A bump from a piercing may require at-home treatment like cleaning your piercing and changing your jewelry. If you have symptoms of an infection, you may need to see a doctor.
After getting a nose piercing, it’s normal to have some swelling, redness, bleeding, or bruising for a few weeks. As your piercing starts to heal, it’s also typical for the area to feel itchy and to develop a slight crust around the jewelry.
It can several months for a nose piercing to fully heal. But if you notice your symptoms are changing or getting worse, or if you see a bump developing, it could indicate a problem.
Read on to learn more about nose piercing bumps and how to manage them.
A nose piercing bump is generally one of three things:
- Pustule: This is a blister or pimple that contains pus.
- Granuloma: This is a lesion that occurs several weeks after a piercing.
- Keloid: This is a type of thick scar that can develop at the piercing site.
These bumps can be caused by a number of things, including:
- having poor piercing technique
- touching your piercing with dirty hands
- using the wrong products to clean your piercing
- having an allergic reaction to jewelry
You shouldn’t drain any pus or remove the crust, as this can worsen your symptoms and lead to increased scarring. In many cases, the bump will clear with treatment.
Although minor swelling and discoloration are expected, signs of a more serious infection include:
- an uncomfortable level of pain, throbbing, or burning around the piercing site
- unusual tenderness at the piercing site
- an unpleasant odor with green or yellow pus oozing from the piercing site
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t remove your jewelry. This will encourage the piercing to close, which can trap harmful bacteria inside the piercing site and may cause a more severe infection.
You should see your piercer as soon as possible. They’ll offer their advice on your symptoms and provide guidance for proper treatment.
If you don’t have these more serious symptoms, read on for five tips on how to resolve a nose piercing bump.
Change your jewelry
Jewelry is often made with a type of metal called nickel. This can trigger an allergic reaction in some people, causing a bump to form.
Other symptoms include:
- intense itchiness
- redness or color changes
- blistering
- dry or thickened skin
- discolored skin
The only solution is to replace your jewelry with a ring or stud made with hypoallergenic material. If you’re sensitive to nickel, the best materials for jewelry are:
- 18- or 24-karat gold
- stainless steel
- titanium
- niobium
If your nose piercing is still relatively new, you shouldn’t swap your jewelry out on your own. Doing so may cause your nose tissue to tear. Instead, visit your piercer so they can swap out the jewelry for you.
Clean your piercing several times a day
New piercings should usually be cleaned two to three times per day. Your piercer can provide you with a more specific recommendation.
Before touching your nose piercing for any reason, you should always wash your hands thoroughly using warm water and soap.
Your piercer can recommend specific cleansers to use. They’ll likely advise against using triclosan-containing soaps to clean your piercing, as these can dry out the surrounding skin.
Other products to avoid include:
- iodopovidone (Betadine)
- chlorhexidine (Hibiclens)
- isopropyl alcohol
- hydrogen peroxide
You should also avoid:
- picking any crust that forms around your piercing
- moving or spinning your ring or stud when your piercing is dry
- using topical ointments on the area, as these block air circulation
It’s important to clean the piercing every day for the first 6 months. Even if your piercing looks like it’s healed from the outside, tissue on the inside of your nose may still be healing.
Cleanse with a sea salt soak
Unless your piercer has recommended special soap, you should use a salt solution to clean your piercing. Make your solution by adding 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt to 8 ounces of warm water.
Follow these steps to use your sea salt solution:
- Soak a piece of paper towel in the salt solution.
- Hold the saturated paper towel over your nose piercing for 5 to 10 minutes. This is called a warm compress and will soften any crust or discharge surrounding your piercing. It may sting a little.
- Use a clean cotton bud dipped in the salt solution to gently remove any moistened crust or discharge from the inside and outside of your nose piercing.
- Soak a new piece of paper towel in the salt solution and squeeze over the area to rinse it.
- Use a clean piece of paper towel to gently pat the area dry.
- Repeat this process multiple times per day if desired.
Use a chamomile compress
Chamomile contains compounds that
To make a warm chamomile compress:
- Steep a chamomile tea bag in hot water for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Soak a piece of paper towel in the chamomile solution and apply to your piercing for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Soak a new piece of paper towel and reapply every 2 minutes if desired.
Apply diluted tea tree essential oil
Tea tree
However, tea tree oil can cause a reaction, especially on sensitive skin. If this is your first time using it, do a patch test before applying it to an open wound like your nose piercing.
To perform a patch test:
- Apply a small amount of diluted tea tree oil to your forearm.
- Wait at least 24 hours.
- Check for irritation or inflammation.
If you don’t have any issues with the patch test, you can make a tea tree oil solution by adding 2 to 4 drops of it to 12 drops of carrier oil like olive, coconut, or almond oil. The carrier oil will dilute the tea tree oil, making it safe to use on your skin.
Apply the solution gently with clean hands. It may sting slightly.
It can take several weeks to fully heal a nose piercing bump, but you should see improvement within 2 or 3 days of treatment.
If you don’t, see your piercer. They’re the best person to assess your symptoms and provide guidance on how to care for your individual problem.
It’s normal to have some swelling and discoloration after getting your nose pierced, and you might develop a bump.
In many cases, you can manage this yourself with home remedies like sea salt solutions and changing your jewelry. However, if you have signs of an infection, it’s a good idea to contact a doctor.