Understanding Bump Under Nose Piercing: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
A bump underneath a nose piercing is a sign of irritation or trauma. It is a collection of inflamed cells and sometimes body fluid that forms to support the healing of the piercing. These usually appear on the outside surface of the nose, but they can manifest on the mucous membrane as well. Contributing factors can be identified based on the appearance of the bump.
Types of Bumps
The best way to find out is to see your piercer! Irritation bumps are incredibly common and can be remedied with prompt attention. Once the cause of the irritation is identified and addressed, the inside of the piercing will begin to heal, and the bump will recede.
Keloids
Less common, but often most feared, are keloids, which are a type of scar tissue defined by the overproduction of collagen and granulated tissue. They are often hyperpigmented, squishy but firm, and have a shiny surface due to the nature of the tissue. Keloid scars can grow to cover a large surface area as opposed to staying extremely localized. They can be itchy, burn, and be uncomfortable, but they are benign and can be treated by a dermatologist. Keloids are more common in people with a genetic predisposition to them, meaning that people with keloids will typically have had them appear on wounds they received earlier in life.
Granulomas
Non-caseating granulomas is a more technical term for piercing bumps; it is a cluster of inflamed cells, saturated in white blood cells, and helpful discharge that forms around foreign objects such as piercings and stitches after surgery! They are your body’s way of isolating and flushing foreign objects or irritants. Once the irritation is addressed and your body calms down, it typically recedes. Granulomas around piercings are benign.
Infection-Related Bumps
Infections can only be diagnosed by a doctor, who will typically take a sample of discharge to test for pathogens and identify if any are present. Following this, they will prescribe appropriate treatment and either recommend removal or follow up with your piercing professional. We think it is important for us all to work together, so please tell your piercer what your doctor advises!
Causes of Bump Formation
A bump, specifically underneath the nose piercing, can be due to multiple factors! A big giveaway for the cause of piercing bumps is placement. By looking at the consistency and placement of the bump, paired with a little interview, we can usually get to the bottom of the cause!
Common causes of the bump appearing underneath a nose piercing are the angle of the piercing not being perpendicular to the tissue, consistent pressure on the healing piercing, and trauma such as it being snagged on hair or clothing. Friction, such as the jewelry moving around too much and irritating the wound, can cause the body to produce bumps. Moisture and skincare product buildup underneath the jewelry can also irritate the piercing, producing bumps.
Allergic Reactions
Typically, in the event of a metal allergy or reaction, tissue will pull away from the piercing site, as opposed to forming more tissue to encapsulate it. If you have a bump, or think you may have a metal allergy to your jewelry, please see your piercer for assistance!
Poor Piercing Technique
There are so many ways to do piercings, and the best way is what gets the best results for the piercer, ideally with as little extra trauma as possible to the area. Good quality, sterile equipment, as well as how you support the tissue and any tissue manipulation during piercing, can affect the outcome of the piercing. If the tissue is not well supported during piercing, this can cause unnecessary trauma, which can contribute to bumps. The angle of the piercing is most important. You want a piercing to be as perpendicular to the tissue as possible to minimize any stress on the piercing as it heals.
Treating a Bump Caused by Piercings
We do not suggest any at-home remedies, as they can typically cause more harm than good. We advise consulting with your piercer for an aftercare plan to help the piercing heal, so the bump can reabsorb.
We also do not recommend any topical astringents, disinfectants, creams, oils, or ointments on a healing piercing. Because a piercing is a puncture wound, products that are applied topically can interfere with your body’s ability to clean itself properly, and thus, heal the piercing bump.
Any time you are concerned with a bump under your nose piercing, seek professional medical treatment! Usually, bumps can be addressed by working closely with your piercer. However, sometimes they can be persistent and intimidating! If you are concerned about a potential infection or the persistence of a bump, don't be afraid to work with both your piercer and your primary care doctor to help you heal.
How Changing Jewelry Impacts Healing
Jewelry changes can sometimes remedy issues caused by the fit or style of jewelry. For example, if jewelry is too long and moves too much, the piercing will sense the movement and develop a bump to hold the jewelry in place. If you change the jewelry to a more fitted piece so it moves less, the piercing will recover better. For this reason, we recommend downsizing your jewelry on time to help minimize the risk of getting bumps in the first place.
Bump Prevention Strategies
The best way to prevent bumps caused by piercings is with gentle aftercare! No qtips, creams, oils, ointments, or antiseptics should be used, ideally.
Material is also so important! High-quality materials from quality manufacturers tend to have a better surface finish, which is also an important factor in preventing bumps. You want the jewelry inside your healing piercing to be as smooth as possible. This makes it less likely for the piercing to be irritated by the jewelry moving on accident. It also makes it less likely for bacteria and discharge to get trapped on imperfections in the jewelry, causing irritation.
Common Mistakes in Piercing Aftercare That Can Cause Bumps
Not downsizing on time: This is the #1 most common preventable piercing issue. Just come in!
Sleeping on the piercing: puts pressure on the piercing and can cause the angle to migrate, causing irritation bumps!
Over cleaning of the piercing: all that is usually needed is saline and water! If this is not effective, talk to your piercer about techniques to maintain cleanliness of your piercings, or have them professionally clean them for you. It’s easier when you have an outside perspective!
Long-Term Care and Monitoring
We usually suggest doing a checkup during the first two months of healing so that we can assess healing progress and see if the piercing is ready to downsize! During this time, the jewelry will be removed and replaced with a tool to keep it open, and the part that goes through the piercing will be replaced with a smaller one that fits the nose better. The piercing area will also be cleaned by your piercer with a gentle antiseptic, or saline. The jewelry is then fully reinserted and secured. If another follow up is necessary, your piercer will discuss this with you at this time.
Keep an eye on the piercing! It’s important not to touch or move the piercing, but you can use a mirror or your phone camera to get a good look all the way around and check for bumps. Checking in with your piercer in person is also a great way to monitor healing and the recurrence of bumps.
It’s important to listen to your body and be honest with yourself! Most bumps can be remedied, but sometimes they can take longer than we are willing to wait for them to get better. If you have a super stubborn bump that isn't improving or begins to get worse, definitely discuss the pros and cons of removal with your piercer.
FAQs
How long does it typically take for a bump to resolve with proper care?
This depends on the severity of the bump! With proper care, results can start to be seen within days or weeks, with resolution taking weeks to 2 months with proper care. Remember, the inside of the piercing needs to heal before the bump goes away.
Are there any serious complications associated with bumps under nose piercings?
Bumps under nose piercings are benign, but if not given proper attention, they can become more permanent scar tissue.
Are certain types of nose piercings more prone to developing bumps?
I would say all nose piercings are equally susceptible to bumps.
Do you have any tips for reducing swelling and redness associated with these bumps?
Over the counter antiinflammatories taken as directed on the bottle, and rinsing the piercing with cold water are both helpful ways to reduce inflammation!