Why Does My Nose Piercing Smell Bad

Ever noticed how your nose piercing starts to smell a bit weird after you've worn it for a while (and it's not just nose piercings)? It might smell a bit like cheese, a bit musty or even a bit foul. Don't worry, this is something that a lot of people who wear nose rings or piercings experience.
If you smell something funky from your nose piercing, it doesn't necessarily mean there's an infection, but it usually means you haven't been cleaning it properly, there's a build-up of secretions, or the piercing is still healing. If you don't treat it, it can gradually turn into an infection.

What's That Smell

First, I'll mention something that a lot of people don't know: nose piercings have a slight smell, which is actually quite normal.
Some people say it has a kind of "cheesy" smell, while others think it's a bit like a musty, stale smell. It's not too strong, but there's something a bit off about it when you catch the smell.
This smell is mostly caused by a mix of sebum, sweat, dead skin cells, and a bit of secretion around the piercing. The nose is a pretty humid place, and since the nose piercing is always touching the skin, there's not much air circulation, so odours can build up over time.
But if what was just a faint smell suddenly becomes really strong, along with redness, swelling, pain, or pus, then that's not "normal".

Why Does My Nose Ring Smell

This is a common question that people may ask when they notice an odor on their body, especially from body piercings such as nose rings. There are several main reasons why nose rings smell bad.

• Infection: An infection in a nose piercing can often lead to a persistent bad smell. According to one of the published papers, about 20% of body piercings will have a bacterial infection. Nose ring infections can produce a foul odor similar to cheese or something rotten. This is because bacteria multiply in warm, moist environments, such as the inside of your nose. If you detect a strong smell from your nose ring, act promptly to prevent infection from escalating.
• Poor Hygiene: Failure to clean piercings regularly can lead to bacterial buildup and accumulation of body oils that produce an odor.
• Healing Process: The body's natural healing response produces a yellowish discharge that may have a noticeable odor.
• Allergic Reactions: Sometimes the body's reaction to the metals in jewelry can cause an odor.
• Jewelry Materials: Poor quality or non-sterile materials may cause adverse reactions and odors. So you can consider implant-grade titanium, surgical steel, 14k gold, etc.

How to Get Rid of Bad Smell in the Nose Naturally

If it's just a mild smell, don't worry too much. If you focus on the aftercare, it'll usually get better over time.

And don't forget to wash your hands before touching your nose piercing. Lots of minor infections are caused by bacteria that get on your hands.

When it comes to cleaning, the best bet is to use a saline solution. Just clean it once or twice a day and you're good to go. Too much cleaning can irritate the piercing, so best to avoid that. You can buy ready-made sterile saline solution or make your own simple sea salt solution to gently clean around the piercing.

When you notice a smell, it's natural to want to wipe it down with alcohol, but this isn't the best idea. Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are both really strong irritants that can dry out the skin, cause inflammation, and slow down healing.

Also, don't keep trying to rotate the nose piercing. A lot of people used to think that "rotating it will stop it from sticking", but actually, if you pull it a lot, it'll just irritate the wound and make it easier for bacteria to get in.

Then, after you've cleaned it, just gently pat it dry with a clean tissue. Don't use a lint-free towel to repeatedly wipe it, as this will just trap fibres and cause more problems.

If you've still got a hole in your nose, try to avoid places like swimming pools, hot springs and hot baths. Water contains more bacteria, so the wound is more likely to get inflamed again before it's better.

Another thing you might not think about is your overall health. Stress, staying up late, or eating irregularly will usually slow down recovery. Make sure you drink plenty of water, eat normally, and get enough sleep, and you should find your nasal puncture stabilises.

How to Clean a Nose Piercing

Nose piercings don't need to be cleaned too often - just once in the morning and once at night is enough.

Before you start, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly, then gently clean the piercing with saline solution. If it's convenient, you can apply a wet compress for a few minutes to soften any remaining secretions, then gently wipe them away.

Making your own saline solution is easy; just mix 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt with around 240ml of warm distilled water.

Just remember that being gentle is more important than using harsh disinfectants.

If your nose starts to get really red and sore after you wash it, chances are you've been too hard on it. Don't worry, just get in touch with your piercer.