How Long Does It Really Take For A Nose Piercing To Close?

Discover the various factors responsible for closing that cherished nasal piercing.

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• Apr 30, 2024

A woman wearing a nose ring to prevent the piercing from closing up

Image: Shutterstock

Imagine finally gathering the courage to get that nose piercing you have always dreamed of and flaunting it around with confidence and ease. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? But before you take that plunge, it is important to know the answer to this question: how long does it take for a nose piercing to close? Unfortunately, the answer is not that straightforward. It requires commitment and extra care to ensure that it does not take close up. But, don’t worry. We have got you covered. In this article, we will learn all about why nose piercings close, some prevention tips, and more. Read on!

In This Article

Do Nose Piercings Close?

A woman wearing a stud in her nose piercing

Image: Shutterstock

The answer to the question ‘Do nose piercings close?’ is yes. Getting a new piercing requires creating a tunnel called a fistula. Your body produces skin cells that grow around the fistula. Eventually, these cells line and seal the fistula. If you remove your jewelry before the fistula develops, the piercing hole may close.

Nose piercings do close, whether they are new or old. But this begs the question, “Will my nose piercing close up overnight?” Find out in the section below.

How Long Does It Take For A Nose Piercing To Close?

A healed piercing may take several days or a couple of months to close completely. But can a new nose piercing close overnight? Well, yes. Fresh piercings on the nose can close overnight or within a few hours, especially if you sleep without jewelry.

While there is no concrete answer to how fast do nose piercings close, it is certain that even old piercings can close if left without jewelry for an extended time period. It is generally believed that the older the piercing is, the less likely it is to close permanently. However, that may not always be the case. Therefore, consult your piercer to know for sure what is going on.

Fun Fact

Celebrities like Rihanna and Bella Thorne often experiment with different styles of nose jewelry to create unique and edgy looks.

Discovering that a piercing can close so easily can be disheartening, but this makes it even more important to know why it happens. Move to the next section to know more.

Why Do Nose Piercings Close So Fast?

The location and the unique anatomy make it easy for nose piercings, especially cartilage piercings to heal quickly as compared to ear piercings. Here are some reasons why nose piercings close so fast:

Mucous Membranes: These are present inside the inner nostril and are designed to heal and regenerate skin cells rapidly. Without the obstruction created by the jewelry, these membranes begin to shrink and join together promptly.
Improper Jewelry: An ill-fitted or incompatible piece of jewelry can irritate the wounded skin, hindering the healing process and potentially resulting in the closure of the piercing hole.

Apart from the reasons mentioned above, there are several external factors that also play a role in the closing of a nose piercing. Find out more in the next section.

Other Factors Responsible For The Closing Of A Nose Piercing

The reason and the time taken for a nose piercing to close may vary from person to person. However, the following factors influence the closing of a nose piercing:

Lack Of Hygiene: Improper hygiene practices or not following proper aftercare increases the risk of infection, triggering the body’s protective response to close the piercing hole.

A blogger shared her experience of closing her nose piercing due to negligence. She writes, “I realized it had got stuck and healed in my nose! I tried everything to get it loose, soaking it in warm water and poking it and I even tried to re-pierce it myself (please don’t try it) but nothing worked. I was absolutely devastated! The only option was now to cut it out (i).”

Missing Jewelry: Taking out jewelry during healing time or leaving a healed piercing without jewelry for an extended period can result in closure.
Physical Trauma: Any injury or external trauma can aggravate the wound, impeding the healing process and eventually leading to closure.
Weak Immune System: An unhealthy or compromised immune system may be unable to heal the piercing completely or increase the risk of closure (1).
Age: The body’s ability to heal wounds diminishes as we age, potentially resulting in closure.

Understanding why a nose piercing closes can help you ensure it does not happen in the first place. Scroll down to the next section for some simple prevention tips.

How To Prevent A Nose Piercing From Closing Up

A smiling woman with a healthy and healed nose piercing

Image: Shutterstock

Preventing your nose piercing from closing up always comes down to being proactive before and after the piercing. Here are a few steps you can take to help ensure your nose piercing stays open (2):

Do not remove your jewelry during the healing process. You may remove it for short intervals after 6 months when your piercing is completely healed.
Use only high-quality hypoallergenic material nose jewelry to avoid allergic reactions.
Do your research and get your piercing done by an experienced professional piercer in a reputed piercing studio.
Clean your piercing with the solution given by the piercer or a saline solution at least twice a day.
Maintain a healthy diet and stay hydrated to promote quick healing.
Immediately consult a medical professional if you see persistent pain, redness, or green/yellow discharge after a few days.
Avoid any kind of external trauma that may aggravate the injury due to the piercing.

Unfortunately, sometimes your nostril piercing can close even if you do everything within your control to prevent it. Wondering how to reopen it? Scroll down to the next section to find out.

How To Reopen A Closed Nose Piercing?

Firstly, do not try to reopen the piercing yourself by forcing the jewelry into the spot. While it can feel like the end of the world even after you have followed all aftercare instructions, it is essential to seek the assistance of a reputable and experienced piercing professional to help you reopen your piercing hole if possible in your case. They have the expertise and tools to perform the task with minimal damage.

Quick Tip

If you still want to sport nose jewelry without reopening your piercing, you can opt for faux piercing options such as clip-on nose rings or adhesive gems to create unique looks.

Changes in taste or an infected piercing might push you to get that piercing closed forever. But how do you do that? Find out in the section below.

How To Close A Nose Piercing Hole Permanently?

There are various reasons why you might want to close your nose piercing permanently. Maybe it is against your workplace policy or you are just ready to move on. The good news is that, in most cases, all you need to do is take out your jewelry and let it be. In the case of initial piercings, it might close within a matter of days or a few hours. On the other hand, healed piercings could take up to a few months or even a year.

Yet, if you want to close your piercing immediately, seek medical intervention. Your dermatologist or surgeon may use methods such as surgical excision or dermal fillers to effectively close the piercing hole.

A nose piercing is one of the most challenging facial piercings to maintain due to its unique anatomical placement. The inner mucous membrane that undergoes rapid skin cell regeneration and incompatible jewelry are some factors that affect the healing process and may lead to closure. Other factors such as inadequate aftercare and a weakened immune system may also contribute to piercing closure. However, you can take proactive steps, such as choosing appropriate jewelry and avoiding external trauma, that can prevent it from closing in the first place. But if you decide to close your visible piercing permanently, simply remove the jewelry or seek medical assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will there be a scar if a nose piercing is closed?

In the case of natural closure, the chances of scarring are higher. However, when the closure is done via medical procedures like punch excision, there is minimal to no scarring.

Is it safe to re-pierce the nose?

Whether or not it is safe to re-pierce your nose depends on the reason for closure in the first place. If the problem has been resolved, it is recommended that you wait at least 12 months before attempting to re-pierce your nose after consulting an experienced piercer.

Key Takeaways

Nose piercings are vulnerable to closure due to factors like the inner mucous membrane and incompatible jewelry.
Improper aftercare and a weak immune system also play a key role in the closure of a piercing.
Proactive measures like opting for suitable jewelry, keeping the piercing clean, and steering clear of external trauma can help prevent piercing closure.

If you are thinking about re-piercing your closed nose but unsure about how to go about it, then you have come to the right place. Check out the video below to gain insight into the process.

Personal Experience: Source

StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.

(i) R.I.P nose piercing
https://rebeckypops.blogspot.com/2015/02/rip-nose-piercing.html

References

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.