A septum piercing can heal smoothly with the right care. Good septum piercing aftercare helps prevent irritation. It can also help your piercing heal faster. With proper care, your nose piercing can stay comfortable.
This aftercare guide explains how to clean a septum piercing. It also covers what to avoid and what is normal during the healing process.
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A new piercing is a fresh wound with delicate tissue, especially in the sensitive septum area. The inside of your nose is exposed to air, bacteria, and movement every day. Proper care is important.
Many people ask, do septum piercings get infected easily? Not really, if you take care of it the right way. Most infections happen when people touch the piercing too much, use harsh products, or do not keep it clean.
Skipping aftercare can cause irritation, piercing bumps, or infection, and it can slow healing.
Most septum piercings heal in about three to five months. Healing time can vary based on your body and how well you follow aftercare.
You’re finally home after getting a new septum piercing, now what? It’s time for aftercare. Follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions. We’ll go over how to clean a fresh septum piercing.
Always wash your hands before cleaning your piercing. Clean hands help prevent bacteria from entering the area and reduce the risk of infection.
Use a sterile saline spray to clean your septum piercing. Hold the can a few inches away from the piercing site. Spray inside each nostril so the area is fully covered.
Let the saline sit for a minute or two. This helps soften any dried fluid. Then let it air dry or gently pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Avoid using cotton balls or cotton swabs. The fibers can get caught on the piercing jewelry. Do not touch the piercing or the jewelry.
Clean your piercing two times a day, usually in the morning and at night. Do not overdo it. Over-cleaning can irritate the piercing and slow healing.
Use a saline labeled as wound wash. It should only contain water and sodium chloride at 0.9%.Do not use other saline products like nose sprays or eye solutions. These can contain extra ingredients that are too harsh for a healing piercing.
Keep cleaning your septum piercing until it is fully healed.
Can you make your own saline solution? While it is possible to make a sea salt soak, it is no longer recommended by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). It is easy to mix it wrong. This can make the solution too strong and dry out the piercing.
SHOP SALINE SPRAY AND AFTERCARE
It is normal to see dried fluid around your jewelry. These are commonly called crusties, and they are part of the healing process.Do not pick at them. Let them fall off on their own. You can soften them by letting warm water run over the area in the shower. Using saline spray after can help rinse them away.Avoid pulling crusties off when they are dry. This can irritate the piercing and slow healing.
After cleaning, gently dry the area around the piercing with a clean paper towel. Keeping the body piercing dry helps prevent moisture buildup and irritation. It also supports proper healing.
It is important to leave your jewelry in place and avoid unnecessary movement. Twisting, spinning, or playing with the jewelry can irritate the piercing and slow the healing process.
So what should you avoid during the healing process? A septum piercing needs time to heal. Treat it like a fresh wound.
Can I flip my septum on the first day? Some people may need to hide their septum piercing while it heals. If this is the case, let your piercer know. They’ll flip it up for you during your appointment or they might use a piercing retainer. If you plan to do this, once the piercer flips it up, you will need to leave it there. You won’t be able to flip it back down until it is fully healed. Flipping the jewelry up and down while your septum is healing can irritate the piercing and delay healing.Once your piercing is fully healed, you can flip it up if you need to hide it. For more details on how to flip your septum jewelry, check out our complete septum guide.
How do you blow your nose with a fresh septum piercing? It can feel uncomfortable. Be gentle. Try to dab your nose with a clean tissue instead of blowing it. This helps avoid pressure on the jewelry.
If you need to blow your nose, do it slowly. Blow one nostril at a time. Try not to touch the piercing. Afterward, rinse the area with saline to keep it clean.
If you have allergies or a cold, keep up with your aftercare. Too much nose blowing can cause irritation, so be careful and avoid pressure on the piercing.
During healing, it is normal to experience mild swelling, tenderness, and a clear or slightly yellow discharge that dries into a crust. You may also notice some soreness around the sweet spot where the jewelry sits.
However, certain symptoms can be signs of a problem. Thick green or dark yellow pus, severe or worsening swelling, intense pain, or heat around the piercing are not normal. A fever is also a warning sign. If you notice any of these symptoms, go see your piercer or doctor.
The healing process happens in three healing stages. These are called the inflammation stage, the proliferation stage, and the maturation stage. Ideally, your body will go from one stage to the next, but sometimes healing isn’t always linear. A bad bump or snag can delay healing and set you back. Be careful and keep up with your aftercare.
During the inflammation stage, which is the first few weeks, your body starts to close the wound. You may have swelling, tenderness, and light bleeding.
During the proliferation stage, which lasts a few months, swelling and redness go down. You may still see crusties. Around two months, the piercing may look healed on the outside, but it is still healing inside. Even if your piercing looks healed, it’s important to continue proper aftercare until the tissue has fully recovered.
During the maturation stage, your body strengthens the piercing channel, also called the fistula. The area feels less sensitive, and you should see little to no crusties. The color should return to normal. Most septum piercings take three to five months to fully heal.
So, when can you switch to septum rings? You should wait until your septum piercing is fully healed before changing the jewelry. Even after the full healing period has passed, wait a couple more weeks before switching jewelry to ensure your piercing is fully healed.
How do you know when your septum piercing is fully healed? The piercing should no longer be painful, sensitive, irritated, red, swollen, or have any discharge. The jewelry should also move freely and pain-free.
If you still notice soreness or crusting, your piercing is still healing and it's best to give it more time. If you’re not sure if your piercing is healed, a professional piercer can check it out.
No, you shouldn’t switch your jewelry. Switching to a septum retainer can disrupt the healing process and delay healing. Wait until your piercing fully heals to switch to a septum retainer.
If you know you need a septum retainer while your piercing heals, tell your piercer ahead of time. They may not have a glass retainer on-hand and may need to order one for your appointment. While your piercing heals, a glass retainer should be used. Glass is smooth, non-porous and doesn’t harbor bacteria, making it a great option for a healing piercing.
Once your piercing is healed, you can wear different types of retainers made from acrylic, titanium, and bioflex. If you ever need surgery, an MRI, or a dental procedure, see our guide to piercing retainers for medical procedures.
One of the most popular options is a flip-up septum retainer. These retainers are designed so you can rotate them up inside your nostrils, keeping the jewelry out of sight during practice or competition.
Because they stay tucked away, they're a great option for sports where visible jewelry isn't allowed but retainers are permitted.
Another great choice is a staple retainer. These have a simple U-shaped design that sits comfortably inside the piercing while maintaining a very low profile.
Staple retainers are available in materials such as:
These materials are lightweight, smooth, and designed to fit snugly, making them less likely to shift around during physical activity.
If you have a stretched septum piercing, ear skins can be an excellent solution.
Soft silicone ear skins are:
Many people with larger gauge septum piercings prefer ear skins because they stay comfortable during activity while keeping the piercing discreet.
Choose a retainer that fits properly so it stays secure during movement. A loose retainer can shift or fall out more easily during intense activity.
Even if your retainer is completely hidden, that doesn't automatically mean it's allowed.
Some schools, leagues, and athletic organizations require athletes to remove all body jewelry before participating. These policies are usually in place to help reduce the risk of injury during contact.
If retainers aren't allowed, you may need to remove your septum jewelry temporarily during games or practices and reinsert it afterward if your piercing is healed enough to do so.
Even after your septum piercing is fully healed, aftercare doesn’t stop. Keeping your jewelry and piercing clean helps prevent buildup and irritation over time. You can rinse the area with saline occasionally or clean your jewelry and piercing while you shower. Check out a step-by-step guide on how to clean a healed septum piercing here.
If you change your jewelry, wash your hands first and clean your new jewelry before inserting it. It is also a good idea to prioritize high-quality materials and avoid low-quality ones, as they can cause irritation even in healed piercings.
Pay attention to how your piercing feels. If you notice irritation after switching jewelry or after long periods without cleaning, a simple saline rinse can help calm the area.
Septum piercing aftercare is simple when you stay consistent. Clean your piercing with saline and avoid touching it. Give your body time to heal. This helps prevent problems. It also helps your piercing heal well.
For a full overview of the septum piercing process, placement, FAQs, and jewelry styles, see our complete septum piercing guide.
