How To Clean An Ear And Nose Piercings Safely at Home

Before starting, make sure you have everything you need to clean your piercing safely. Here's what you'll require:

• Saline solution or piercing aftercare spray

• Cotton balls or gauze pads

• Mild, non-alcoholic soap (optional)

• Clean paper towels

• A mirror

• Clean hands

These are simple steps but important before attempting the touch up; hands should be washed with soap and warm water.

Wash with some vigor for roughly twenty seconds, ensuring you clean your palms, the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your fingernails.

Every time you wash your hands, dry them with a clean and lint free material, or else you leave them to air dry.

Avoiding touch of the face and especially the area where the piercing was made is another way of avoiding pathogenic bacteria that may cause harm.

You can easily go for a commercially available sterile saline solution or piercing aftercare spray from any pharmacy.

However, if you are interested in wondering how to clean a nose piercing at home, it is actually very easy to make your own saline solution.

To make your own saline, use non-iodized sea salt half teaspoon mixed with one cup warm distilled water, then stir until dissolved and pour lukewarm saline solution.

How And What To Clean Ear Piercing With?

Soak a sterile gauze or dressing pack in a piece of clean cotton wool. Swirl it around the area of the piercing to wipe off some crusty kind of material that forms around it.

Avoid using a harsh motion to clean or utilizing pressure on the piercing to avoid inflammation and longer healing.

• For Earlobe Piercing

While cleaning, be certain to cover both the front and the back of the piercing to avoid putting bacteria on the area.

• For Cartilage Piercing

Cartilage piercings should be cleaned gently and thoroughly as the area is sensitive and may easily cause irritation.

Do not apply pressure, and ensure that you do not damage the area when washing it.

How And What To Clean Nose Piercing With?

As simple as ear piercing, you just need to spray the saline solution to the actual piercing or soak a cotton ball in the saline.

Pat the area around the piercing little with the cloth to remove the grime or scorch that may have formed due to irritation.

• For Nostril Piercings

It is important to clean both the inner and outer part of the nostril. To prevent the spread of infection, they should dab the two sides with different pieces of cotton ball or gauze pad.

• For Septum Piercings

Tilt your head slightly backward to allow the actress to both nostrils.

Apply saline solution to cleanse both the inside and outside of the septum area, ensuring that both sides are thoroughly cleaned without applying excessive pressure.

After cleaning the piercing, gently pat the area dry using a clean paper towel.

Do not use fabric towels, especially those made from cotton, as they can harbor bacteria and may transfer fibers to the piercing, increasing the risk of infection.

Instead, disposable paper towels are the best choice because they are clean and can be discarded after each use.

It is necessary to do this to avoid pooling of water because the dry surface is a good measure against bacteria that will love to grow in warm and sappy conditions.

The fact is, the avoidance of water will decrease the chances of bacteria, which grows in warmer and moist conditions.

What To Avoid

Avoid using hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or other ointments.

These substances may look and work like effective disinfectants, but they can actually dry out the piercing, slow the healing process or cause irritation to the skin.

What To Use Instead

Stick to saline solution, piercing aftercare sprays, and mild, non-alcoholic soap. These alternatives are gentle, effective, and safe for your piercing.

They help cleanse the area without harming the healing tissue and ensure the piercing is properly cared for throughout the healing process.

If you’re looking for ideas on how to clean ear piercing infection or nose piercing infection, cleaning the jewelry is as essential as cleaning the piercing site.

Submerge your jewelry and spray it with saline or wash it using mild non alcoholic soap.

Prevent the use of toxic chemicals which act as rough textures that may scratch the jewelry or be adverse to the piercing.

Avoid the overuse of dangerous chemicals which create rough textures. These are likely to cause harm to the jewellery or are ill-suited to the piercing.

Remember to let the jewelry air dry before putting it on again in the newly pierced area.

Any moisture clogs the skin around the area of the piercing and it is very difficult to dry – the perfect environment for bacteria. Thus, this can cause infection or compromise the entire healing process.

Clean Your Piercing twice a day – once in the morning and once before going to bed. This enables the running of a regular regimen that will keep the area around the piercing clean as it heals.

In this way, you will minimize the formation of bacterial, dead skin cells, and discharge on the site of the piercing.

Once it’s clean, you can forget about how long does an ear piercing take to heal since cleaning it twice daily is enough to avoid infection.

However, do not go wiping too much on the skin as it ruins the skin complexion and takes longer time to heal itself.

Do not twist, turn, or play with your piercing. When the tissues are healing, constant movement will likely irritate the tissues and boost the likelihood of an infection.

Wisely, your piercings require some time to heal and excessive manipulation slows the process down.

The key to proper healing is consistency. Continue cleaning your face, and do not try to move or manipulate the jewelry.

This will go a long way in preventing this and also ensure that your piercing is healing well.

Sign Of Infection

• Redness Or Inflammation

Minimal redness around a piercing is supposed to be present if still the case it is advisable to consult your doctor.

However, if the redness expands and intensifies, it could be a sign of infection that is happening on the skin.

• Unusual Discharge Or Pus

If it has changed to yellow, green or produces a foul smell this may be an indication of infection.

The changes in colour and smell of the piercing normally indicate that bacteria have penetrated into the piercing and the body is attempting to combat the bacteria.

• Persistent Pain, Warth, Or Swelling

Mild tenderness or swelling is common right after a piercing is done, but if the pain becomes severe or continues for an extended period, it might indicate an infection.

Warmth around the area or selling that doesn’t subside after a few days is another warning sign.

What To Do

• Take Extra Care

If any of these symptoms arise, make sure to continue following your cleaning routine carefully, ensuring you’re gentle and thorough when cleaning the piercing.

• Early Treatment

This may be helpful in avoiding the spread of the condition or exacerbation of the existing condition.

Failure to treat the infection means that the problem intensifies, creating new complications in the form of abscesses or scarring, or in worst-case, requiring jewelry removal or surgery.

• Do Not Ignore

It’s crucial not to ignore signs of infection, as sometimes people tend to brush off symptoms, which can lead to worse problems.

If you are experiencing uncertainty regarding any change in your piercing, always consult a professional.

It is always safer to presume that there might be a problem that needs to be fixed before it gets out of hand. 

Wondering how long does it take to heal a piercing?

• Ear Piercing

In most cases, full recovery may take a period ranging between 6 to 9 weeks. However, cartilage piercing may take much longer to heal - that is between 9-12 months.

Cartilage tissue is different from the soft skin of the ear lobe and requires more time for the body to create a new tissue layer around the piercing.

• Nose Piercing

Generally, taking between 3 to 6 months noise piercings can be healed. On the contrary, healing time also may depend on the place of the piercing.

The part of the nose that is more visible may heal sooner because it is exposed to the air, while the inside of the piercing must be cleaned with a flashlight.

Wondering what to do if you have a bump on your piercing? Here's an idea for you!

• Stay Calm And Avoid Touching

Do not touch the bump, prod it or twist it since that will make it more sore or infected than it already is.

Also, do not try to squeeze or pop the bump since this action leads to worsening of the situation.

• Apply A Warm Compress

Head to the kitchen, warm a clean cotton ball in a saline solution and use it on the bump. This can help calm down the swelling and soothing effect on the affected area.

• Consider Changing Jewelry

Once your infected area is healed, consider going to jewelry because the bump can be from irritation, poor fitting, or dirty jewelry.

• Use Tea Tree Oil

Although it may seem like a good idea to use hydrogen peroxide for cleaning, many devotees believe that tea tree oil is excellent for diminishing inflammation and redness around the piercing. 

• Sleep On A Clean Pillowcase

Stained and dirty pillow cases contribute to bacterial transfer and skin frustration.

Hence, allow your wound to breathe at night by sleeping with a clean pillowcase so that it does not irritate the piercing area.

• Use A Clean Makeup Brush

When applying makeup in the region of your piercing (especially nose piercing), it is advisable to clean your brushes.

Dirt laden brushes can cause introduction of bacteria into the area which may cause infection and inflammation.