[Indie'sOK]

I've had my nose ring for nearly a year - got it on october 1st. Today I tried to change it by myself for the second time. It took a while, and I ended up just putting my old one back in. The one I wanted to use was a screw shape, and the curve part on the end wasn't open enough. So now my nose hurts just a little, and the friction bump on the outside is bleeding. It's swollen, but not too bad. My question is, do you think I did much damage to my nose ring? It's always healed nicely, so I really am afraid I've done something to it, and that it might get infected. If you have anything to say on this, thanks so much

[Elysium]

Hi Indie

I've had my nose ring for almost 3 years and have had this happen a few times. It should heal up nicely and be fine in a few days. Any time there is broken skin there is always a chance of infection...but if you can, don't touch it or play with it and wash you hands before you do touch it if you have to.

Go back to basics. If you have some sea salt, or even regular salt I would suggest doing some warm salt water soaks for 5-10 minutes twice a day for a few days. Do some daily face washes and avoid using anything like alcohol or hydrogen peroxide; these can impair the tissue healing. It's generally not necessary to put any type of ointments on it either.

If you notice that it becomes more red and inflamed over the next day or to, or it starts to get pus drainage, or if you start running a fever, you should check with you Doc. It may have some clear/yellow drainage and form some crust around it while it's healing. That's normal.

It should be fine in a couple days.

If your new screw needs to be opened more, you can take it to any piercing shop and they should be able to open it more and they will typically do this for free. They could also help you put the new one in.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Take care

[Indie'sOK]

Thanks Elysium I'm wondering if the alcohol I used will do anything to it. I was hurriedly trying to put it back in because I've read the hole can close up quickly, and I think I got the alcohol confused with the salt water.

[anna342]

I was going to stay the same, the area just gets a bit irritated, will feel a bit bruised, but then calm down in a while.

[Elysium]

LOL!!

Don't worry about the alcohol that you already put on. It shouldn't damage it...maybe just dry out the skin a little.

After a year, the hole would probably close up after, I would say, anywhere from 1/2 hour to 2 hours...but I wouldn't test it.

My screw fell out at work once and I didn't know it...I think it was out for a few hours. I had to re-pierce it, but it only took some gentle pressure...was a little bruised for a day or two. I don't suggest trying to re-pierce yourself unless you have medical training. Usually, if you go in to a piercer and tell them that your site is starting to close they will open it up and supply you with an acrylic stud until you can get your jewelry back in.

[Indie'sOK]

Ok, good to know. Thanks

About it closing up - I knew before I got it pierced that it would cause a problem when I take the required high school gym class. I've had run-ins with the teacher before on the subject of body piercing. Yet, I did it anyway lol I know that I can't take it out every day, and I'm going to tell him this. That, and my other piercings. I can't keep a pair of CBR pliers in my locker!

[Elysium]

Does your school actually have a policy against wearing jewelry in Gym?

YIKES!!

What you can do is get your jewelry to where it is open enough for you to be able to get it in and out. It takes practice to get used to technique but once you get the hang of it it would be fine. It doesn't really hurt either...sometimes a little pinch/pull but not bad. Once you get the hang of it, you can get a clear acrylic stud that you can place there that is barely visible and most people don't notice it.

But...unless there is a written policy at your school about not being allowed to wear body jewelry...I say screw the gym instructor...It's your body...and if your parents don't have an issue with it then he should just get over it. If he doesn't like it he can take it to the school board and complain to them. They'll tell him he has to much time on his hands and to go home.

I work in the medical field and I get the occasional combative patient that likes to take a swing at me or grab for my face. My nasal screw has been the safest, most secure piercing I have and it's never been injured. I also have an eyebrow piercing and both conches pierced along with two in my upper ear (helix). Never had problems with any of them on the job, at school, or out in society.

You have a better chance of getting your hair caught in the Volleyball net...so maybe he'd like you to shave your head too? LOL!!

Take care.

[Indie'sOK]

LOL!

I don't think the school has any written rule against body piercing, since I've seen a few sophmores with a nose ring. I'm the only freshmen who has one

I can't wait to get my industrial bar..the look on his face will be priceless!

All of Elysium's advice is spot on. One thing i would really push as an apprentice peircer, is sea salt over regular salt.Regular salt has iodine, and constant iodine washes can cause irritation. The more natural the salt the better..in fact, if you live near a CLEAN ocean, even salt water from CLEAN body of water can be immensely helpful.(emphasis on CLEAN - if its polluted thats a whole other story)

Peircings close up at different rates for everyone. For example, my ears almost never have rings in them, I can go years without putting any in and they stay open. I can go about a day with my lip ring out, and i havent tested being without my madonna for any significant amount of time, ive only had it about eight months. Typically for me oral peircings tend to close extremely fast, whereas others do not. But its different for everyone. Its generally a good idea to always keep SOME kind of jewellery in - because if it does semi close and you have to punch it through unless you are using a hollow peircing needle or having it done professionally in a studio with one, you are causing mild tissue damage because of the blunt force. You can get clear acrylic studs though, for all types of peircings that you literally wont even notice.