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A septum piercing can smell, crust and feel sore without being infected. The sources separate those everyday things from the signs that need a doctor, and they disagree on one point of home care: soap and ointment.
This page follows Healthline, WebMD, the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) and the NHS, and is information, not medical advice. Details are as read in October 2026.
Photo by brandonvanityflickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Signs of infection
| Source | What it lists |
|---|---|
| Healthline, septum | Severe or worsening pain, redness or swelling; itching; pressure; thick green, yellow or gray discharge or pus that smells bad; fever or chills |
| WebMD, nose | Pain, redness, warmth, thick yellow pus; also swelling, bleeding, red stripes, tender skin, and yellow, green or dark discharge |
| NHS 111 Wales | Swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark skin; blood or pus; feeling hot, cold or shivery or generally unwell |
| APP | Thick green, yellow or gray discharge that smells bad, and red streaks |
Healthline says an opening in the skin can let bacteria in and lead to infection. The APP says irritation or allergy are far more common than infection when a piercing is done and cared for properly.
The smell
Healthline says some people with septum piercings notice a distinctive smell, even after the healing period. It says that unless you have signs of an infection, the smell is most likely an accumulation of oils and dead skin cells around the jewelry. That is a cleaning matter, not a medical one: see how to clean a nose piercing.
A smell with thick green, yellow or gray discharge is on the infection lists above. Our septum healing guide covers the smell during healing.
Leave the jewelry in
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| NHS | Leave jewellery in unless a doctor tells you to take it out |
| WebMD | Do not remove nose jewelry until it is fully healed |
| APP | Removal in the presence of an infection may result in an abscess |
Cleaning, soap and ointment
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| WebMD | Wash with soap and water at least twice a day, clean gently with soap and water or gauze soaked in saline, use saline spray inside the nose, apply a dab of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, use a cool compress and NSAIDs for pain; no alcohol or hydrogen peroxide |
| NHS | Clean twice a day with warm salty water; no antibacterial soaps, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or iodine |
| APP | Saline soaks or hot compresses can encourage drainage; ointments are not preferred; a gel or cream such as mupirocin has been found effective |
Two of these three oppose each other on ointment, so we do not pick a winner. Our own view is the cautious one: saline, nothing harsh, and no medicated product unless a doctor suggests it. WebMD adds that if home care does not help you may need antibiotics.
When to get help
- WebMD: call your doctor if you notice signs of infection, and do not ignore a fever.
- NHS: ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111.
- APP: go immediately for severe redness, swelling or pain, red streaks, symptoms that last a week or get worse, or fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or disorientation.
Bumps
Healthline lists a lump or thickened tissue around the piercing, or skin eruptions or bumps, among the signs to see a healthcare provider about, and says excess scar tissue can form. A bump is not always infection. See nose piercing bump and the general infected nose piercing guide, or how to treat an infected piercing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my septum piercing is infected?
Healthline lists severe or worsening pain, redness or swelling, itching, pressure, thick green, yellow or gray discharge that smells bad, and fever or chills. WebMD lists pain, redness, warmth and thick yellow pus, and red stripes. The NHS adds feeling hot, cold or shivery or generally unwell.
Is a smell from my septum piercing a sign of infection?
Not by itself. Healthline says some people notice a distinctive smell even after healing, and unless there are signs of infection it is most likely an accumulation of oils and dead skin cells around the jewelry. A bad smell together with thick coloured discharge is on the infection lists.
Should I take out an infected septum piercing?
The NHS says to leave jewellery in unless a doctor tells you to take it out. WebMD says not to remove nose jewelry until it is fully healed, and the APP says removal during an infection may result in an abscess.
Can I put antibiotic ointment on an infected septum piercing?
The sources disagree. WebMD says to apply a dab of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. The APP says ointments are not preferred because they limit oxygen circulation and delay healing, and prefers a gel or cream a doctor suggests. Ask a clinician rather than guessing.
When should I see a doctor?
WebMD says to call your doctor if you notice signs of infection and not to ignore a fever. The NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111. The APP says to go immediately for severe redness, swelling or pain, red streaks, or symptoms that last a week or get worse.
Is a bump on my septum piercing an infection?
Not necessarily. Healthline lists a lump or thickened tissue, or skin eruptions or bumps, as warning signs to take to a healthcare provider. Our bump guide explains the difference.
Sources
- Healthline - Septum piercing: 13 FAQs about pain, cost and morehttps://www.healthline.com/health/body-modification/septum-piercing
- WebMD - How do you keep a nose piercing safe and infection-free?https://www.webmd.com/beauty/nose-piercing-safety
- Association of Professional Piercers - Troubleshootinghttps://safepiercing.org/troubleshooting/
- NHS 111 Wales - Infected piercingshttps://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/i/article/infectedpiercings