How To Get Rid Of Nose Piercing Bumps

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Bumps around a new nose ring are normal and can be caused by many things, such as touching the new piercing, accidentally bumping it when putting on or taking off clothes, or by sleeping on the nose ring.^[1] Often, the bump will go away on its own after a few days. To speed up the healing process, you can treat the bump with products you got from your piercer, like sea salt scrubs, as well as household products like baking soda. In rare cases, a bump may be an indication of an infection, in which case you should talk to the piercer or a doctor about the best plan for treatment.

1
Use anti-inflammatory medication. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication can be used to treat swelling around the nose that can result in a nose ring bump. This usually works for bumps and swelling caused by trauma such as a piercing. Try taking something like ibuprofen while symptoms persist.^[2]
- Make sure to check with a doctor or pharmacist if you're on any prescription medication. You want to make sure over-the-counter meds will not interfere poorly with your existing medication.
2
Do regular salt soaks. Your piercer should have given you a salt solution after you had your piercing done.^[3] If you do not have saline solution from your piercer, you can make it by mixing a cup of warm water with an eighth a teaspoon of salt. Soak your piercing regularly to reduce swelling and get rid of a nose ring bump.^[4]
- Place the sea salt in a cup of water. Move your head sideways and dip the pierced half of your nose into the solution. Leave your nose in the water for about 15 to 20 minutes. You can also dab a cotton ball in sea salt and apply it to your nose ring bump for 15 to 20 minutes, as this may be more comfortable.^[5]
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3
Try cortisone cream. You can buy cortisone cream at most drug stores. It can help decrease swelling that results in a nose ring bump. You can apply the cream to the area surrounding your nose ring to reduce swelling.^[6]
- Make sure to read the instructions on the cream you choose to make sure you apply it properly.
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1
Try an aspirin paste. Add water to a bottle of aspirin until the aspirin dissolves into a paste. Then, apply the aspirin paste to your nose ring bump each night. Let it sink in overnight and then wash it off in the morning.
- Make sure you continue to clean your nose ring as you normally would before and after applying aspirin paste.
- The strength of the aspirin does not matter, but stronger aspirin could potentially be more effective.
2

Use a chamomile tea compress. Place a bag of chamomile tea in warm water to get it slightly damp. Then, press the bag on your nose ring bump for about 10 minutes. If the bag loses heat during this time, dab it in some warm water before reapplying it to the bump.
3
Apply tea tree oil. Tea tree oil should never be applied directly to the skin, as this can cause a rash and irritation. Add only a few drops of tea tree oil to a small amount of a carrier oil such as olive oil. Then, dab a cotton ball in your oil. Swab the cotton ball around the bump to reduce swelling.^[7]
- Some people respond poorly to essential oils, so cease using this method if you notice a rash or another bad reaction.
4

Try exfoliating with baking soda. Baking soda's grainy texture can be used as an exfoliating agent, which may help reduce swelling and bumps associated with nose rings. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a drop of water to make a paste. Then, rub your paste into your piercing. Then, rinse the paste off with warm water.^[8]

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1
Recognize the signs of an infection. If you end up with an infection, you should see a doctor or call your piercer.^[9] Your bump may be infected if you notice the following:^[10]
- A pimple-like bump near your piercing that emits pus
- A tender, pink bump
- A very hard bump
2

See a professional to treat or drain the bump. Many people attempt to use needles or similar objects to pierce and drain a bump. Draining a bump on your own can make an infection worse. If your bump requires draining, only a medical professional should do so.^[11]
3

Do not remove your jewelry. If you piercing becomes infected, your first inclination may be to remove your jewelry. However, most infections can be treated with jewelry in place. Removing your jewelry can actually cause scarring or worsen an infection.^[12]

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Question

Why is there a bump on my nose piercing?

Stephanie Anders is the Owner and Head Piercer at Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing, a tattoo and piercing studio located in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie has over 10 years of piercing experience and her client list includes such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.

Piercing Specialist

Expert Answer

The most common cause is that your nose piercing is irritated. If you sleep on the piercing, hit the piercing, or get an irritant on the piercing, your body protects the area by forming a bump. Another reason is that you developed a keloid, a bodily response to trauma.
Question

Will a nose piercing bump go away on its own?

Stephanie Anders is the Owner and Head Piercer at Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing, a tattoo and piercing studio located in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie has over 10 years of piercing experience and her client list includes such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.

Piercing Specialist

Expert Answer

Often, bumps on a piercing will go away on their own once whatever is causing the irritation is removed. This might mean sleeping on the other side of your body, being more careful when putting on and taking off clothes, or touching it less often.
Question

What do I do if the bump doesn't go away?

Stephanie Anders is the Owner and Head Piercer at Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing, a tattoo and piercing studio located in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie has over 10 years of piercing experience and her client list includes such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.

Piercing Specialist

Expert Answer

If the bump doesn't go away after a week or two, you should see the piercer or a doctor because you might have a keloid, which is a type of scar and is nothing to be worried about. If that's what the bump is, then it can be removed by freezing the area and cutting the keloid off, using laser therapy, or having a minor surgical procedure with a dermatologist.

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Article SummaryX

The easiest way to get rid of a red bump around your nose ring is to keep the piercing area clean. One way to clean the area is by soaking it with a cotton ball dipped in a solution of warm water and salt. Let the cotton ball sit on the bump for 15 to 20 minutes to reduce the swelling on your nose. Another way you can get rid of the bump is by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda with a drop of water to make a paste. Then, rub the exfoliating paste into your piercing and rinse it away with warm water. In addition to homemade remedies, try taking an anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen to treat your swelling. For more help, like how to know when your nose piercing has become infected, read on.

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