Nose piercing FAQ

 

 

We stock a large Range of Nose Studs under Products in the Body Jewellery Section

 

Jewellery

The two most common types of nose studs worn in New Zealand are a straight stud with a ball at the end… or a straight stud bent into an L shape to hold it in; experiment with these to find out which type suits you best.

Nostril Screws are available and these stay in a lot better, the only draw back is they can take some practice to get in. (ask your piercer to do it if you are having problems) 

Be fussy with your jewellery choices, a lot of cheaper body jewellery has lots of nickel and lead it which can leach into your body causing nasty reactions that are often mistaken for infections

It is also a good idea to paint some clear nail polish over your jewelled nose studs (this stops the jewels from coming out) make sure this is only on the top surface and doesn’t come into contact with your piercing.

For contact sports you can tape your nose stud using a little pad under the tape so that the pad protects the stud when removing the plaster.

Trying to hide your piercing by taking the jewellery in and out just leads to delayed healing and infections.

Why don't you try an invisible stud (an invisible stud is a normal nose stud painted with flesh-coloured nail polish). Then afterwards you can take out your invisible daytime stud and put in something more decorative.

We stock a product called invisi studs they are surgical plastic and can be cut down to size

Healing

Nose piercings will generally take 6-8 weeks to heal. There should hardly be any redness surrounding the piercing and only a small amount of discharge, mainly from the inside of the nose.

I think I have an infection?

The most common cause of delayed healing is by knocking or tearing the stud and taking the stud in and out before the wound is fully healed. This will lead to a small lump forming around the piercing. These lumps are called granulomas. This is not an infection, this is usually seen in cartilage piercings like nose and upper ear. This in common in teenagers and pregnant women.

Clear crusting and bleeding often accompany this.

The best course of action to heal granulomas is to apply hot compresses to the wound once or twice a day. Soak a clean paper towel under hot tap water, making sure that it's not so hot that it burns your skin, but hot enough to penetrate the wound. Leave on till the heat dissipates.

Continue this remedy twice a day, if you still have an bubble growth get a nose stud with a large top like a flower and wear it. This pressing down on the lump will help it flatten out

The Bioptron light therapy can be used for these over healings, chat to Wendy about this.

An infection will bring generalised redness, pain and pus. The best treatment for this is betadine ointment morning and night for 5 to 7 days. If it becomes worse or you are concerned contact your piercer or seek medical advice.
 

 

Aftercare

 

THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR INFECTION IS TOUCHING OR PLAYING WITH THE PIERCING, ONLY TOUCH THE PIERCING WHEN CLEANING!

•  Do not use hydrogen peroxide, mentholated spirits, alcohol swabs, or alcohol-based cleansers on the piercing. They are very astringent and delay healing.

 

• We recommend that you use “Studex” cleaning solution morning and night. Apply studex with a cotton bud a little inside your nose and a little around the skin surface

 

• DO clean the piercing every day in the shower, make sure you wash all the soap, shampoo and make up well out. Protex soap is recommended.

 

• Soak a cotton wool ball or tissue in saline solution (dissolve a 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) once a day

Place the wet cotton wool ball, gauze or tissue on the piercing and soak for 3-4 minutes until any crusting is removed, be careful not to pull the stud out!

• DO remove any crusting from the inside of the stud/ring by cleaning it with a cotton-wool bud soaked in salt water. Be gentle, as you may cause the stud to come out. Any crusting must be removed from a ring before you turn it, or you might damage and inflame the piercing

 

• DO dry the piercing afterwards carefully by "patting" not rubbing the piercing dry with a clean tissue, piece of paper towel or toilet paper.

 

• Don't rub your face dry with a towel; as dirty towels harbour bacteria. And by rubbing your face dry, the stud may get dislodged; you must pat your nose dry while you are wearing a stud.

 

• DO use B-vitamins with a Zinc supplement as this promotes healing, piercings reflect your general health

 

• DON'T pick at or pull at the scab; as this can cause lumps to form, and cause infections

 

• DON'T remove the jewellery in the piercing till it's healed; pulling it in and out can delay healing and cause infections and lumps, try to leave it in at least 6 weeks.

 

• DON'T remove the jewellery from the piercing for more than 10minutes for the first 6 months, or it will close up

 

• If the stud comes out, the piercing will close up very quickly, in less than 10 minutes in the first 3 to 6 months. If your nose stud comes out put something straight back in even if you have to use a ear stud or sleeper (ring) until you can buy another nose stud.

 

• DON'T apply make-up, cleansers, sun tan lotions etc. directly on the piercing, when using hairspray, cover the piercing with your hand

 

• The trick is to always carry a spare nose stud in your wallet. If you don't have one put in an ear stud or sleeper (ring)

 

• Watch the towel, flannel and taking clothes off over your head these can dislodge your piercing.

 

 

• Taping your nose stud at night is a good idea just make sure you don't put anything sticky on your nose stud or when you take it off the nose stud comes out.

 

• We recommend wearing nostril screws for at least the first 6 weeks they are less likely to come out

 

• If you are worried or need reassurance go and see your piercer rather than asking your friends

 

Removing piercings for Surgery, scans/x-rays 

You are often requested to do this and depending on the age of your piercing this can lead to the piercing closing up.
Use bioflex or PTFE with plastic balls, they not only keep your piercing open but the are safe to scan etc