Infection can sometimes happen after a new piercing, but older septum piercings aren't immune to infection. It's good to know what to look for so you can treat an infected septum piercing early!
What is a septum piercing?
Getting a septum piercing can be a new and exciting way to change your look. A septum piercing is a type of body piercing that passes through the cartilage dividing the nostrils.
It is one of the most popular piercings among both men and women. But having an infected septum piercing can be a real headache.
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Septum piercing is one of the least infection-prone piercings
The truth is that septum piercings are actually some of the least infection-prone piercings.
That's because of their unique location. Septum piercings are placed right in front of your nasal cartilage, so they're located in a mucous membrane in the nose. That mucous membrane makes the piercing effectively self-cleaning.
Still, it's possible to experience an infection in a septum piercing.
What Does an Infected Septum Piercing Look Like?
How to know if your septum piercing is infected? If your septum piercing has become infected, you can usually tell by looking at the infected septum piercing symptoms.
For example, persistent redness around the piercing site is an early sign. Of course, if your piercing is new, some redness is expected. But if it persists after about two weeks, chances are good that you have an infection. Here are some of the symptoms to look for.
Infected septum piercing symptoms
- Soreness and tenderness around the piercing site, especially if you try to touch it
- Bleeding from an old piercing or more than three days after a new piercing
- A bump at the piercing site
- Discharge coming from the piercing, especially yellow or green pus
- Septum swelling and pain that lasts for more than two weeks
- Crusting at the piercing site
It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between an infected septum piercing and a piercing that is just going through the normal healing process. But if you notice any of the above symptoms, it's likely infected. Of course, when in doubt, it's good to reach out to your piercer or doctor for advice.
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How to Treat an Infected Septum Piercing?
The good news is that in many cases, you can successfully treat an infected septum piercing yourself. Here are a few simple steps you can take to treat an infection:
- Wash your hands.
- Clean the infected septum piercing. Make a salt solution by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of salt with one cup of water. Stir the solution until it dissolves. As an alternative, you can also use antiseptic solutions, such as betadine, isopropyl alcohol, or diluted hydrogen peroxide.
- Soak a cotton ball in the solution and dab it around the piercing site. Don't remove the jewelry!
- Take clean gauze or tissue and pat the area dry.
- Apply a small amount of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment.
- Gently turn or move the jewelry to make sure it isn't sticking to the skin.
- Go to your doctor if the infection is still not improving.
Follow these steps three times a day. To avoid possible re-infection as the infection site clears up, change your pillowcase at least once every three days.
As a general rule of thumb, follow the above steps for three days. If the infection is still not improving, make an appointment with your doctor to have the site evaluated.
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