Does septum piercing pain? How long does it take to heal? Explore more on septum piercing pain, healing process, itchy, infected, rejected septum, bumps and keloid.
Septum Piercing Pain
Septum piercing involves creating an incision in a soft spot that is located in front of the cartilage that separates the two nostrils. Septum piercing is mainly done using a needle unlike to other types of piercings such as the earlobe piercings that are done by a machine.
If you are inspired to have your septum pierced, there is some pain that you will feel. The pain is not that much agonizing. It is a pain that an adult person can manage or handle.
The pain also varies from one person to the other, some people who have undergone the session says that septum piercing is less painful while others says that it is relatively painful.
The way you perceive septum piercing also determines the pain. Some people does it is as fun and you will see them smiling and laughing after the procedure.
During the session you will feel a small hit in your nose that will make your eyes to water for a second. The tear is not necessarily because of pain. It is due to the nervous response that causes the receptors to respond inform of a tear. Therefore don’t get scared when you see people tearing while being pierced.
After septum piercing, you are supposed to take care while undressing your clothes not to damage the wound since it can cause new pains again. You are also not supposed to touch the wound before healing, or if you have to touch, do it gently with clean hands to avoid contaminations that can cause infections.
Septum piercing pain is only experienced during the session, but afterwards upon good care there is no any other pain that is experienced. You are supposed to ensure that the piercing studio uses clean equipment’s and the needle being used is sterilized before piercing.
Septum Piercing Healing
Septum piercing is not something new in the world. Both men and women are flooding piercing studios to get their septum pierced. However before making your steps towards the piercing studio, you are supposed to make yourself aware of the healing process for your septum piercing.
Healing time
The healing process may take 2 to 4 month to recover fully but you can be free after 1 month. For the first 2 weeks, your nose becomes tender. It becomes uncomfortable to blow your nose, during this duration you are supposed to take good care of your nose to avoid causing damage especially when taking off your clothes. The entire nose becomes painful to touch. If you are to touch it, do with a lot of gentleness.
The aftercare.
The septum piercing flip is not supposed to be removed for the first 1 to 2 month. Removing the septum piercing jewelry before healing causes an injury to the pierced area which can delay the healing process or even cause septum piercing pain. Also septum piercing is not permanent, it can easily close if it is left without a ring for a longer time.
White secretions may be formed around the flip. You are supposed to gently clean it up using sea salt cleanser with warm water. Wash your hand thoroughly then apply the solution of sea salt on the septum using clean cotton wool.
You can do it twice a day for 5 minutes until the secretion stops. In case you notice a green or yellow pus coming out of your septum, you are supposed to seek medication within the shortest time possible as it may be a sign of an infection
Cleaning and taking good care of your pierced septum fastens the healing process. Ensure you distance your nose from contaminations that cause infections which can delay the healing process. You can avoid alcohol for some time since it causes inflammation on the pierced septum.
Itchy Septum Piercing
Itchy septum piercing is a condition that some people may experience after 2 to 3 days from the piercing session. Itchy septum may come a long with other conditions such as a constant nose running that requires good septum piercing aftercare. The following are various things that causes this condition and how to control them.
- Itchy septum can be caused by an allergy. People who suffers from allergy may experience uncomfortable conditions when they pierce their septum such as uncontrolled running nose which is accompanied with some itches and sneezing.
- The other possible thing that may causes an itchy septum is the size of the jewelry bar bell. Bigger bar bells causes brushing against nostril walls and the nostril hair when trying to hide your septum piercing. This may cause itches. You are supposed to put on a correct jewel size to avoid such condition.
- When using a sea salt and water to clean your nose can also cause itching. A salt crystal can stick on the piercing causing some itches. You are supposed to ensure that the salt has dissolved completely in the warm water before applying it on to the pierced septum.
- Frequently moving the jewelry before healing can also cause itches. Jewelry movement causes damage to the circumference of the pierce that cause itching and septum piercing pain. This can also prolong the healing process.
- Itches can also be a sign of healing. As long as there is no presence of green or yellowish discharge or bad smell you don’t need to worry. You are only supposed to avoid scratching the pierced area.
- Infected septum piercing can also cause itching. You will notice an infection if there is presence of green or yellow discharge.
- Itchy septum piercings causes a lot of discomforts. You may feel to scratch the pierced area but you are supposed to try your best to avoid scratching. Scratching worsens the situation by increasing the healing time. It can also cause other infection.
Septum Piercing Keloid – Bump
Keloid is a scar like or pimple like tumor that grows around the pierced area or an injured area. They are believed to be formed when the skin tissues grow abnormally in response to the piercing or injury. Mostly they develop after an injury, a cut, piercings or as a result of acne. They develop on various parts of the body when injured such as the earlobes, septum, arms, also on the upper chest of the body.
Keloids causes different reactions on the body. They can cause itches, inflammations or cause red spots on the skin. When they are formed on the septum in the nose, they exert pressure on the walls of the nostril making the nose to swell up. They can even delay the healing process of the septum piercing and causing some septum piercing pain.
There is no any specific factors that cause keloids on the body since people have different experiences of the keloids. You can have a successful piercing without keloids but you may not be sure with your next piercing.
People with dark African skin are more vulnerable to keloids than the lighter skinned people. It is also believed to be inherited in genes. If you have people in your family that have keloids, you should avoid piercing your body. You should also avoid pierces when you notice keloids on your first attempt.
Treatment of keloids
There are various ways that you can use to treat or minimize the size of the keloids. You are required to seek treatmenttheearlier you discovers to minimize the overgrowth of the keloids. Below are various treatment methods.
- Natural oils such as the tea tree oil found in organic stores can be used in the treatment of keloids when discovered on time. Some people have had good experience in the use of this oil in treating and minimizing the occurrence of keloids.
- Soaking the pieced septum in warm sea salt cleanser is a natural way of treating and preventing the keloids to grow on the septum. Also it helps to reduce other problems such as the septum piercing pains. This can also be applied to other types of piercings.
- Removing jewelry immediately you discovers the keloid. This allows the piercing to close hence minimizing the size of the keloid.
- The already developed keloids can be treated by surgical operation or by plastic surgery.
Infected Septum Piercing Symptoms and Signs
New septum piercing can get an infection as well as to old piercing that has already healed; therefore you are required to give your piercing a good aftercare.
The nose harbors some bacteria that can cause an infection to your septum piercing. It may become difficult to notice an infection to the septum piercing due to its location and therefore the symptoms below will help you to find out if your septum piercing is infected:
Your septum becomes red and tender. The redness on your septum is normal for the first two weeks after the piercing session but if the redness persists for more than two weeks, it may be a sign of an infection.
Your nose becomes swollen for a longer time than the required time.
Presence of green or yellow discharge from pierced area. Yellow discharge is normal after a week from the session but extreme amount of discharge should worry you.
- Your septum becomes painful to touch for a longer time.
- Bleedings may occur. Bleeding is normal during piercing session but bleedings that may occur later may be a sign of infections.
- Formation of excessive crusts on the wound.
- Prolonged healing process.
Infected Septum Piercings Causes
Body piercings as well as to the septum piercing can cause an infection to your body. A great care is needed while handling such body piercings. You are likely to infect your septum piercing during the cleaning time.
The equipment’s you are using may be carrying bacteria that can cause an infection. You are supposed to wash your hands thoroughly with clean water and antibacterial soap before touching the pierced site or the area around it.
The type of piercing studio determines a lot about the health of your piercing. Some studios are cheap but the equipment’s they are using are not very clean. They can easily cause an infection to your piercing.
It is better if you can spend more in an expensive piercing studio to have a successful and healthy piercing than spending less in unhealthy piercing studio that can cause infection. Remember that cheap is expensive, you will end up spending more treating the infected piercing than the amount you could have used in an expensive studio. Before the piercing session, ensure that the needle is well sterilized.
Poor septum piercing aftercare can also lead to an infection. Failing to clean the pierced site leads to development of crusting that harbors infection causing bacteria. Cleaning the pierced site twice a day is recommended for a healthy septum piercing.
Always use clean disposable cotton wool while cleaning, avoid using a towel as it may contain bacteria however clean it may look. Also ensure that your hands are thoroughly washed with an antibacterial soap.
Using a wrong septum piercing jewelry also causes an infection. Wrong jewelry gauge and material causes allergic condition to some people.
Your body may take different reactions to different jewelry material, nickel mostly causes allergic reactions with most people, and you can alternatively use titanium if your body is hypersensitive to metals. Ensure that you use a correct gauge; if your body reacts to larger gauges of 18 to 16 you can try lower gauges of 14 to 12.
Poor personal hygiene can also cause and infection. Dirty clothing’s and beddings can harbor infection causing bacteria. Take shower regularly and cleaning your clothes and beddings is recommended for a healthy piercing.
Infected septum piercings becomes swollen and tender causing it difficult for cleaning. It becomes painful therefore you are supposed to be gentle while cleaning. Use a soft cotton wool soaked in sea salt cleanser to compress gently the pierced site. Avoid rubbing the area with a cotton wool as it may cause bleeding
Presence of green or yellow discharge from the infected piercings should worry you. Presence of small yellow discharge may be normal. If this condition becomes extreme it’s advisable to clean the piercing using sea salt cleanser, avoid using table salt as it may be itching. If this symptom of infection does not change by homemade treatments, you are advised to visit your doctor for treatment.
Infections can trigger your body to develop allergic reactions to the metals. This can cause septum piercing rejection and migration of the jewelry. A rejection is whereby your body considers the metal as a threat to your healthy, therefore it reacts by expelling the metal out of your body. Treating the infections on time can help to minimize such cases.
How to Heal an Infected Septum Piercing
A healthy and successful piercing is a dream of any person who is intending to make an incision in his or her septum. Poor aftercare tips may results into an infected septum. Before starting the process healing an infected septum, you first of all need to be observant enough to see the following symptoms on the piercing:
- Swollen and tender on the septum
- Prolonged discharge of green or yellow discharge from the incision.
- Redness that may spread to the neighboring areas.
- Inflammation and pain from the piercings.
- Bleeding of the piercing.
Once you realize the above symptoms ensure that your piercing is kept clean, thoroughly wash your hands with running water using antibacterial detergent. Take a clean disposable cotton wool and soak it in a solution of sea salt cleanser and warm water.
Gently compress the piercing with a cotton wool twice a day. In the morning and evening before and after going to bed clean yourself and your beddings to avoid infections to the infected piercings.
There is also another natural method of healing the infected piercing by using natural antibiotics. A tea tree oil is commonly used. You simply soak a cotton wool in to the tea tree oil then you compress it gently on the infected piercing. You will be able to see changes when done twice a day for one week.
Avoid removing or rotating your jewelry while healing an infected septum. Rotating can cause burnings or irritations to the infected septum. There is some conditions that may force you to remove the jewelry for example when your body develops an allergy to the metal. You are advised to visit your piercer to remove or replace it gently.
If the symptoms persist you are recommended to visit your doctor for treatments. Your doctor will prescribe some antibiotics that will help to heal the piercing. You may also be given some creams to apply to the infected area. The dosage may be for one week. Ensure you complete your dose and follow the necessary instructions to avoid reoccurrences of the infection.
Swollen Septum Piercing – Sore and Pain
Swollen septum piercing is due to different causes. Septum piercing swells for the first week after piercing. The swelling goes away after when the healing process is initiated. If the swellings retain for a longer time, it may be indicating that your septum is infected.
Cleaning your piercing with warm water and sea salt helps to ease a swollen septum piercing. You simply use a clean cotton wool soaked in the salt solution to compress the pierced site twice a day.
You septum piercing may also swell due to the formation of keloids. These are bigger scars that develop on the healing piercing. They exert pressure on the walls of nostrils and septum making the whole nose to swell up.
Keloids can be removed or minimized naturally using the sea salt cleanser and use of tree tea oils. Also they can be removed by surgical operations.
Swollen septum causes some septum piercing pain, therefore you are supposed to be gentle while cleaning or taking off your clothes. Be aware that any damage done to the piercing delays healing time.
Signs of Septum Piercing Rejection
Rejection happens when your body reacts to the jewelry by pushing it away from the body towards to the surface while healing the skin behind.
This causes the tissues between the surface and the jewelry to become narrow and narrower which eventually makes the jewelry to come out of the skin. This happens when your body considers the jewelry as a threat to your health therefore it reacts by eliminating it from your body.
- You will notice the rejection when you start to observe the following signs:
- The septum piercing becomes sore and painful over a long time
- The jewelry starts to move closer to the surface
- The septum piercing refuses to heal. It can take more than a year
- Secretion of greenish discharge. The amount of discharge increases from the septum.
- The septum becomes red. You can easily see the whole jewelry from the skin surface.
- Septum Piercing Rejection-Rejecting Septum Piercing
Rejection occurs when your body becomes hypersensitive to foreign objects. Your body will consider the object as a life threatening to your healthy, therefore it creates a self-defense mechanism by pushing the object away from your body which is eventually expelled out. Rejection starts by the jewelry migrating from its original place towards the surface.
Rejection is not prone to everyone. It depends with the way your body responds to foreign objects. Rejection mostly occurs when the piercing is done close to the surface and once it starts to happen, there is little you can do.
The only thing you can do is to remove the jewelry to allow the piercing to heal closing the hole. When you discover that your septum piercing is rejecting it’s advisable to remove the jewelry before a bigger hole is left that will take more septum piercing healing time and make a bigger scar.
When your septum piercing rejects, that should not be the end of your road in exploring the beauty on your body. It does not mean that when one piercing rejects the other one will reject too. There is so many ways of killing a rat. If one fails you try the other ways. You can make another pierce and employ new measures to ensure that it heals successfully.1
If your body rejects the stainless steelseptum piercing jewelry, you can opt for other materials such as the niobium, biocompatible plastics or titanium. The heavy gauges jewelry are also characterized with rejection in some people, you can try using lighter gauges of 14 to 12. if 14 gauge or 12 gauge did not work well, you can try using a lighter gauge of 16 or 18.
Most of the septum piercing done near to the surface of the skin ends up being rejected. The piercing should hold enough flesh of about 1.6millimetres from the skin surface to prevent septum piercing rejection. The piercings done 1millimetre from the surface ends up being rejected. Ensure that the piercer is experienced enough to perform a successful piercing.
Good septum piercing aftercare also aids in a successful piercing. When you take good care of your piercing, the chances of rejection are minimized. Infections can cause septum piercing pain and itches which delays the healing process hence facilitating rejection.
Rejecting septum piercing becomes tender and sore for a longer time. It may be accompanied with presence of a discharge that becomes resistance to aftercare treatments. This provides enough time for rejection to take place. Pain and soreness is normal for few days or two weeks after piercing. But prolonged soreness may be indicating something else.
Rejecting septum piercing may also develop an infection. Presence of yellow or green discharge may be an indication of an infection. You are supposed to seek treatment before the situation becomes worse. Infection delays healing which facilitates rejection.
Rejected Septum Piercing
Rejected septum piercing shows some symptoms and if you are observant enough you will be able to discover it on time. The signs are similar to those of an infection but the only difference is that, an infection takes little time to heal while those for septum piercing rejection takes longer time. It can take up to years.
Tender and soreness are normal for new septum piercing but if the pain becomes too much for a longer time it may be indicating something else. It can either be an infected piercing or a rejected septum piercing. You can proceed with your aftercare treatment but if it becomes resistance then it can be a rejected septum piercing.
Itchy septum piercingcan be an indication of healing but when it becomes chronic it can be a sign of an infection or a rejection. Therefore you have to get prepared for any outcome. Rejected piercings takes longer itching time compared to an infection.
The pierced hole may start to become bigger moving towards the skin surface. This is a clear indication that the body is trying to move the jewelry away from the body. The movement may be followed by healing of the tissues behind the piercing.
The rejected septum may also become red making it clear to see the object from the tissues. This shows that your body is expelling out the object. Therefore if you may experience the above conditions for longer time it may be a rejected septum piercing.
Septum Piercing Migration
Migration is a movement from one location to a settle in another different location. When septum piercing migration occurs, it moves through the skin to settle in another location that it may be favorable to it. Migration does not occur from one organ of the body to the other, it only moves few millimeters from its original position to a new position.
Septum piercing migration differs from one person to another. It is also prone to some people than others. It is mostly determined by the hypersensitivity of your body to metals.When your body becomes allergic to some jewelry it creates a self-mechanism of moving that object away from the body or completely expelling that object out of the body.
Migration is a gradual process, it can take years before you can start noticing the following signs of septum piercing migration:
- The circumference of the pierced hole becomes bigger than the initial one.
- The metal object or the jewelry becomes loose than it used to hang before.
- The pierced area becomes red, sore and more sensitive over a long time.
- The jewelry moves closer to the surface making the bar bell to be more visible.
Septum piercing rejection and migration cannot stop once it has started to move. The better thing you can do is to remove the jewelry to allow it to heal and close completely. The earlier you remove the jewelry the better. If the jewelry is left there for longer time, the hole will become bigger which can cause a bigger scar upon healing.
When your piercing migrates, you are not supposed to get afraid of making other pierces. You can change the type of the jewelry. If you were using steel jewelry, you can simply change to titanium or niobium. Some times bigger or heavy jewelries contributes to migration.
The gauge of the jewelry also matters, heavy gauges that ranges from 16 to 18 can cause migration. If you have experienced the above migration signs, you can opt for lighter gauges of a range between 12 and 14.
Less experienced piercers performs thinner piercing of about 1.2mm which are prone to migrations. A good pierce should not be less than 1.6mm thick. Therefore before choosing the piercing studio, you should consider the experience of the piercer.
Migration is an irritating condition that can lead to rejection. Therefore you are supposed to apply the necessary measures to ensure that this condition is minimized.
Septum Piercing Scar and Bump
A scar is one thing that you should expect after septum piercing and any other type of piercings on your body. A scar develops as a result of healing or it may develop after the piercing object is removed. There are various occasions that may force you to remove your septum jewelry such as in case of a septum piercing rejection. You will be forced to remove the jewelry and hence a scar will be created after healing.
A scar can develop into a keloid but this is not common to everyone. The darker skinned people are more prone to keloids than lighter skinned people. Keloids have scared so many people from getting their skin pierced. But there various way you can prevent the occurrence of keloids.
The type of scar varies from one person to another depending with the type of your skin. Some may be bigger while others are small in size. The scars will disappear as you grow old making the pierced area to look uniformly with the skin around it.
The scars can be treated naturally using the tea tree oil, virgin olive oil, germ seed oil and sea salt or you can opt for surgical treatment.