Have you just gotten a new septum piercing? Is your nose running nonstop ever since? If this sounds like you, don’t worry—you’re not alone!
Runny noses are very common with septum piercings, and they’re almost always nothing to worry about. They can be irritating while your nose is trying to heal, but they’re just part of your body getting used to the presence of the piercing.
In the article below, we’ll look a little deeper at the relationship between your nose and your piercing. Check out this information to find answers to all of your questions about your new septum piercing.
Is it normal to have a runny nose after a septum piercing?
Yes, although it’s not necessarily always going to happen. Any time you do something to affect your nose, like getting it pierced, your body’s natural response is to try to flush away the cause of the “wound.” It does this by making your nose run.
Additionally, the presence of something your body isn’t used to that is now attached to your nose can irritate your nasal passage. This problem can also lead to a runny nose. A runny nose caused by your septum piercing isn’t anything to be worried about, as long as you don’t also have a fever.
How long does the runny nose last?
Your runny nose should only last a few days after your septum piercing. Some people experience this side effect for up to a week following the piercing, but it should clear up very soon. You might also experience some stuffiness in your nose along with runniness, but it will also clear up around the same time.
If for any reason your runny nose does not clear up in a week or so, or if you find yourself running a fever or having other symptoms of being actually sick, be sure to seek medical attention. These could be signs of an infection.
Is it normal for a septum piercing to hurt when you blow your nose?
If you’ve just gotten your septum piercing within the past week and you find yourself with a runny nose, the action of blowing your nose might hurt quite a bit. This is because the piercing is still trying to heal, and the blowing action is more likely to aggravate it.
Instead of blowing, try gently wiping your nose with a tissue or a Q-tip instead. After a week or two, you should be able to successfully blow your nose with no trouble.
Table could not be displayed.Can a septum piercing interfere with your sinuses?
It is possible that your septum piercing might cause your sinuses to stay aggravated all the time. This isn’t very common, but it does happen to some people. If you are unlucky enough to be one of them, you might find yourself with a runny nose that never stops, or with postnasal drip that never goes away.
In some cases, this problem can be remedied by upgrading to very high-quality industrial strength jewelry. Very rarely, some people can’t keep their septum piercings because of this problem, but there are a lot of other options to try before giving up and removing it.
Can a septum piercing affect your breathing?
For the most part, no. When you wear the piercing flipped down, there’s nothing that will get in the way of your breathing. However, when you flip it up, there is the chance that the ends of the jewelry will slightly get in the way of your nostrils, especially if you have a very thin nose.
Even if this does happen, though, there’s nothing to be worried about. You’ll still be able to breathe just fine—it just might feel a little different than you’re used to! There’s no real way a septum piercing could do anything to cause you difficulty when breathing.
Can a septum piercing affect your sense of smell?
Having a septum piercing won’t cause you to lose your sense of smell or make it more difficult for you to smell things. The piercing won’t block your nose from experiencing smell and won’t cause any damage to your nose or nasal passages either.
However, there is a chance you’ll notice a smell that isn’t quite right while you have your septum piercing. This is caused by a piercing that hasn’t been cleaned enough and has gotten a buildup of skin cells caked onto the jewelry. It may sound a little gross, but cleaning your jewelry regularly can prevent this problem.
Can your piercing get infected by snot from a runny nose?
It depends on the cause of the snot. Snot that happens as a result of seasonal allergies isn’t likely to be infected, so it probably won’t cause problems for your piercing. However, if you have a full-blown sinus infection, the bacteria in your snot could pose a problem for your piercing.
If your piercing is older and completely healed, you don’t have to worry about this. If it’s still healing, you should follow your piercer’s aftercare guidelines and also try rinsing your sinuses with a Neti pot to clear out any infection. And of course, go to the doctor if you notice you’ve got a fever.
Can you flip your septum on the first day or will this make your nose run more?
In terms of safety, there’s no reason not to flip your septum up or down on the first day you have it. Although it might cause some minor irritation to the skin of your nose, it won’t delay the healing process or lead to any issues with the piercing (although it might hurt!).
Flipping your septum piercing on the first day might cause your nose to run more, though. Every time you do this at first, your nose is going to feel irritated by the experience. Give it some time if you want to prevent the extra running.
Conclusion
When you take time to learn everything you need to know about your septum piercing, you’ll be able to go to your appointment with more confidence. And if you’ve already gotten your piercing, it’s a great idea to brush up on these answers to some of the most common questions relating to new septum piercings, too.
Always remember to listen to what your piercer has told you when it comes to aftercare. Your piercer has the best recommendations for your specific piercing’s needs, so you should follow these guidelines to help yourself heal as fast as possible. In a couple of months, your piercing should be completely healed and ready for you to fully enjoy it!