Hey, everyone! I posted a short while back about my recent nose piercing. Despite following advice and LITHA, it’s not getting any better. In fact, it’s getting a bit worse.

I think wearing a mask on it so often is making things worse, because when I wear it, it hugs/touches the nose ring or catches on it. I also sweat while wearing it, so everything is just icky under the mask.

I have a surgical steel L-shaped stud, and at this point, I’m just tired of dealing with it. I’m frustrated, and I’m going back to work (as a teacher) in about two weeks and will have to wear my mask for hours on end. So, I want to just take it out completely and let it heal. It was a terrible time to get it pierced, and I went to a shady shop that was so piercings against the guidelines from the CDC. I can’t go visit him again—he weirded me out and made me feel uncomfortable.

So, that being said, what is the safest way to remove it and clean the piercing so it heals? I don’t really want advice on saving it; I’m honestly just tired of fighting with it. It’s still oozing/crusting, and I got it done on June 3. Just ready to let it heal and move on!

Should I clean it with something special when I remove it? I obviously don’t want to make it worse, but I also know my local piercer won’t see me and help (I’ve called). So, I’m on my own!

How do I do it?

Thanks in advance!