visiting the website safepiercing.org or going elsewhere online to research reputable studios and your state's legal parameters on getting a piercing as a minor.

Just use some tweezers. Be careful because you don't want to pull out the piercing.

Go back to your piercer and ask them to put a clear stud in to hold the space.

No. Do not submerge your piercing in a hot tub, bath, creek, lake, pool, etc. The bacteria in the water can cause an infection. Let the piercing heal for 12-24 weeks before you submerge it in any kind of water.

No. A piercing that has not healed will close up quickly if jewelry is removed. Nose piercings are especially prone to closing or healing over. No jewelry should be removed from a new piercing overnight, and it is not recommended to remove the jewelry overnight after the healing period.

Try using a sterilized band aid for a short time. Take it off when you get out and dry it really well, and then you should be good. The band aide will act as a protective layer so your piercing doesn't get caught on anything, and should keep it free of any harmful soaps that could potentially dry it out and cause irritation.

Soak a q-tip in a saline solution, and gently put it in your nostril. Wipe the sides your nostril to clean any crusties.

No! Hand sanitizer contains alcohol, which will dry out your piercing and cause irritation.

You wash your face as you normally would, but just avoid your nose. Don't go near it, and don't get any soap or face wash in it either. You can follow up with toner and moisturizer as you normally would, but once again, take care to avoid the nose.

No, it should be healed within six months. Pay a visit to your piercer who may refer you to a doctor if the piercing is infected and isn't healing.

It shouldn't. As long as when you get out of the shower and make sure it's dry, you should be okay.

Yes, roll it in a up and down motion with the side view of the Q-tip and not the tip, so that the fluff does not get caught.

No. Make sure to be extra careful while cleaning it if's coming off, especially if it's a new piercing.

My piercer said not to. Just use the Q-tip to clean around the stud.

You should use a non-metal placeholder stud during surgery so the hole doesn't close up. However, most hospitals will let you sign a jewelry waiver and keep the stud in during your operation, if you prefer. They'll explain to you the increased risk of infection (as the stud harbors some amount of bacteria which may infect your surgical site), risk of burns (often, electrical cauterizing equipment is used in surgery, and your metal stud can conduct electricity), and the risk of injury to your nose if the jewelry accidentally gets ripped out in surgery. If you're okay with those risks, you sign a form, and the nurses will cover your piercing with a piece of tape before you go into surgery.

No, you should avoid taking your new piercing out for any amount of time.

Most likely nothing. There isn't any hard evidence proving that iodized salt disrupts the healing process in a way that non-iodized salt doesn't, although some anecdotal evidence may say otherwise. Give it a shot -- if you find it irritating or painful, then switch to non-iodized salt.

No, as long as your piercing is clean, your hands are clean with antibacterial soap when touching/cleaning it, and you don't submerge it in water. If it does get infected, either go back to the body shop (person who pierced your nose) or the doctor to get it checked out for anything that can cause issues. The best thing is to avoid touching it.

Yes. It is normal for you nose piercing to go red after two days.

Yes, a lot of people use antibacterial soap in place of the salt water solution. If it starts to feel irritated, however, discontinue the soap and go back to just the salt water.

If your piercing is new, you should clean it after breaking a sweat. If it has already healed, you can clean it when you wash your face regularly.

Try to find it. Clean it in the same solution you use to regularly clean the piercing. Also clean your nostril (inside and out) with the solution. Wash your hands and then try putting the stud/ring back in, but don't force it. If it is painful and feeling blocked, it has probably already started the healing process. You may have to get it re-pierced after it heals (provided there's no scar tissue) or maybe just get the other side pierced.

If you mean iodized table salt, then no. Use sea salt, which is non-iodized.

Sometimes, but not all the time. There are special solutions you can use to help clean the piercing.

If it was bleeding, or it starts to hurt, go back to your piercer and tell them to be sure it doesn't affect anything inside your nose.

It's best if you shower first, then clean it, just in case there is shampoo or soap in the piercing.

No this is a healing stage. Wait three weeks to officially remove the stud.

Yes, just do so gently and don't press down on the band-aid too hard.

Yes, it's better than table salt. It may be recommended by piercers because of the extra minerals.

It will dry it out, which is not good for your piercing as it is healing.