During the healing process, your body will naturally secrete a pus-like substance called ‘sebum’. … Sebum by itself is odorless, but when mixed with dead skin cells, bacteria, and dried blood, can smell like stinky cheese. Also known as ‘septum funk’, a smelly septum piercing won’t last forever.
Then, how do I stop my piercing from smelling?
Luckily, there’s a super easy way to prevent—or get rid of—that funky smell if you notice it. You should clean your old piercings in the shower and let warm water run over it, says Maria Tash, owner of Venus by Maria Tash, a fine jewelry and piercing spa in New York City.
Also question is, can you over clean a septum piercing?
Things to Avoid After Getting a Septum Piercing
Make sure to thoroughly clean your hands before touching the piercing in any way, especially before cleaning. DO NOT over–clean your piercing with salt solutions. This can dry out and irritate the piercing and delay or complicate healing.
Do septum piercings get infected easily?
Septum piercings have the same risks as most piercings, but some are more serious than others. Septums are not as likely to get infected as most piercings as there is plenty of mucous membranes (yuck) to fight off infections in your nose. Really the only risk is if putting in low-quality jewellery.
How do you know if my septum is healed?
It depends on who you ask, but the general rule of thumb is to wait until:
- it’s no longer tender.
- the minimum healing time has passed, usually at least 2 to 3 months.
- it’s no longer weepy or crusty.
Why do piercings smell weird?
Clean your piercings
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.
What is smelly Gelly?
Smelly Gelly is a white petroleum based piercing conditioner. Once applied it will prevent the smell of death associated with body piercings for up to 15-30 days, depending on personal hygiene and body chemistry.
Are piercings supposed to smell?
It is totally normal (albeit kind of gross), but it does not mean that you have an infected ear piercing or that you are reacting to your earrings. The smell comes from naturally occurring oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells.
Why do I smell poop in my nose?
If you have, you may have experienced phantosmia—the medical name for a smell hallucination. Phantosmia odors are often foul; some people smell feces or sewage, others describe smelling smoke or chemicals. These episodes can be sparked by a loud noise or change in the flow of air entering your nostrils.
Why do my earrings smell like cheese?
“Ear cheese” is a natural part of having pierced ears and it’s caused by a build-up of oil and dead skin cells you’ve shed. … If your piercing is newer, you’re more likely to experience a smell because your body may still be reacting to being punctured.
Why do pimples smell like cheese?
Pimple Popper squeezes a cyst free from a patient’s back. An epidermoid cyst occurs when epidermal cells grow too much in a small space. According to Dr. Pimple Popper, these cysts often resemble ‘cheese‘ when popped.
Can I flip my septum on the first day?
Although it’s okay to flip the jewelry up or down occasionally, you should avoid doing this as much as possible. It’s the same as twisting and will irritate your new septum piercing. If you have to flip, leave it flipped up for a while before moving it again.
Can I clean my septum with just water?
For around three months you will want to use a saline soak to clean the septum piercing. … This piercing does not need to be cleaned more than two times a day. The saline solution that is used for cleaning is made from non-iodized sea salt and a gallon of distilled water.
Can I clean my septum with alcohol?
General Care for Body Piercings
Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. (Both slow the healing of pierced area by drying and killing new healthy cells.)
