Nose piercing types: body jewelry not free of risks

The trend of getting a nose piercing is still going strong in the world. Teenagers and young adults in particular like to have various parts of their bodies adorned with studs or rings. Alongside the ears, lips and stomach, the nose is one of the most popular piercings. Here you can find out where the trend comes from, how nose piercings are done, what health risks are associated with them and what is important for aftercare.

Overview:

• Nose Piercing types
• procedure for piercing
• Tips for Healing & Care
• Possible risks

Nostril, Septum & Co. – the different nose piercing types

The nose piercing is one of the more conspicuous piercings, as the jewelry is placed very prominently on the face. Depending on where the piercing is done on the nose , different names are used:

Nostril piercings : The most common form of nose piercing involves piercing the right or left nostril.

Septum piercing : The septum piercing is one of the oldest types. The piercing is inserted through the connective tissue below the nasal septum cartilage. A nose ring is usually chosen. For example, if your job does not allow you to wear visible piercings, horseshoe-shaped circular barbells may be suitable. The advantage: They can be easily folded upwards and are therefore easy to hide at work.

Nasallang : A nasallang is pierced horizontally through the nose (both nostrils and nasal septum).

Austin Bar : This rare form involves a piercing through the tip of the nose. The nostrils or nasal septum are not affected.

Bridge piercing : The jewelry is placed at the top of the bridge of the nose, horizontally between the eyes.

How does a piercing work? This is how it works

If you want to get a nose piercing , you should go to a trustworthy piercer . Jewelers also occasionally offer piercings, but you should never get a nose piercing done with an ear piercing gun . These cannot be cleaned sterilely, which increases the risk of infection. In addition, the “shooting” can tear the tissue, which means the healing process takes longer.

An experienced piercer will first start by thoroughly disinfecting the relevant part of the nose . Then he will mark the piercing point with a pen. For a nostril piercing, the piercer pierces the nostril with a disposable needle that is covered with plastic or Teflon. To protect the nasal septum, he can also place a protective tube in the nose. The plastic or Teflon coating remains in the nose , and the jewelry can now be passed through this cannula and the nose piercing can be closed with a small ball.

The other nose piercings are a little more complicated : with a nasallang piercing, the nasal septum has to be pierced, while with a bridge piercing, the root of the nose has to be pierced. Therefore, ask your piercer to explain the exact procedure and possible complications before the procedure.

There are various materials available for piercings, such as yellow and white gold, medical stainless steel or titanium. It is best to ask your piercer about the properties of the respective materials. Nickel and materials containing nickel that release more than 0.2 milligrams per cubic centimeter in a week are not permitted according to an EU directive, as they can cause allergic reactions.

Healing Tips: How to Properly Care for Your Piercing

Skin reactions to a new piercing are usually redness and swelling . Light bleeding may also occur.

Proper care is essential to prevent the nose piercing from becoming infected . In the first four to five weeks, you should disinfect the skin around the piercing site twice a day and apply a wound healing ointment . You can use a saline solution to carefully loosen and remove residue and crusts.

The duration of the healing process varies depending on the type of piercing. The following times can be expected:

• Bridge of the nose: 8 to 10 weeks (bridge piercing)
• Nostrils: 2 to 4 months (nostril piercing, nasallang)
• Nasal septum: 6 to 8 months (septum piercing, nasallang)

You should also follow these tips for the first six weeks:

• Do not go swimming or to the sauna.
• Touch the piercing as little as possible – and only with disinfected hands.
• Protect the nose piercing from dirt . In the initial phase, you can also stick a plaster over the piercing at night to prevent fluff from getting into the fresh wound.
• Caution is also advised when applying make-up : make-up or powder should also not get into the wound.
• Use the care products recommended by your piercer or pharmacist.
• Do not remove the nose piercing because otherwise the hole can quickly close up again.

Nose Piercing What are the risks of nose piercing?

Complications with a nose piercing are rare, but not impossible – especially if the piercing was not done properly.

If a nostril nose piercing is placed too high, for example, there is a risk that this could lead to damage to the cartilaginous skeleton of the nose in the event of an infection . With a bridge piercing, there is a risk that the trigeminal nerve could be hit. This nerve branches into three branches in the face: the frontal branch, the maxillary branch and the mandibular branch. The trigeminal nerve supplies these facial sections with information that is important for things like muscle tension and ligament stretching. If this trigeminal nerve is damaged, it can cause partial paralysis of the facial muscles.

In addition, nose piercings can cause nasal problems such as difficulty breathing through the nose or unwanted breathing noises. In Germany, piercers must adhere to EU guidelines regarding the materials they use. However, metals can cause allergic reactions in some cases . If it is very cold (below ten degrees below zero), there is also a risk of local frostbite because the metal jewelry can absorb the cold temperatures.