How to Get Rid of a Nose Piercing Bump ASAP

Heal keloid scars and other piercing bumps quickly with our expert tips

Co-authored by Stephanie Anders and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 13, 2023 References

Store-Bought Products

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Home Remedies

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Treating an Infection

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Video

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Expert Q&A

ARTICLE

VIDEO

You love your new nose piercing. But wait… what’s that bump? Bumps around a new nose ring are normal and can be caused by many things, such as touching the new piercing, accidentally bumping it when putting on or taking off clothes, or by sleeping on the nose ring.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Stephanie Anders
Piercing Specialist
Expert Interview. 4 December 2019.} Most of the time, these bumps go away on their own, but there are a few things you can do to speed up the healing process. Keep reading to learn about store-bought products and home remedies to get rid of a nose piercing bump as fast as possible.

Things You Should Know

Clean your piercing regularly with a saline or salt solution. Always wash your hands before touching your piercing.
Use a warm compress several times per day to promote healing.
Apply an aspirin paste or diluted tea tree oil to help your nose piercing bump heal.
Avoid touching your piercing as much as possible to reduce any further irritation.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Store-Bought Products

1
Take an anti-inflammatory medication. Use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to treat swelling around the nose that can result in a nose ring bump. Try taking something like ibuprofen while symptoms persist.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Check with a doctor or pharmacist if you're on any prescription medication. Make sure over-the-counter meds will not interfere with your existing medication.
2
Do regular salt soaks. Use the provided cleaning solution from your piercer, or make a saline solution by mixing 1 c (240 mL) of warm water with 1/8 tsp (0.2 g) of salt. Move your head sideways and dip the pierced half of your nose into the solution, and leave your nose in the water for about 15 to 20 minutes. You can also dab a cotton ball in the solution and apply it to your nose ring bump for 15 to 20 minutes, as this may be more comfortable.^{[3]
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Research source}
- Your piercer may have given you a salt or saline solution after you had your piercing done.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Stephanie Anders
  Piercing Specialist
  Expert Interview. 4 December 2019.}
- Always wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing to avoid introducing any new bacteria.
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3
Try cortisone cream. It can help decrease swelling that results in a nose ring bump. Apply the cream to the area surrounding your nose ring to reduce swelling.^{[5]
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Research source}
- Make sure to read the instructions on the cream you choose to apply it properly.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Home Remedies

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Try an aspirin paste. Add water to a bottle of aspirin until the aspirin dissolves into a paste. Then, apply the aspirin paste to your nose ring bump each night. Let it sink in overnight and then wash it off in the morning.
- Make sure you continue to clean your nose ring as you normally would before and after applying aspirin paste.
- The strength of the aspirin does not matter, but stronger aspirin could potentially be more effective.
- Aspirin paste may be an effective home remedy, but it is not recommended for use by most piercers.^{[6]
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  Research source} If you do use an aspirin paste, only use it on a healed piercing to avoid slowing down healing time.
2
Use a chamomile tea compress. Chamomile tea has been shown to reduce inflammation and swelling.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Place a bag of chamomile tea in warm water to get it slightly damp. Then, press the bag on your nose ring bump for about 10 minutes. If the bag loses heat during this time, dab it in some warm water before reapplying it to the bump.
3
Apply tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial that may be able to reduce swelling.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} Tea tree oil should never be applied directly to the skin, as this can cause a rash and irritation. Add only a few drops of tea tree oil to a small amount of a carrier oil such as olive oil. Then, dab a cotton ball in your oil. Swab the cotton ball around the bump to reduce swelling.
- Some people respond poorly to essential oils, so stop using this method if you notice a rash or another bad reaction.
4
Use a warm compress several times per day. Get a clean washcloth and wet it with warm water, then hold it against your piercing. Keep it there until the washcloth gets cold, or for about 5 minutes. Do this 2 to 3 times per day until your nose piercing bump heals.^{[9]
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Research source}
- Warm compresses promote blood flow, which can speed up healing.
5
Avoid touching your piercing. Ultimately, the best way to get rid of a nose piercing bump is just to wait it out. Don’t touch your piercing unless you have to, and always wash your hands before handling your piercing. The less you irritate the area, the faster the bump will heal.^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Most piercing bumps are not permanent. However, they can take a few weeks to heal completely.
- Don’t change your jewelry until your piercing is fully healed. Swapping out your jewelry before your piercing is healed can cause further irritation.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Treating an Infection

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Look for the signs of an infection. If you end up with an infection, see a doctor or call your piercer.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Stephanie Anders
Piercing Specialist
Expert Interview. 4 December 2019.} Your piercing may be infected if you notice symptoms like:^{[12]
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Research source}
- A pimple-like bump near your piercing that emits pus
- A tender, pink bump
- A very hard bump
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See a professional to treat or drain the bump. Many people attempt to use needles or similar objects to pierce and drain a bump. Draining a bump on your own can make an infection worse. If your bump requires draining, make an appointment with your doctor.^{[13]
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Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source}
- A professional can also tell you how to treat the infection at home.
3
Do not remove your jewelry. If your piercing becomes infected, your first inclination may be to remove your jewelry. However, most infections can be treated with jewelry in place. Removing your jewelry can actually cause scarring or worsen an infection.^{[14]
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- Your doctor may instruct you to remove your jewelry if you’re allergic to the metal it’s made of. However, don’t remove your jewelry unless you’re told to by a professional.

Expert Q&A

Question

Why is there a bump on my nose piercing?

Stephanie Anders
Piercing Specialist
Stephanie Anders is the Owner and Head Piercer at Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing, a tattoo and piercing studio located in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie has over 10 years of piercing experience and her client list includes such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.

Stephanie Anders

Piercing Specialist

Expert Answer

The most common cause is that your nose piercing is irritated. If you sleep on the piercing, hit the piercing, or get an irritant on the piercing, your body protects the area by forming a bump. Another reason is that you developed a keloid, a bodily response to trauma.
Question

Will a nose piercing bump go away on its own?

Stephanie Anders
Piercing Specialist
Stephanie Anders is the Owner and Head Piercer at Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing, a tattoo and piercing studio located in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie has over 10 years of piercing experience and her client list includes such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.

Stephanie Anders

Piercing Specialist

Expert Answer

Often, bumps on a piercing will go away on their own once whatever is causing the irritation is removed. This might mean sleeping on the other side of your body, being more careful when putting on and taking off clothes, or touching it less often.
Question

What do I do if the bump doesn't go away?

Stephanie Anders
Piercing Specialist
Stephanie Anders is the Owner and Head Piercer at Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing, a tattoo and piercing studio located in Los Angeles, California. Stephanie has over 10 years of piercing experience and her client list includes such stars as Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sharon Osbourne.

Stephanie Anders

Piercing Specialist

Expert Answer

If the bump doesn't go away after a week or two, you should see the piercer or a doctor because you might have a keloid, which is a type of scar and is nothing to be worried about. If that's what the bump is, then it can be removed by freezing the area and cutting the keloid off, using laser therapy, or having a minor surgical procedure with a dermatologist.