You know your nose piercing is wrong if the jewelry is embedded (skin swallowing the end), it's angled poorly (half ring inside/outside, or sticks out too much/not enough), causes excessive pain/swelling beyond normal healing, or shifts excessively, indicating poor placement or a bad angle that doesn't suit your anatomy, potentially leading to scarring or rejection. Signs of a bad piercing include jewelry movement, constant irritation, or the jewelry migrating from its original spot.
Nerve damage: The piercer can inappropriately puncture the nose and hit a nerve in the process, causing permanent nerve damage. Necrosis of the nasal wall: A piercing technique that causes trauma to the nose tissues, can cause death of the cells surrounding the jewellery in the nasal wall.
Piercing rejection
There is no right or wrong side of the nose to get a piercing, it is up to you. A good idea is to pick your best 'selfie side' of your face whether that be the left or right side!
Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms
Pain and Discomfort: Infected nose piercings can cause localized pain, tenderness, and a throbbing sensation around the piercing. Discharge: Pus-like discharge with a yellow or greenish color and an unpleasant odor is a common sign of infection.
Signs of good healing
A good healing process is distinguished by visible signs: swelling decreases, the pain disappears, and the skin is gradually closing it uniform around the jewelry. When these signs appear, you can be assured that the healing of your nose piercing is progressing normally.
Signs that a piercing is migrating and possibly being rejected include: more of the jewelry becoming visible on the outside of the piercing. the piercing remaining sore, red, irritated, or dry after the first few days. the jewelry becoming visible under the skin.
The "2:3 piercing rule" is a curated ear guideline suggesting that for every two piercings, you should have three units of space between them, aiming for a balanced look, often by placing two piercings on the lobe and three on the upper cartilage, or by using larger jewelry at the bottom (lobes) and smaller pieces (studs/huggies) as you go up the ear for a cascading, uncluttered aesthetic. It's a styling tip, not a strict rule, for creating harmonious ear stacks.
Regardless of the reason, only a pro piercer should diagnose the damage done to your piercing. In most crooked cases, you'll most likely need to be re-pierced.
Signs and symptoms of rejection
Migration of the jewelry: the jewel seems to be close to the surface of the skin, or its location changes visibly. Shadowing of the skin around the jewelry: the skin can become reddish and transparent, revealing the jewel.
Take care of your piercing. The skin around a new piercing might be swollen, red and tender for a few days. It might bleed slightly. If the swelling, redness and bleeding last longer than a few days, contact your healthcare professional.
What piercings reject the most? Surface piercings have the highest rejection rate. Surface piercings such as microdermals as well as eyebrow piercings and navel piercings reject the most because they are closest to the surface of the skin.
If they are closed, there's a good chance you can simply get new piercings in a more symmetrical placement with no issues. If your holes are still open, this would be a good opportunity to ask a professional piercer if your anatomy would allow for a new set of piercings.
Nose piercing infection
This is more likely to happen if the equipment used to make your piercing isn't well sterilized. A virus like HIV, hepatitis B or C, or tetanus could get into your bloodstream. Some signs of infection to watch out for include: Pain.
It is often possible to re-pierce in the same place, but the tissue must be sufficiently healed. To re-pierce in the same place, it is wise to wait at least 3 months from the moment the jewelry has been removed. The wound itself is often closed much earlier but it takes time for the underlying tissue to heal.
Nostril piercing placement comes down to personal preference. Generally, whether the right or left nostril is pierced, one's preference should come first. Remember, you don't have to have a reason for piercing one side of your nose over the other.
During the healing process, it is important not to touch it, play with it, or rotate it. Leave the jewelry in a stationary position for as long as you can. If you have to touch your piercing, make sure you wash your hands with antibacterial soap before you do.
A nose piercing typically ranks around a 4-7 out of 10 on the pain scale, varying by person and location; nostril piercings are often a quick, sharp pinch (around 4-6/10), while septum piercings can feel intense but brief (around 6-7/10), especially if the cartilage is thick, though it's generally considered manageable and quick to heal.
Don't touch your piercing.
The best approach is a hands-off approach. Avoid touching your piercing to prevent the transfer of bacteria and infection. If you do happen to touch your piercing, make sure your hands are washed and clean. Also, avoid applying pressure to your piercing.
THE LOVISA PIERCING EXPERIENCE
We offer free ear piercing and nose piercing services in selected stores, with the purchase of a piercing stud. Our team of expert professional piercers will take you through the piercing process, from piercing placement to choosing jewellery and piercing aftercare.
If the client is a minor (Under 18 years of age) parent/guardian must be present during the time of the appointment. The parent/guardian must also bring the minor's birth certificate, the minor's photo ID, and the parent/guardian's license or state ID.
If your piercing is already migrating there's a good chance they will recommend removing it. At this point, there is little risk from removing it, but leaving it in could result in damage to your skin and make it difficult to repierce the area after healing.
If your piercing has rejected, it's important to let the area heal completely before attempting a new piercing. Depending on the severity, this could take several months. Attempting to re-pierce too soon can lead to complications and increase the chance of another rejection.
Is my piercing rejecting or irritated? Rejection shows the jewelry migrating or the skin thinning, while irritation is localized redness.