The old phrase “keep your nose clean” gets a whole new meaning when you get your nose pierced. Luckily, nose piercings are one of the easiest piercings to keep clean. Remember to always wash your hands before cleaning your piercing.
Salt Water
The most recommended way to clean a nose piercing is salt water soaks. Put a small pinch of sea salt in one cup of water and let it dissolve. You can dunk your nose in the cup of water to let it soak, or you can take a cotton ball and hold it over your nose for a few minutes. If you use the cotton ball method be sure to clean the inside and the outside of your nose. Remove any crust around your nose piercing. After cleaning your nose piercing let your nose soak under warm running water to remove any excess salt water. Do this for about three minutes once daily and additional times for about a minute if desired.
Cleaning Solution
Purchase a mild liquid antibacterial soap that is unscented and clear. Dilute the soap with distilled water to make it less harsh on your skin. Do not use products that have Triclosan as the active ingredient because they will be extra harsh on your skin. Mix the soap and water in a small cup, do not use the whole cup because you will not need that much to clean your nose. Dip a q-tip in the solution, then clean the outside of your nose and piercing of any crust that has formed. Dip the other end of the q-tip in the solution and clean the inside of your nose around the piercing. Do this once in the morning and once at night, or once at night if your skin is very sensitive.
Saline Solution
Saline solution is one of the easiest ways to clean a nose piercing. It does not require any mixing like the other methods. Squirt some solution into a small cup and use a q-tip or cotton ball like you would in the other methods. If you want, you can even apply the saline solution directly on your nose. Make sure to remove any crust and clean the inside and outside of your nose.
For new piercings, you can also apply a dot of lavender oil to your nose piercing to help the healing process. Whether cleaning your nose using salt water solution, cleaning solution, or saline solution, always keep it to a minimum of two cleanings a day so you don’t irritate your skin. Never clean your nose piercing using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, you will be sorry you did.