How to blow your nose while wearing a nose ring

With every allergy or cold season, you may find it harder to blow your nose with a nose ring. In general, you can blow your nose as usual with any type of nose piercing. However, to avoid discomfort and prevent infection and even more serious problems, we’ve gathered here the most helpful tips you need to remember when blowing your nose, no matter if you’re new. piercing or get used to it.

Table of Contents

Wash your hands and use a clean tissue

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Prevent the piercing from getting infected by touching your nose. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to remove any disease-causing bacteria. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source} Use a clean tissue each time you blow your nose, especially if your nose piercing hasn’t healed completely. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Keep the pressure to a minimum when blowing your nose

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Blowing your nose lighter than usual. Avoid pulling the whole piercing with the tissue so that you don’t accidentally snag or hook it. ^{[3] X Research Source} Be gentle with your new unhealed piercing (especially during the first 2-3 weeks when it’s still painful), or you’ll experience pain or discomfort. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Blow each nostril in turn to relieve pressure

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Choose this option if you can comfortably cover one side of your nose. Blowing each nostril can reduce the pressure passing through the nasal cavity. Gently press one finger over one nostril and blow out the other, then switch sides to blow the other nostril. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Try a nasal spray if you constantly have to blow your nose

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Clear your nose with a saline nasal spray or decongestant. If you frequently suffer from allergies or colds, consider purchasing a nasal spray to prevent pressure from passing through your nose when blowing your nose. ^{[6] X Study Source} Shake the spray bottle, tilt the head, and spray into the nose, towards the ear. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

For example, to spray into the right nostril, point the nozzle slightly towards the right ear. The angle of inclination will help you avoid spraying too deeply into the nose, which causes the tissues in the nose to thin and cause bleeding.

Inhale steam to soothe and clear your nose

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Take a hot shower or inhale the steam in a bowl of hot water. Steam therapy will provide warmth and moisture to the nose, making the mucous membranes in the nose more comfortable. You can also add chamomile or peppermint oil to the water to increase the feeling of relaxation. ^{[8] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Use a straight dowel tip instead of a round one

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Choose this if you are prone to allergies or are sick. If you wear a straight pin nose piercing instead of a round one, you won’t have to worry about the tissue getting caught in the piercing or getting in the way when you blow your nose. ^{[9] X Source of Study} Choose an L-shaped nose ring (or the type with two flat bars for the septum ring) that fits snugly inside the nose. ^{[10] X Research Source}

When you need to blow your nose, turn the inner rod of the piercing so it is upright and close to your nose. This way, the nose piercing won’t get filled with mucus or be pushed hard when you blow it out.
You can flip the nose bar down if it feels more comfortable, or pull it up and leave it on until your allergy or cold symptoms subside.
Only choose this option if the piercing has healed and can be replaced.

Disinfect jewelry to remove mucus

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Leave the nose ring in place when cleaning. Use saline solution to disinfect and clear mucus. Make sure the salt solution is made up of only 0.9% sodium chloride (this is the standard saline solution). You can use a cotton ball and this solution to wipe away any scaly mucus. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Do not remove jewelry to prevent the piercing from being blocked. This is especially important if you’ve had your piercing within a year and still haven’t fully healed.
Make your own saline solution by dissolving half a teaspoon (2.5 g) of salt in 240 ml of warm distilled water. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Wash your piercing twice a day

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Dip a cotton ball in the salt solution and gently wipe the piercing. You will feel a little sore, but that is normal, especially when the piercing is still healing. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Do not use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean the piercings, as it will irritate the skin and delay healing.

Use cotton swabs to clean scaly mucus

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Use a cotton swab to wipe around the outside of the piercing. The skin around the piercing can accumulate mucus (especially while it’s healing). Instead of using your fingers, use a cotton swab to pick up the scabs around it. ^{[14] X Research Source}

You can also use non-woven gauze to clean your nose piercing.

Keep your piercings clean at night with a T-shirt trick

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Cover your pillow with a clean t-shirt every night. When you’re sick (or while your piercing is healing), it’s important to regularly clean anything that comes in contact with your nose piercing to prevent infection. To avoid having to wash your pillowcase every day, just use a clean t-shirt to cover the pillow and change it every night. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Don’t pick your nose

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Picking your nose can lead to infection and bleeding. The tissues in the nose are very sensitive (and even more sensitive when there is a piercing). ^{[16] X Research Source} If you often have a runny nose, drink more water and try a nasal spray. ^{[17] X Research Source}

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