So, you took the plunge and got that killer septum piercing that’s been giving you major style points. You are sporting that trendy horseshoe or rad captive bead ring, and you are feeling on top of the world. But wait, what’s that? A faint unexpected scent coming from your septum piercing! Now, you must be wondering, why does my septum piercing smell?
Your septum piercing is not just a piercing; it is a tiny, glitzy piece of art. It is like a personal style statement that says “Yeah, I am bold, I and edgy, and I am ready to conquer the world”. Now, let’s talk about the elephant or should I say the smell in the room. That is right, you may notice a faint weird smell coming from your septum piercing. Want to know why? Stick around as I will be elaborating on smelly septum piercing in detail and more.
Key Takeaways
- Reasons why your septum piercing smells could be natural body secretion & oils, the material of the piercing jewelry, hygiene issues, bacteria buildup, lifestyle & diet, and infection.
- Ways to fix a smelly septum piercing are cleansing is key, choosing high-quality jewelry, rinsing after swimming or sweating, diet & hydration, using fragrance-free products, hands off, & consulting a professional.
- If your septum piercing swells too much, provides too much pain, a burning sensation along with a strong foul smell then it is most likely infected. But if there is no swelling or pain and the smell is faint then it is a normal odor.
- In case of infection you should not touch the piercing, do not take off the jewelry, go see a doctor, consult with your piercing artist, clean gently, maintain cleanliness, and improve your diet & lifestyle.
6 Reasons Why Your Septum Piercing Smells
There are quite a few reasons why your septum piercing could smell. I have listed a few of those reasons below, check them out.
1. Natural body secretion & oils
Our body secretes oils on a daily basis. It is not bad at all, this natural body-produced oil moisturizes our skin. But this oil teaming up with dead skin and microscopic debris can create a small little smelly mess. And your septum piercing is like a little hook to catch all this junk. All the debris on your skin usually washes away but it may get stuck on your skin occasionally especially if there is a piercing. So, sometimes this depth can get stuck on your septum piercing and create that funny smell you are getting.
2. Material of the piercing jewelry
Guess what? The material of your precious piercing matters. There are plenty of materials out there that could react badly to your skin and intensify the smell by a lot. So, do not be a cheap skate and try to find a high-quality material that would not cause any negative reaction to your skin when choosing jewelry for your septum. If you try to save a few bucks and choose a low-quality material for your piercing jewelry then it might cost you even more by causing an infection.
3. Hygiene issue
Hygiene is such a weird topic. If you tell someone that their septum piercing smells because of their poor hygiene routine then they might get angry at you. Despite how people may feel, one of the most common reasons to get a smelly septum piercing is not maintaining proper hygiene. Not cleaning the septum area may cause dirt, debris, and bacteria buildup which could contribute to the foul odor.
4. Bacteria buildup
Bacteria buildup on any part of your body is not good. And when bacteria buildup happens on your septum piercing, things could get really bad. Because of the piercing your skin is already fighting to fix the wound. If bacteria buildup happens in that area then it can lead to infection. Not to mention you will get this weird coming from your septum piercing the whole time.
5. Lifestyle & diet
Your lifestyle and your diet can impact how you smell and piercing a part of your body can also affect how it smells. Food with a strong odor like garlic may not take even an hour after eating to produce a weird smell on your septum piercing.
6. Infection
Infection is the last thing you want on your pierced septum. It can cause many issues including spreading this bad odor you are getting.
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7 Ways to Fix Smelly Septum Piercing
Now, that you know what may cause your septum piercing to smell, it is time to know the fixes. I have gathered all the effective solutions to a smelly septum piercing for you below, take a look.
1. Cleansing is key
Cleaning the piercing properly could eliminate so many potential issues, one of them being the smell. Make sure to wash your piercing twice with saline solution. If you do not have access to saline then go for lukewarm soapy water. Do need to rub the piercing area vigorously, gently rub the area, and make sure the cleansing solution reaches both sides of the piercing. While cleaning rotate the piercing so that any part does not get by without cleaning.
Now, do not go overboard with the cleaning idea and start over-cleaning it. Trying to clean it more frequently will make the skin more irritated and lead to other issues.
2. Choose high-quality jewelry
I highly recommend materials such as surgical steel, titanium, niobium body, etc. for your septum-piercing jewelry. Because they are known to be skin-friendly material. Do not go for random cheap materials, as such jewelry could potentially produce more smell and may even end up infecting the skin.
3. Rinse after swimming or sweating
Make sure to rinse your septum piercing after sweating. If you frequently sweat then just use warm water to run the area. Remember, after playing sports, exercising, coming home after a long day at work, or after a sunbath, you need to rinse and clean your septum piercing.
Swimming may sound like a way of rinsing the area but do not make that mistake. When you swim on any open water source like the beach or swimming pool, you can bet there will be some debris, bacteria, or chemicals on it that can cause odor on your septum piercing. So, make sure to rinse the septum piercing every time you return from a swim.
4. Diet & Hydration
Diet matters. A poor diet won’t help you to heal the pierced skin faster and a poor diet won’t be able to provide enough strength to your immune system to fight off any bacteria of infection. Which could lead to a smelly septum piercing.
5. Use fragrance-free product
Remember, any product with fragrance is not good for your wounded skin. If you use a product with fragrance over your healing septum piercing it could cause a negative reaction and create a bad smell. So, avoid using any product on your septum piercing that has fragrance.
6. Hands off
I get it, you want to touch your new septum piercing 50 times a day. But trust me, touching it multiple times a day could get bacteria on it and lead to infection. Just bacteria buildup could cause a smelly septum piercing.
7. Consult a professional
If the smell does not go away after following the above tips, then I highly recommend you consult with a doctor or with your piercing artist. They are the experts and they can tell you what’s going on with your septum piercing and how to fix it.
Septum Piercing: Signs Of Infection Vs. Normal Odor
Your septum tattoo might get infected and that’s why it could smell funny, but there is a chance it is not infected and the odor is normal. Now, how do you differentiate between normal odor and signs of infection? Do not sweat it, I have elaborated on the matter below.
Signs of infection
- Faul smell: Infection is nasty and so is the smell created by infection. The smell created by infection in your septum piercing will be fault, strong, and almost unbearable. You can by the smell something is seriously wrong with your piercing.
- Pus: Pus or yellow or green discharge is a sign of an infection. After getting the piercing you may get some clear or white pus that that just temporary. If you get smelly puss that looks either yellow or green then know for sure your septum piercing is infected.
- Intense swelling and pain: If you get swelling and intense pain along with the smell on your septum piercing, then is a sign of an infection. Do not waste time and visit a doctor as soon as you can. Because swelling and pain caused by infection will only get worse with time.
- Burning sensation: A septum piercing my feel slightly burning while it is new. If you get a bad smell from the piercing and the burning sensation is too much then it is a sign of an infection. You can try to touch the area and it would burn and feel hot when touched.
- Fever: If you are experiencing mild fever along with the bad smell from your septum piercing, then there is a high chance it is infected.
Normal odor
- Mild scent: It is normal for a piercing to have a mild scent or a metallic while the piercing heals. This mild scent should go away on its own within 8 weeks of getting the piercing. Nothing to worry about here.
- Slight discharge: After getting a new piercing it is normal to get some discharge. Your skin may leak some blood, plasma, and pus. Do not worry, this pus will be white or clear the amount will be limited. If you get a slight discharge like this with a mild scent then it is a normal odor and not an infection odor.
- Minimal swelling: If you get a piercing of course you will get a bit of swelling. It is a natural process of your body. If the swelling is minimal along with a faint smell then there is nothing to worry about as it is not an infection.
- No pain: Usually there is a bit of pain after you get the piercing done, but after a few days there will be very limited pain or no pain at all. No pain and just a slight smell? Just a normal way of the healing process, nothing to worry about.
7 Things to Do If Your Septum Piercing Is Infected
After reading the signs of infection vs. normal odor portion, what do you think is the reason behind your smelly septum piercing? If it is an infection no need to fret, I have provided some things you should do if your septum piercing is infected. Check out the list below:
1. Hands off
It might be very tempting to squeeze the swelling to get some puss out. But touching an infected piercing could further complicate things. So, avoid touching your infected piercing for now.
2. Do not take off the jewelry
You may think taking the jewelry off would help, but that is not the case. You may end up doing more damage to the infected and swollen septum by trying to take off the jewelry. Just leave the jewelry at your septum for now.
3. Go see a doctor
After you have followed the first two pieces of advice I gave you, now you should go see a doctor. Of course, you will take some care of your septum piercing at home, but if the infection is getting worse you should consult with a doctor immediately. They can prescribe crucial medication that would help to get rid of that septum infection.
4. Consult with your piercing artist
In case the infection is not severe or you already consulted with your doctor, now it is time to consult with your piercing artist. Your piercing artist can provide you with crucial advice regarding the aftercare of your septum piercing.
5. Clean gently
After consulting with your doctor and piercing artist, you can start the aftercare routine. And the first thing to do is clean the area gently. You can use saline solution or any cleansing solution recommended by your doctor or piercing artist.
6. Maintain cleanliness
Just cleaning the piercing is not enough. You should practice cleanliness and avoid getting any dirt or debris on your infected septum piercing.
7. Improve your diet & lifestyle
Eat healthy food such as veggies, fruits, and protein on a daily basis. And make sure you get enough sleep at night. Proper diet and lifestyle will boost your immune system which will get rid of your septum infection faster.
FAQs
How long does it take to heal a septum piercing?
Generally, it takes around 6 to 8 weeks to heal a septum piercing. But healing or septum piercing will vary from person to person. The healing time mainly shortens or lengthens depending on how strong someone’s immune system is. Someone with a stronger immune system will get faster septum-piercing healing.
Is it normal for a septum piercing to smell?
Yes, a healing septum piercing can have a faint smell or a metallic smell. The smell will go away on its own after the piercing heals.
Can I swim with my healing septum piercing?
It is highly recommended to avoid swimming with a healing septum piercing. In case you do swim, make sure to rinse the piercing afterward.
Final Thoughts
That’s it, my friend! Do not get stressed over a faint smelly septum piercing as it is completely normal. The smell could be metallic in most cases. But if the smell is strong and foul then there is a high chance the piercing is infected.
Make sure to match the signs I have mentioned to double-check if it is infected or not. If so, consult with your doctor and piercing artist to take proper steps. An infected piercing could lead to severe pain, fever, and other issues. So, do not try to fix the infection by yourself, take help from professionals.
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