Nose-ring Experiences

[Nouveaunew]

I’m thinking about getting a nose-ring. I’m in my early 40s but I think it’d suit me (maybe it’s a midlife crisis, who knows!).

Have any of you had one? Any tips? My nose runs a lot and I blow my nose multiple times a day all year round. Would that be a problem?

[nzeire]

i got a lump :(
and had to take it out, was gutted as had spent 10 years getting brave enough to get it done
luckily the lump went with the piercing

[Nouveaunew]

Thanks a million to you both. I got the stud a couple of days ago and it is still quite sore when touched but fine otherwise. There is a lump on the inside but hopefully that’s just some swelling?! I’ve been cleaning it with saline solution.

They said to tighten it regularly. Is that the inside part that’s inside the nostril that I tighten?

[sashh]

I've had mine done more than once because I let it heal up (had to take it out for work).

I'd say start with a ring, easier to clean initially, cotton bud and salt water on the outside, then push the ring through and clean the rest of it.

I had a screw in then for a while, so long that it got mis shaped and I had to cut the stud bit off and blow my nose to get the inside bit of the screw.

Currently I have a silicone 'screw' which is comfortable and won't mis shape.

[LadyPoison]

@Nouveaunew

Thanks a million to you both. I got the stud a couple of days ago and it is still quite sore when touched but fine otherwise. There is a lump on the inside but hopefully that’s just some swelling?! I’ve been cleaning it with saline solution.

They said to tighten it regularly. Is that the inside part that’s inside the nostril that I tighten?

It will be sore for a bit. Mine was tender for months.

It sounds then like you were pierced with a threaded labret? ( I’m hoping so ) You really shouldn’t have to tighten it. The initial labret should really be long enough to allow for the initial swelling and then you replace it with a shorter one later. Is this what you had? However then you need to twist the decorative head clockwise to the right to screw it further into the labret whilst supporting the other end with a finger so it doesn’t rotate. I am surprised though if this is the case. It’s not something my piercer would do.

Lumps and bumps are generally caused by irritation and fiddling with your new piercing is a prime cause so touch it as little as possible which is why it seems odd that you have been told to keep tightening it. I didn’t both with saline for any of mine. Just rinsed it with clean water every day. If you are making your own, it is literally just a small pinch of salt in a glass of water. Too much salt will dry out the skin and cause its own issues.

[Nouveaunew]

Thanks @sashh

[Nouveaunew]

@LadyPoison
thanks a million. I was pierced with a threaded labret. The lady at the reception desk (not the one who pierced it) said to tighten to the right & loosen to the left. I didn’t know what she meant.

yeah I’d say the swelling on the inside of the nostril is just a normal part of the healing process. It all looks normal enough. I’ve been using the saline.

I love it to be honest! So glad I finally did it.

I have touched it minimally just to push it in as it’s been coming forward too much (instead of the gem being flush with the outside of my nostril). I’ll definitely get a shorter one once it’s healed.

[paisley256]

I tried 6 times, never with a gun, each time I ended up with lumps n bumps no matter what I did so eventually I gave up 😕

[Mol1628]

@paisley256 what metal were you pierced with? It could have been steel or even a low quality titanium that causes that
Im prone to bumps whatever I use though it is something you just have to get through sometimes!

[LadyPoison]

@Nouveaunew Ah maybe she was trying to be helpful. With a labret you leave the bar in the piercing and just change the decorative end. You would need to unscrew it to change the end.

I'd still leave it strictly alone for a couple of months at least before trying to change the end. Getting a labret back in to a newish piercing is not a pleasant exercise unless you know what you are doing and they do come out horribly easily. I've had more than one panic late at night!

[Nouveaunew]

@LadyPoison

ah now I understand . Thanks . Yeah I’ll just leave it alone apart from cleaning & hopefully it’ll stay put

[paisley256]

@Mol1628 It was titanium each time. I persevered for almost a year each time. I religiously cleaned it then my brother said he just left his alone so I tried that with the next one but it remained painfully sore.
Each time I never seemed to get to the point where it felt comfortable, I felt like I was in pain every day. It seemed no matter what my approach it remained sore.
So now I just gaze fondly at all you folks with lovely piercings and wish it was me.

[LadyPoison]

@paisley256 All titanium is not created equal. You need to have surgical quality. A lot of piercers use the cheaper one.

If you want to try again, pick a piercer on the APP list (www.ukapp.org.uk/).

[Mol1628]

Thanks @LadyPoison that’s what I was getting at!

Crazy how many piercers are using crappy externally threaded titanium still.

[paisley256]

Thanks both of you, I'll definitely look into that, I never realised there were different grades. There may be hope for me yet!

[Nouveaunew]

There may be @paisley256 Mine was implant grade titanium and so far, so good.

It’s amazing how changing one thing about your appearance can give a boost and make you feel more ‘you.’

[Greatoutdoors]

@LadyPoison

Tell the piercer that you want to be pierced for a ring. The hole is then placed further down so a ring can fit snugly.

Studs are typically placed a little higher which means that if you want a ring you need a larger diameter which will not fit as snugly.

Obviously if you are not bothered about a close fit, it doesn't matter. I am pierced for a stud and ring s look awful in mine.

I didn’t know this! I had mine done for a stud when I was 16 and have often wondered why a ring looks odd on me. That’ll be why!

[Sagegreenvelvet]

I love mine.so glad you went for it. I got a spray from Amazon which I used daily for about three weeks and it’s healed so well. I have a tiny silver stud now. Wish I’d had it done 25 years ago!

[Nouveaunew]

@Sagegreenvelvet
Yeah! Me too! Wish I had done it sooner.

[paisley256]

Well I defnitely need a boost I know that much! Can I just ask your cleaning regime please? I was doing salt water 3 times a day is that too much? Thank you.

[Lellochip]

@paisley256

Well I defnitely need a boost I know that much! Can I just ask your cleaning regime please? I was doing salt water 3 times a day is that too much? Thank you.

I think less is more if it's irritated. You can buy sterile wound wash sprays which might be better than making the salt water too strong. For nostril I'd keep makeup well away, don't touch it, let it get rinsed in your usual shower, and give it one more daily soak/clean while it's still crusty, but generally just leave it well alone.

Bumps during healing aren't uncommon - how long did you have them when you got it done before?

[Mol1628]

I use Neil med saline spray but to be honest it irritates my piercings so I didn’t do it the recommended twice a day. Just once a day at the start. Then every other day and eventually just once a week or so. A good rinse under a warm shower is nice and soothing and gets rid of a lot of the gunk.

[Nouveaunew]

I’ve been advised to use saline on a cotton bud twice a day. I bought it in Boots and am doing twice a day. So far so good.

[paisley256]

Thank you for your replies. It seemed I had them constantly for months.
During two different times my toddler knocked it and it hurt massively.
I actually think I could have been over cleaning and touching. I'm 46 do you think it's too late for me?
Can I get a ring straight away do you know?
Thanks again for answering my questions.

[Mol1628]

It’s not too late it’s the perfect time!

So I would find a great piercer from the APP link earlier. Get yourself a nice quality stud. Leave it alone and let it heal. Then hopefully after a year you could get fitted for a hoop. Again go for a high quality one from your piercer. It really is best to wait a year before putting a hoop in. It’ll heal so much quicker.

You may still get bumps. I do I’m really prone to them but the best thing is to not try and treat it and just let it do it’s thing. I think the problem is people see a bump then start trying all sorts to get rid of it therefore causing more trauma to the piercing making it worse.

[Kanaloa]

I’ve never had a nose piercing (like the outside) but I have my septum done. It usually heals quickly. One thing that helped me was every other day filling a bowl with warm water and soaking my nose. It made it easier to wipe off all the crust without wiping too hard. Then I cleaned with a salt thing morning and night. Another thing I’ve learned is when you think it’s healed, give it another few weeks - no rush to change jewellery!

And it’s never too late! I bet you look fab.