Last November, my brother brought me to get my nose pierced for my birthday. One of my friends had gotten hers pierced at this place that didn't check age/parental consent, and her nose was fine after several months, so I figured this would be a good place to go (I did consider other places though, but they all checked). So...I got my nose pierced, and all was well until I took it out at the beginning of last January. It had been nearly eight weeks, and the piercer said four to six weeks would be ample healing time. It hurt a lot when I took it out for the first time, which I expected. But what worries me is that every since, it has continued to hurt. I admit that I must have replaced the ring too often because I am in the babysitting business, in which case I would often take it out and put in a clear one for a night. I talked to the people I babysit for, and they're fine with me wearing my nose ring. So since late January, I have not removed my nose ring at all. I have a funeral to go to tomorrow, so I figured I should try and put the clear one in for tomorrow. I spent a good half hour removing the nose ring that had been in for a couple of months and replacing it with the clear one. The pain was excruciating when I took it out - I don't think it even hurt that much to get it done.

I am very worried. I would be devastated if I had to let the hole heal, but I can't see myself going through that every time I had to change my ring. I know it probably wasn't the best idea to get it done at some sketchy place in the city, but we brought my brother's girlfriend who works as a nurse to observe the sterilization procedure, which she said seemed to be fine. It was done with a needle - not a gun, which I've heard was bad. I left the ring in for a good eight weeks, and then another eight weeks just recently.

Should I just wait it out, and continue to leave a ring in for a long period of time to see if it gets any better? It can't be infected, there is no redness or puss in or around the hole, and I've been keeping it very clean, and used to use the piercing cleaning mixture religiously (until it got too expensive, in which case I switched to hydrogen peroxide to sterilize the rings). Letting the hole heal would be the last resort, and if I were to do that, I would definitely want to get it re-done (but maybe at a later date, when I can go to a real piercer). If I do let it heal, how long would it be necessary to wait to get it re-pierced? Can you get it re-pierced at all?

Any advice is much appreciated!

well, i don't have any experience with facial piercings myself, but quite a few of my friends have (or have had) nose piercings and from their experience, this is what i'd recommend:

1) if you're not already wearing titanium or surgical steel jewelry, you should be.
2) clean it 2-3 times a day. use a q-tip with warm water first, then bactine.
3) even if it hurts, rotate it a couple times a day so it doesn't get stuck in place.

well, i don't have any experience with facial piercings myself, but quite a few of my friends have (or have had) nose piercings and from their experience, this is what i'd recommend:

1) if you're not already wearing titanium or surgical steel jewelry, you should be.
2) clean it 2-3 times a day. use a q-tip with warm water first, then bactine.
3) even if it hurts, rotate it a couple times a day so it doesn't get stuck in place.


My studs came from Piercing Pagoda, and are surgical steel..and I've heard a lot to use bactine..can you buy some at a drugstore?
And I heard specifically not to rotate it because it might irritate the piercing, that nose piercings are not the same as ear piercings..but I move the stud up and down in the hole occasionally.

Don't use bactine or hydrogen peroxide [bleach], its way too harsh
Try a simple sea salt solution, or H20cean, saline or contact lens solution
They're all pretty much the same thing, only clean it twice a day otherwise you risk salt burns and all sorts.

Don't rotate it, and try not to fiddle, especially without clean hands

The needle is super good, basically guns are very very bad, especially with cartilidge
and um, I would leave the ring or the clear one in for as long as possible, don't change until it dies down. Its probaly just your nose putting up a fight against stretching or changing from curved rings to straight things. Try using bioflex nose studs/retainers. They're bendy and easier to change, but make sure they're the same guage. Umm.. changing it after a hot shower should help, and use lube if you have any

That any help? Im rambling today, I know

Don't use bactine or hydrogen peroxide [bleach], its way too harsh

um, no. they use it right at the tattoo/piercing places. why would they if it's no good for the piercing?

Though it may be fine for a one-time sterilization, repeated use is not advised. H20cean is the way to go.

threadstarter, it isn't healed yet. leave one piece of jewelry in untill it is.

you're just irritating it by changing the jewelry which will only set back healing...don't move it at all, you don't need to. it only irritates and drags bacteria in the piercing.

and the only thing you should be cleaning it with is a sea salt soak and uncented antimicrobial soap.

and btw, what were you thinking getting pierced at a place that doesn't require perental concent? it they're breaking that law, who knows how many other laws they're breaking!

What kind of ring are you using. I would not recomend the curvy ones at all, my nose didn't heal with that thing in it, finally did when I put the straight on in.

It probally took my nose a good 7-8 months to heal completely. 4-6 weeks is definally not enough time for it to heal, you can change it after that but I wouldn't be taking it in and out everyday. All you are doing is breaking the skin that is trying to form and it will probally get scar tissue on it.

Don't use bactine or hydrogen peroxide [bleach], its way too harsh
Try a simple sea salt solution, or H20cean, saline or contact lens solution

Bactine is used by all the professional piercing parlors, and is stated directly on the aftercare sheets as a proper cleaning solution for all piercings, excluding oral ones. The only time sea salt solutions are recommended are for oral piercings.

What kind of ring are you using. I would not recomend the curvy ones at all, my nose didn't heal with that thing in it, finally did when I put the straight on in.

It probally took my nose a good 7-8 months to heal completely. 4-6 weeks is definally not enough time for it to heal, you can change it after that but I wouldn't be taking it in and out everyday. All you are doing is breaking the skin that is trying to form and it will probally get scar tissue on it.

If the "curvy" jewelry you're referring to is a nose screw, that's the one that's the most highly recommended. DO NOT wear a nose bone. It's straight, yes, but it's not the same thickness all the way through; the end is sufficiently larger. The hole will heal around the smaller gauge only, and when removing the jewelry, the rounded end will get stuck on the way out.


It should be stated that everybody's healing time is different, but you should be able to easily change the jewelry after around eight weeks. It doesn't take seven months to heal, unless you're an unusually slow healer.

Bactine is used by all the professional piercing parlors, and is stated directly on the aftercare sheets as a proper cleaning solution for all piercings, excluding oral ones. The only time sea salt solutions are recommended are for oral piercings.

woh, that's completely wrong! sea salt is appropriate for every piercing and bactine is not appropriate for any piercing!

i don't know where you get your information, but it is flawed.

woh, that's completely wrong! sea salt is appropriate for every piercing and bactine is not appropriate for any piercing!

i don't know where you get your information, but it is flawed.

QFT

woh, that's completely wrong! sea salt is appropriate for every piercing and bactine is not appropriate for any piercing!

i don't know where you get your information, but it is flawed.

QFT, again.

Bactine is okay for short time use. But over a couple of weeks/months it can cause chemical burns, and they look nasty....

And although it does a good job at keeping it clean, it destroys all the nice bacteria that are trying to heal the wound as well.

SSS ftw

DON'T USE BACTINE!

Sea salt soaks, dude. And stop changing the jewelry!

If the "curvy" jewelry you're referring to is a nose screw, that's the one that's the most highly recommended. DO NOT wear a nose bone. It's straight, yes, but it's not the same thickness all the way through; the end is sufficiently larger. The hole will heal around the smaller gauge only, and when removing the jewelry, the rounded end will get stuck on the way out.


It should be stated that everybody's healing time is different, but you should be able to easily change the jewelry after around eight weeks. It doesn't take seven months to heal, unless you're an unusually slow healer.

I take my ring out every day for work. Its the straight one and I have never had a problem with that. Nore anyone that I know. I guess it is up to personal preference. I, like stated, would not recomend the nose screw.

I had been using H2Ocean, but at $8 a bottle that would last me up to 2 or 3 weeks was a bit too expensive for me.

I guess what I've gathered from these replies is that a) I shouldn't switch the jewelry no matter what until it doesn't hurt at all, at which point it will be healed (right?), b) i should use some sort of sea salt or saline solution, and clean it 2 times a day, and b) to use a certain kind of nose ring. I use straight backs (because they're the only kind I can actually get in/out), and I didn't come upon the problem of the larger end (and it did get stuck, which caused most of the pain, I guess). I do have a nose screw, and the one that is L shaped that it was pierced with, but I am afraid to put in the nose screw for fear of horrible pain and have tried to get the L shaped one back in, but couldn't.

So, my questions would be:
a) Should I make the sea salt solution, or can I buy something in the store (that would last a long time)?
b) What kind of nose ring should I use if the one with the ball at the end would rip the hole when I take it out, and I can't seem to get any other kinds in?
c) Will not switching the ring for a long period of time be particularly unhealthy for it?

Thanks everybody for your help.

woh, that's completely wrong! sea salt is appropriate for every piercing and bactine is not appropriate for any piercing!

i don't know where you get your information, but it is flawed.

How about I got my information from someone who's been a professional piercer for 23 years, at the most highly praised parlor in all of Ontario-Canada? It's not flawed. I know what I'm talking about.

How many piercings have you had, exactly? I'm guessing you're probably a moron who has ear piercings and that's it. Stick to what you fucking know.

How about I got my information from someone who's been a professional piercer for 23 years, at the most highly praised parlor in all of Ontario-Canada? It's not flawed. I know what I'm talking about.

How many piercings have you had, exactly? I'm guessing you're probably a moron who has ear piercings and that's it. Stick to what you fucking know.

just because he's been in business for 23 years doesn't mean he isn't using outdated aftercare information...in fact, i'd say it's more likely.

this is what the APP recomends

http://www.safepiercing.org/bodyAftercare.html

yes i do have my ears pierced...7 times actually. and i also have my navel, both nipples, and my tongue pierced...that's 11.

i do know what i'm talking about. i have done a tone of research before i had most of my piercings done.

it's really funny how every reputable souce that i've found tell you how bad bactine in for a piercing...

just because he's been in business for 23 years doesn't mean he isn't using outdated aftercare information...in fact, i'd say it's more likely.

this is what the APP recomends

http://www.safepiercing.org/bodyAftercare.html

yes i do have my ears pierced...7 times actually. and i also have my navel, both nipples, and my tongue pierced...that's 11.

i do know what i'm talking about. i have done a tone of research before i had most of my piercings done.

it's really funny how every reputable souce that i've found tell you how bad bactine in for a piercing...

^ because reputable sources = the internet? :rolleyes:
frozen_barbie knows what she's talking about, she's a piercing pro :goodjob:

there can be reputable sources on the internet, you just have to look at who published it and when.

i'd say 20 or so reputable internet sites, including the association of professional piercing, plus 4 professional piercers that i personally know are more than enough to invalidate the advise of one lone piercer.

even if that isn't enough for you, read a fucking bottle of bactine. it clearly says not for use on puncture wounds, which is exactly what a piercing is.

I had been using H2Ocean, but at $8 a bottle that would last me up to 2 or 3 weeks was a bit too expensive for me.

I guess what I've gathered from these replies is that a) I shouldn't switch the jewelry no matter what until it doesn't hurt at all, at which point it will be healed (right?), b) i should use some sort of sea salt or saline solution, and clean it 2 times a day, and b) to use a certain kind of nose ring. I use straight backs (because they're the only kind I can actually get in/out), and I didn't come upon the problem of the larger end (and it did get stuck, which caused most of the pain, I guess). I do have a nose screw, and the one that is L shaped that it was pierced with, but I am afraid to put in the nose screw for fear of horrible pain and have tried to get the L shaped one back in, but couldn't.

So, my questions would be:
a) Should I make the sea salt solution, or can I buy something in the store (that would last a long time)?
b) What kind of nose ring should I use if the one with the ball at the end would rip the hole when I take it out, and I can't seem to get any other kinds in?
c) Will not switching the ring for a long period of time be particularly unhealthy for it?

Thanks everybody for your help.
You can make it or buy it. I say making it would be so much cheaper. Just buy some sea salt from your local store add a tiny pinch of it to some warm water all mixed together in a tiny bowl. Then get a cotton ball, dip it in and put it over your piercing for about 3 minutes or so. Or you could just buy some saline solution if you're too lazy to make the stuff. It should be in the eye care section. Get something that for sensitive eyes. Bausch&Lomb sensitive eyes plus saline solution was recommended to me by my piercer.

*agrees with nascar*
still

and so would BJS, including the piercers

You can make it or buy it. I say making it would be so much cheaper. Just buy some sea salt from your local store add a tiny pinch of it to some warm water all mixed together in a tiny bowl. Then get a cotton ball, dip it in and put it over your piercing for about 3 minutes or so. Or you could just buy some saline solution if you're too lazy to make the stuff. It should be in the eye care section. Get something that for sensitive eyes. Bausch&Lomb sensitive eyes plus saline solution was recommended to me by my piercer.

Thank you!

I'll probably want to make my own mixture since I'll need to clean it everyday for a long time, right?
How many times a day should I clean it?

Once or twice a day, should be okay
1/8 -1/4 tsp of sea salt to a cup of warm water
..I think

Just make sure its not too much or too often

Thanks a lot.

Any advice as to what kind of nose ring I should wear?

Do you definately want a ring? Or a stud?

Cause I like those bioplast bendy nose screws at the moment
Theres not really much in the way of rings, that Ive seen anyway. Just BCRs or open nose rings, and curved jewellery probaly isn't best while its healing.

Well whatever you find, make sure its the right guage/thickness. Quartz, titanium, niobium, bioplast/PTFE and surgical steel are good materials ^^

Try here (http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com/)
or here (http://www.bodyartforms.com) perhaps?

okay i have no idea what everyone above me has been saying cause i don't want to have to read all of that.
but i have my nose peirced and have had a few experiences with it so i like to think i expertise in this area.

it definitley takes 3-4 months for your hole to heal completely after first having it peirced before you change the jewelry, and in some cases even 6 months.

cleaning it too often is a BIG no-no. clean it only twice a day, in the morning and at night. if you don't like using H2Ocean then you can swith to a cheap saline nasal spray. also you can wash around the area with softsoap [the regular old handsoap]. i would suggest though lookin up online this stuff called emu oil. no it's NOT actually emu oil but it is like the miracle liquid for any peircing i swear!

changing the jewelry out a lot can cause a lot of irritation, just like rotating the jewelry or touching it a lot. if you're not already using surgical steal jewelry , you should be. its the best recommended material for facial cartlidge peircings.

my suggestion to you would be to get a larger piece of jewelry, say a stud with a longer hook, to allow for swelling [just in case] and leave that in for a few months. just stop taking it out or putting different pieces of jewelry in.

one last thing, if you decide to, the second your hole closes up you can get it repierced...but it is about 10x worse on the pain scale. if you let it heal completely and go back in a couple months to have it pierced it won't hurt at all. and there's no problem with repiercing in the same area.

Hand soap can be iffy, depends what sort you use. Surgical steel is very good but still not the best, is has a teeny amount of nickel in it

And emu oil IS actually made from emus...

Everything else, I agree completely

Hand soap can be iffy, depends what sort you use. Surgical steel is very good but still not the best, is has a teeny amount of nickel in it

And emu oil IS actually made from emus...

Everything else, I agree completely

um...
excuse me...
i know the guy that actually created emu oil.
i told him it wasn't touching my face if it was made from emus and he said it wasn't.
problem solved.

2. The Discovery of Emu Oil

Emu Oil is derived from the flightless bird indigenous to Australia, known as the emu.
The Australian Aborigines were the first people to find out about the great healing properties of the oil obtained from this bird. They have used it for thousands of years as a valued remedy to keep their muscles and joints supple and to protect their skin from the harsh Australian sun. The early pioneers saw the Aborigines hanging the emus’ skins from trees. They thought it was an Aborigine ritual until they discovered that they were collecting the oil from the emu skins as it melted in the hot sun. It was not long before most pioneers had a pot of the oil in their medicine cabinets, and some reported remarkable healing effects. The famous explorer Robert O’Hara Burke tells how he rubbed emu oil into his arms when he was sunburned and found that, not only did it help his sunburn, but his stiff elbow as well.

3. Where does the oil come from?
Our oil comes from free-range Australian emus which are fed on a healthy diet of natural grain (with no additives or hormones) and pasture. The oil is refined from the large pad of fat which is found on the emu’s back. Nature supplied the emus with this fat to protect them from the hot Australian sun, to enable a quick healing after fighting with other emus and for sustenance during their long nesting time.
A complex refinement process ensures that all bacteria, protein and particulate matter are removed from the raw oil.


If theres some other sort of non-emu emu oil. Ive never seen or heard of any...