Why does my healed septum smell?

Some people with septum piercings report noticing a distinctive smell, even after the healing period. Unless you have signs of an infection, the stink is most likely due to an accumulation of oils and dead skin cells around the jewelry. The fact that it's right under your nose only makes it more noticeable.

How long does septum funk last?

While the most tender and painful part of healing should be over in around 1-3 weeks, septum piercings take around 6 to 8 months to completely heal, and you can change the jewellery in 6 to 8 weeks providing it's well-healed. You should try and leave it as long as possible, though.

Why does my fully healed piercing smell?

Your skin secretes a natural oil called sebum which can mix with the dead cells in your piercings and cause a buildup. This buildup serves as a great environment for bacteria to thrive and hence you end up with a foul smell.

Why do old piercings smell?

Infected ear piercings

Bacteria can also infect healed ear piercings, especially if the piercing is unclean. Infected ear piercings sometimes smell bad. Pus, dead skin, and other drainage from the infection can stick to earring posts and backs. This can cause a bad smell to linger.

Why does my nose ring smell like cheese?

Sebum is secreted by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It's an oily secretion meant to lubricate the skin and make it waterproof. Mix sebum with some dead skin cells and a little bit of bacteria, and you get some really potent smelling piercings! The discharge is semi-solid and smells like stinky cheese.

Septum Piercings | Pain, Healing, Smells

What does septum funk smell like?

A mixture of dead skin cells, probably boogers as well, even old soap is what gives it the rotten odor.

How do you clean a septum piercing after its healed?

Regular saline soaks should be enough to keep the jewelry clean while you're healing. Once you're fully healed, you can remove your jewelry and either wash it with soap and warm water or set it in boiling water to sanitize it. Make sure your hands are clean before you put it back in.

Will my septum piercing close after 2 years?

"If you let your piercing heal completely (keeping it in over a year), the hole will probably stay open for the rest of your life," Thompson says. "The opening will shrink, but you'll be able to put something back in should you ever decide you want it back."

Is it normal for septum piercings to stink?

Some people with septum piercings report noticing a distinctive smell, even after the healing period. Unless you have signs of an infection, the stink is most likely due to an accumulation of oils and dead skin cells around the jewelry. The fact that it's right under your nose only makes it more noticeable.

Why does the inside of my nose smell?

Bacteria can become trapped in a cavity, caused by tooth decay or gingivitis. This reaction releases gases such as sulfur, which many report to smell like rotten eggs. Foul-smelling odors can travel through the small holes in the back of the mouth that connect to the sinuses, causing a bad smell in the nose.

Will my septum close if I take it out after 5 years?

Yes, septum piercings do close if kept out. It however, depends how long you've had it for. If you haven't had the piercing for very long, it can take up to 24 hours for it to fully close, while the exterior will be open for much longer.

Does Rihanna have her septum pierced?

2. Rihanna. Bad gal RiRi is no stranger to the septum piercing, having been seen wearing an elaborate fake ring at her brother's album release party in 2014. She made a style statement once again this past October, debuting a septum ring on the cover of T Magazine.

Are septum piercings permanent?

The best thing — besides the pretty septum jewelry that you'll get to shop— is that it doesn't have to be permanent. It doesn't leave much of a trace if you decide to take the ring out for good, either.

How do you know if your septum is infected?

Check if you have an infected piercing

Your piercing might be infected if: the area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour) there's blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellow. you feel hot or shivery or generally unwell.

How often should I clean my septum piercing after it's healed?

Keeping your septum piercing clean involves misting it with a quality piercing aftercare spray 3-6 times per day throughout the healing process and doing two full sea salt solution (SSS) soaks per day for at least the first few weeks after getting pierced.

How often should you clean your nose piercing after it's healed?

You'll need to clean a new nose piercing twice a day, but you can do it more often. After several months, when your piercing has completely healed, you can transition to fewer saline rinses and soaks by using them only if the piercing area is dirty or oily.

Where is the sweet spot in your septum?

If you pinch your septum, you should feel a thin area of skin between some hard cartilage and the tip of your septum (often referred to as the sweet spot). That's where the septum piercing is placed. It is a little bit higher and a little further forward than you might realize.

Do septum piercings go through cartilage?

Your septum is a thin wall of cartilage that runs down the center of your nose, separating your right and left nostrils. A septum piercing, however, shouldn't penetrate the cartilage. It should go through the softer space of tissue just below the septum. Piercers refer to it as the "sweet spot."

How do you fix a smelly nose ring?

Pour a small amount of saline solution into a cup. Alternatively, dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Dip a cotton swab in the saline solution, then wipe the piercing with the swab. If you left your jewelry in, slowly rotate the jewelry as you wipe so that the solution cleans the whole thing.

How do you clean old piercings?

Clean with a clean cotton pad or swab dipped in salt solution. You can make this solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Use this around the pierced area a few times a day to remove any bacteria. Dab (don't wipe) the piercing.

Are septum piercings unprofessional?

Being told your piercing is unprofessional

For that, I find that the septum piercing is one of the most professional “unprofessional” piercing to have. As long as you're wearing a horseshoe ring, you can always flip it up into your nostril where nobody can see it.

Does Kat Graham have a septum?

Celebs like Shay Mitchell, Rihanna, and Kat Graham have been rocking septum piercings for a while now and looking totally flawless in the process, but leave it to Zendaya to take the trend to a whole new level.

Who did the first septum piercing?

Septum piercing jewelry originated from the Indian and other warrior cultures, although people of different cultures have also used it. The septum piercing is sometimes called a bull-ring piercing.

Can you're Pierce septum?

Re: Re-piercing my own septum...

You should def go to a professional to get it re-pierced. Repiercing an area can actually hurt more the second time since there may be scar tissue there even if the skin seems thinner.