You did everything right. You got pierced by a professional, followed your aftercare routine, and handled it gently. Still, one day, your nostril piercing starts hurting, and a bump appears.
Now you’re thinking, “What did I do wrong?”
Before you start searching for answers and applying random advice found on the internet, read this first. Whether it’s a nose piercing bump or something you’re also dealing with on an ear piercing, the causes are usually the same. And it’s easy to treat, but not if you follow random suggestions from random people. These DIY creams or tips can do more harm than good.
So let’s understand everything you need to know about these annoying bumps and get into the details.
Types of nose piercing bumps
There are three types of raised spots. Knowing the difference between them is important because the solutions depend entirely on what you’re dealing with.
Irritation bumps are what most people have.
Indicators are:
- They are small
- They are flesh-coloured or slightly red.
- They form really close to the Jewellery.
If you see healing is slow or delayed, it’s usually due to ongoing irritation. This can come from pressure from sleeping on it, jewellery that doesn’t suit the area, or mistakes like it snagging on a towel common concerns often linked to piercing myths. These may look worrying, but are easy to manage. Once you understand and fix the cause, the bump disappears too.
Hypertrophic scars are a result of your body producing excessive collagen when that area is healing. The things that are distinct about it are
- They’re stubborn.
- Takes a lot of time to go away, typically months
- Develop slowly over time
In this type of scar, you’ll need to care for it consistently. There are no shortcuts or quick remedies.
Keloids are rare, and this is where it can be a bit concerning. A true keloid can be identified if it:
- grows past the wound site and doesn’t stay contained.
- It is firm and darker than the rest of the skin.
- doesn’t get better with compresses or aftercare.
If these signs match your situation and the bump doesn’t show signs of getting better, reach out to a dermatologist.
Still reading and trying to decide which one you have? It’s most probably an irritation bump. That’s what the vast majority of people are dealing with, and that’s what we’re going to focus on.
Why Irritation Bumps Form
You can’t fix a problem you don’t understand. So here are the common causes that you should know are behind this issue:
Jewelry material: This is the most common culprit. Low-quality metals, anything with high nickel content, and plated pieces where the coating disintegrates can all cause an allergic reaction. At Galima Professional Piercing and Aftercare, we use surgical stainless steel and titanium for some body parts. If you got your nose piercing from an unreliable place using low-quality metals, that might be the main cause of this issue.
Constant friction is another big cause. The tissue inside a fresh piercing is building a stable, healed channel of skin(fistula) around the jewelry. Every time the jewelry moves excessively, the healing process gets disrupted. Adjusting your nostril ring out of habit or sleeping on your face leads to irritation buildup.
Over-aggressive aftercare: Cleaning a healing piercing multiple times a day with the wrong products strips the tissue and, ironically, causes as much damage as neglecting aftercare entirely. The affected area needs space to heal properly, and understanding this is necessary.
Non-hygienic lifestyle: Not cleaning the piercing area, touching the piercing with dirty hands, wiping it with an unclean cloth, and sleeping on a dirty pillow can lead to infection. The infection thus results in irritation, causing bumps.
What Are the Solutions
Aftercare spray, twice a day, consistently. These are professional solutions that you can find at medical stores or from your piercer. For us, STUDEX® Advanced 2-IN-1 Piercing Cleanser & Aftercare is reliable, and that’s what we carry at our studio. These solutions are meant to keep the area clean. Actual professional sprays are free of harsh chemicals that damage healing tissue, and it’s what you should look for.
Stop touching the area. Everyone is aware that doing this is harmful, but the habit doesn’t let them stop. If this is an issue you face, try to be more mindful because this is one of the biggest causes of irritation and infections. It interrupts the repairing process and introduces bacteria from your hands. For most of our clients, this alone resolves their issues.
Come back in and get the jewelry assessed. For lumps that are by your side for months, even after proper care, they need to be checked by an expert piercer. A jewelry change or a downsize to a shorter post (once the initial swelling has gone down) solves a lot of cases. Don’t wait months before doing this.
Warm compresses. Soak a clean cloth in warm water and hold it against the area to improve circulation. It helps in speeding up the skin-repairing process. Chamomile tea bags used as a warm compress are recommended because chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties. But make sure they are warm and not burning hot.
What Makes It Worse (Stop Doing These)
Tea tree oil: It’s the most famous home remedy, but it has made the irritation worse for so many people. The problem isn’t the oil, it’s the potency and how much it’s used. Depending on this, it can irritate the area more than it could have made it better.
Rubbing alcohol: Using this directly on the piercing is the harshest thing you can do. They damage the cells that aid in repairing the skin. Many people believe it’s a good product to use, but it’s not recommended by experts.
Trying to squeeze or pop the bump: these are very different from typical pimples, so popping them is not a good idea. If you try to squeeze, it can cause trauma to the area and set healing back considerably.
Difference between Ear Piercings and Nostril Piercings lumps
Ear piercing bumps are pretty similar to nostril bumps, but they tend to take longer to go away because the tissue is thicker. Earlobes usually heal a bit more easily since they’re softer and get better blood flow.
On the contrary, nose piercings have poorer blood supply than soft tissue, which means slower healing, and it’s easier for bumps to appear.
The same care applies to softer areas like lobes, and in harder areas, it’s just that the cartilage needs more patience.
When to reach out to a professional
These are some signs of infection that you can’t treat with aftercare; you’ll need proper treatment. Visit an expert if:
- The bump keeps growing
- Is warm to the touch
- There’s discharge that isn’t clear, such as yellow or green
- If the discharge is smelly.
- It’s been three to four months, but you see no improvement
- There’s a sharp pain instead of a tender feeling
Conclusion
A bump next to a nostril or ear piercing is a reaction to irritation in most cases. And it’s usually caused by one of these three: jewelry quality, wrong aftercare, or too much friction. So before panicking or going to a doctor, try to fix these factors related to piercing in Pakistan. However, if you are unsure, get some guidance; it saves you from unnecessary pain.
And if you’re thinking about getting a nostril piercing from a professional, visit Galima Professional Piercing and Aftercare today.
