Piercing the nose through the side nostril or middle septum as a form of body art should come with a warning book. Studs or rings through the nostril can cause or aggravate sinus infections.
Possible Risks of Nasal Piercing
These risks may scar or disfigure and need follow up.
- Keloids
- Granulomas
- Scarring
- Pigmentation
- Bruising
- Migration of the object to within the nasal cavity or outside the nose
- Discolored discharge, in other words, pus-like discharge of infection
- Bleeding beyond the first day
- Painful throbbing swelling beyond 24 hours
Pre Care for Nose Pierce Procedure
Nasal passages lead to sinus cavities that if infected affect the face, head, mucosa, and sense of smell. The procedure should not be done during allergy season if prone to allergies and sinus infections.
- Cleanliness both of self and nose
- Up to date vaccinations including Hepatitis B and Tetanus
- Stop omega 3, vitamin E, aspirin, or other supplements that can increase bruising.
- If hyper pigmentation is typical response to skin agitation, consider pre-treatment with an OTC bleaching cream to prep the area.
- No colds or Upper Respiratory Infections at time of procedure. Keep the nostril area free from mucus for a brief healing period by using anti- histamines.
- Stop smoking several days earlier. Smoke in the area will add to infection risk. Smokers have a higher risk of delayed recovery or more frequent sinus infections. This is because the nasal cilia (hairs) are worn away by the smoke, among other reasons.
- Select hypoallergenic sterile rings or studs opened first at time of insertion. Nickel or silver may cause an allergic reaction compounding healing difficulties. Gold, titanium, steel, or platinum is best.
- Check out the facility license and equipment. The same gun that pierces ears should not pierce noses. The stud from the piercing gun is considered by some to be too blunt and smashes through delicate cartilage. There is a risk of infection from the nonsterilized gun.
- Needles can be more exact and are completely sterile
- The technician should be wearing sterile gloves.
Post Care of the New Nasal Piercing, Nasal Stud, or Nose Jewelery
Follow all technicians orders carefully. Dont improvise or be afraid to question any odd discharge or pain.
- Clean hair by frequent shampooing. Hair can brush against the site leaving unhealthy deposits of dead skin or oils.
- Wash the face carefully avoiding manipulation of the imbedded piece.
- Be careful with hair sprays, perfumes, or any small particles which my affect the area.
- Turn the ring or stone to prevent healing skin from closing the opening or onto the jewelry.
- Wash your hands before you touch the area each time.
- Clean the area gently with a q-tip and salon preferred antibiotic ointment or cleanser.
- Do not remove the stud for at least 3 weeks time.
- No swimming with head under water or in Jacuzzi.
- Remove the jewelery if sinusitis developes
Extreme Risk Post Piercing Procedures
The nose can be colonized with staph or strep bacteria. With piercing or trauma these bacteria may spread up the nasal cavity.
- Tweeten and Rickman report in Infectious Complications of Body Piercing (1998) instances of staph aureus and p aeruginosa bacteria requiring surgery for necrotic tissue. B hemolytic strep has lead to septic arthritis.
- When the site is healed, remove the ring or stud during sinusitis episodes. Don’t allow the jewelry to be a ladder for bacteria to rise into nasal passages. The constant irritation of the site from nose blowing or draining will eventually causing skin breakdown leading to increased risk of infection. Be equally cautious during allergy season as well.
- Infective endocarditis arising in someone with an underlying undiscovered heart problem has been reported in several cases after body piercing. Those who must take antibiotics prophylactically for a dental visit might consider this prior to nasal piercing or reconsider the decision entirely.
Altering the body is an ongoing process. Controlling the damage is part of the procedure of caring for body piercing, nose studs or jewelry.
(None of the above should substitute for individual medical advice before or after a procedure.)
References
- CID 1998;26 (March) Tweeten & Rickman
- J of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, vol 53, no.2 p 123-126
- Int J Pediatric Otorhinolarygology vol67 issue 2 12/03 p1343-1345Piercing
- Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. Levin L, Herzberg R, Dolev E, Schwartz-Arad D. Smoking and complications . 2004;19:369-73.
Amy Andersen - Amy Andersen, MSN, ARNP, family & pediatrics certified, practices yoga and explores the inter-relationships of mind body fitness and ...
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