Nose piercing has been one of the most common forms of body art since ancient times and it continues to woo people till date. The evidence of nose piercing can be traced to the Old Testament Biblical times. Among the several types of nose piercing that are done today, nostril piercing, nasal septum piercing (area between the nostrils is pierced) and bridge piercing (skin of the top of the nose is pierced) are more common. However, nose piercing has to be taken care of, in the right way, in order to reduce the risk of infections. Read the article to know some useful tips on how to clean your nose piercing.

Cleaning Your Pierced Nose

Supplies Needed

* Antibacterial Soap
* Sea Salt
* Water
* Cotton Swab
* Soft Tissue/ Paper Towel
* Lavender Oil

Instructions

* Use an antibacterial soap to clean the nose piercing on a daily basis. A sea salt and water solution will also do the job. Add a teaspoon of salt into boiling water to make the solution. Let it cool down a bit and then use it to clean your piercing.
* Dip a cotton swab in the solution or anti-bacterial soap and swab around the piercing location, on the inside and outside of the nostril. Take care not to touch the piercing site with your hand. Moving the piercing can also result in the growth of bacteria at the location.
* Make sure to remove all the moisture from the piercing. Remove any remaining water with the help of a soft tissue. Bacteria are prone to be carried by water, more than anything else.
* Once you are done with the cleaning, pat dry the area with a soft tissue. You can also use a paper towel for the same.
* Apply lavender oil to the pierced area, in small amounts. This will help to promote healing of the pierced area.

Additional Tips

* One should try to avoid using alcohol, peroxide, or betadine to clean the pierced area. Though these products work as potent disinfectants, they are likely to be harsh on your pierced skin, which is going through the healing process.
* Take care not to remove your jewelry, while your piercing is undergoing the healing process. Before you touch the area anytime, wash your hands with an antibacterial soap, to avoid any bacterial growth that can worsen the wound.
* Use of iodized salt to make salt water solution is advised against. Iodized salt can adversely affect the healing process, as it is harmful for the wounded skin tissue.

Acceptable Healing Aids & Products

Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a soothing liquid that is effective in refreshing and helping an irritated piercing to heal. However, you should use only good quality tea tree oil. Dilute it with distilled water before using.

Emu Oil
Emu oil is considered to be a universal healing product, which has also given impressive results in healing a piercing.

H2Ocean
Excellent healing results have been shown by H2Ocean, which is also called “glorified saline solution” by some.

Saline Solution
It is the least expensive and more easily available than the other products. Saline solution has shown immense effectiveness in soothing and healing a new piercing. It can also substitute for sea salt soaks.