Do Nose Piercings Affect Smell?
Nose piercings make a bold statement and can help you define your personal style. Less common than ear piercings, they will help you stand out from the crowd. However, when considering nose piercings, be sure to examine and factor in all possible side effects and results. Does this Spark an idea?
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Smell Process
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To understand why nose piercings don't affect your sense of smell, you must first understand how smell works. You perceive odors because of tissue made up of chemoreceptors located up high in the nasal cavity, approximately behind the bridge of your nose. They are the size of a stamp. Your sense of smell works because of three kinds of cells found there: sensory neurons, supporting cells (for the sensory neurons) and basal cells.
Nose Piercings
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You'll likely get your nose piercing in one of two places: on the outside of the nostril or the bridging between the two nostrils. In either case, you may opt for a stud earring, a hoop earring or something even more daring, such as a small bar between the two nostrils, for example.
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Effects of Nose Piercings
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Because nose piercings only affect the cartilage near your nostrils, they do not affect the process of smell, which occurs much higher and further back on the interior of the nose. Though you might perceive the smell of metal for the first day or so after getting your piercing, this is due to the proximity of the metal piercing and not because of any permanent change to your sense of smell. You will quickly become accustomed to it.
Smells
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If you begin to smell a foul odor from your nose piercing, know that this is not normal. The presence of bad smells around your piercing indicates an infection that you should have treated by a doctor. Other symptoms of infection include the area around the piercing becoming red, swollen and sensitive to the touch; a yellow-tinted discharge; and a fever.
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References
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