How long does it take for a nose piercing to close?

Nostril piercings tend to close down very quickly. The inside of the piercing is a mucus membrane, which usually will not stay open without jewelry in it. We have seen fully healed (1+ years) nostril piercings shrink down within 10 minutes. For this reason, we suggest you always keep jewelry in your nostril piercing. If you need to hide it, try a clear acrylic retainer or small piece of clear thick fishing line (burn and flatten one end to melt into a disk). These are nearly impossible to see, and work great for sports and surgery too.

If you must leave the piercing empty, wait at least a year before trying. Then start with just a couple of minutes at a time and work your way up. Always be sure your hands, piercing and jewelry are clean when you attempt to reinsert jewelry. Using hot compresses on the inside and outside of your nostril can help relax tissue and ease reinsertion. Also, definitely lube up the jewelry (K-Y jelly or other water-based lube is best) before sliding it in. If you do annoy the piercing, soothe it afterwards with a warm saltwater soak.