How to Clean & Remove Nose Rings

Nose rings are a form of body art that dates back nearly 4,000 years to the Middle East. Today the jewelry is becoming more common to wear. Celebrities such as Madonna and Slash of Guns N' Roses sport nose piercings. Piercings require cleaning to avoid infection and irritation. Also piercings may occasionally need to be removed to change jewelry, for work or social functions where a nose piercing may be inappropriate.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton ball
• Water
• Salt
• Cup
• Lavender oil

Instructions

1. Soak a cotton ball in saline solution. Place the ball on the nose ring, and leave it in place for several minutes. Purchase saline solution from a local body art studio or over-the-counter at a drug or grocery store. Make your own solution by mixing ½ tsp. salt with ¼ glass warm water. Mix the solution well until the salt has dissolved.

2. Remove any crusted areas around the piercing. Gently rub the crust off using the wet cotton ball. Slowly move the ring so the cleaning solution can enter inside the skin.

3. Apply a small amount of lavender oil onto a cotton ball suggests Body Modification, an online Ezine specializing in the body art industry. Rub the oil onto the ring; lavender aids in healing of wounds and has anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Never remove the nose jewelry until the piercing has completely healed; healing time can take several months. Do not remove the jewelry for more than one day within the first six months of receiving a piercing; the piercing will close up.

5. Wash hands with soap and water prior to removing the nasal ring. Remove the ring by gently unhooking the ring's clasp. Slightly loosen the ring from the skin, and take it out of the piercing area. Replace with another ring or piercing as soon as possible to avoid having the area close. Alternatively place a small clear spacer in the area if you are attempting to disguise the piercing area.

Tips & Warnings

• Examine the piercing on a regular basis for signs and symptoms of infection. An infection is present if there is redness, swelling or discharge present near the piercing area. A piercing can take 8 to10 weeks to heal after the initial healing.

• Use quality metal in nasal piercings; nasal piercing can form permanent tarnish marks that cannot be cleaned from the skin. The marks will be a small black or dark area near the piercing.

References

• Body Modification Ezine
• Cat Walk Fashion