Is this infected?

[Happypicture]

I had my nose pierced almost a year ago. I thought it was pretty much healed so I recently switched the bar to a ring. When I put the ring in it was hard to get in and it bled a little. Now each morning there's a little yellow discharge or puss that I have to clean. It doesn't hurt unless it accidentally gets knocked.

Do you think it's infected?

I can't being myself to go to docs about such a trivial thing.

Thanks

Doesn't sound infected, is it warm to touch or red and angry. Maybe post a picture

Have you cleaned it with boiled salted water? Sounds like it's reacting with the new metal. Infection would normally be red/hot/sore as well as the puss.

It will be irritation from changing the jewellery - you've gone from a straight bar to a curved ring, and nostril piercings can be sods to heal and keep happy. This happened to me years ago and still does occasionally if I catch it on something. Definitely recommend PP suggestion of bathing with salt water. Boil the kettle and pour some out into a ramekin, add enough salt to make it taste like tears (no more) and then apply using a soaked cotton wool ball or piece of gauze. Let it cool a bit first but it's quite soothing to apply it warm. Twice a day for a couple of days should sort it.

Thanks everyone. It is slightly red but I think it's just on the surface if that makes sense. I've been washing it with stericlens. I'll do a warm compress with salt water like you said. Here's some pics...

I would err on the side of irritation rather than infection - mine has always looked much angrier than that after a jewellery change or a knock!

Just to say kitchen towel / gauze is better than cotton wool because of fibres but yours is probably aged enough not to worry too much.

I use boiled hot water with a drop of tea tree oil in it. Just dab it on with a cotton bud.

The pics are after I've had the ring in for 2 weeks. so if it's irritation should I wait for it to settle down? Or do I need to change it again?

Mine always used to do this when I put a hoop in, I thought it was probably just the shape of the hoop pulling on the sides of the hole if that makes sense... because it's curved instead of straight. I gave up in the end and just wore a stud. I honestly think piercings need a good couple of years until they can tolerate being pulled about / left out all day etc

I would salt water wash it three times a day if you can OP. That should help a lot