Belly Button Piercings- Tips and Aftercare
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Belly Button Piercing
Navel piercings, more commonly referred to as belly button piercings, are a common body piercing among woman and some men. It is a semi-quickly healing piercing with usually little complications. They tend to heal like an ear piercing without little rejection and migration, but at the same time, you may encounter the healing process as more like a surface piercing with the rejection and migration risks.
The odds of successfully healing a belly button piercing can be hindered, but for the most part if you follow proper aftercare and healing procedures, you can successfully heal the piercing, unless your body just refuses, which is always a possibility.
Healing a belly button piercing can be complicated and irritated by clothing and friction. Because it's around the waistline, you have to take into account pants, belts, shirts, etc. You must, also, consider the position of your belly button in regards to where you bend at your waist.
Types of Navel Piercings
The belly button can be pierced at different angles and sides, but generally the more common navel piercings include:
- Upper Rim- or standard belly button piercing, which is pierced at the top of the navel ring.
- Lower Rim- or bottom belly button piercing, which is pierced at bottom end of the navel ring.
- Sides- anywhere in-between the upper and lower navel ring- typically the horizontal left or right sides.
Some people have been known to get their actual navel (outtie) pierced, which can be referred to as the true navel piercing, however, in my opinion, it should never be done due to the numerous problems that can present themselves from healing, misplacement, and moved. It's not safe. Don't do it.
Some people get surface piercings around the navel to accentuate a standard navel piercing. This is not technically a belly button piercing.
Healing Belly Button Piercings
Healing any piercing can be as easy or hard as you make it. If you stick to proper aftercare and cleaning, you should have minimal problems with just about any piercing.
The proper aftercare for navel piercing is as follows:
- After you get the piercing, make sure that you have a pack of miniature Dixie cups and saline solution (not contact cleaner but SALINE solution).
- Clean
the navel piericng at least 2 to 3 times a day. Make sure to use a NEW,
unused Dixie cup each day, using just enough saline to fully submerge the piercing.
- Lay on a flat surface and have the cup turned upside down in order to fully submerge the piercing, allowing the saline to work its way through the piercing.
- Afterwards, you can dip a Q-Tip into the saline solution and gently go around both holes of the piering to remove any excess crust, died blood/ fluids, etc.
There is NO other reason to touch the new piercing.
Continue the process for at least a month to make sure things are fine.
You may experience crust or dried fluids for an undetermined amount of time. Whenever this happens use the Q-Tip to remove the dried fluid.
Make sure when cleaning piercings to have clean hands before touching anything.
DO's With a New Piercing
- Wear lose fitting clothing that allows the piercing to breath- cotton works best.
- Make sure your hands are clean
- Do use a new Dixie cup and Q-Tip each time you clean
- Ask your piercer if you have any problems or questions
Aftercare Don'ts
DON'Ts With a New Piercing
- Do not use any type of ointment on the piercing- to include A&D, bacitracin, Neosporin, bactine- because it can smother a piercing.
- Do not use hand sanitizer, Dial soap, or peroxide as they are all too harsh for a piercing and can cause irritation.
- Do not wear tight fitting clothing that restricts the breathing of the piercing.
- Do not touch your piercing for any reason other than to clean it.
- Do
not change the jewelry until you are absolutly healed. The best thing
to do is to return the piercer to make sure it's ok to change it
and/or to change it for you. It's, also, goo to buy the new jewelry
from your piercer, so that you know you are getting high quality jewelry.
- Do not wear heavy barbells or barbells with danglies (things that hang) for extended periods of times. Danglies can catch on belts, pants, shirts, etc. which will irritate the piercing. Heavy jewelry will pull on the piercing because of the weight, which will again, irritate it. If you want to wear something gaudy and "bling blingin'" to "da club" that's fine, as long as you put a normal, light-weight piece of jewelry when you get home.
A few other don'ts to consider:
- Don't go into a pool, hot tub, ocean, lake, or any other body of water. It is unsanitary and having a healing piercing submerged in unclean water is bound to cause you irritation.
- Don't use a tanning bed with a healing piercing.
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Comments
heyy, i use boiled water mixed with salt- it that ok for the piercing?
thanks x
Depends on what kind of salt and how much salt you're using. Do not use table salt; you want sea salt. If I remember it's 1 teaspoon of sea salt per 6 ounces or water.
Hey, I'm going to get my bellybutton pierced tomorrow, and to be honest, i'm a little nervous :(I'm supposed to be going to my friends cottage on the lake in like.. july or auguest, Would it be okay to swim in? Also, I am wondering if it is okay to swim in salt water pools with no other chemicals?
Thanks.
Nope.. not unless the piercing is healed fully.
can i use ear peircing solution to clean my navel piercing?
what kind of ear solution?
my peircing is about 2 1/2 - 3 months old and i caught the ball yesterday trying to pull through my skin and it hasnt even looked slightly healed what do i do
Just keep cleaning the area. It's only been one day.
Hey, I commented on your other page but I think I should use this one cause it's about after care. Okay, so I got it done last thursday and I have had no problems with it. I am cleaning it once a day with sea salt and boiled water in a shot glass, as I was told to do. I was just wondering how long I should continue cleaning it with the sea salt and water and if after that I have to clean it with something else (like for the rest of the time that I have my belly button pierced). Thanks.
So I am 14 about to be 15 in September and I was wondering how bad the peircing hurt on a scale of 1 to 10? My sister got it done like 3 or 4 years ago and says it only was a 2, but I am not sure. Anyone know?
jennie twice a day for 2 weeks and once a day until healed. saline is easier as you don't have to boil or mix and it's not as stong.
Melissa, pain varies per person
Melissa, that's funny cause im 14 and going to be 15 in October :) lol. I just got mine done a little over a week ago and mine on a scale of 1-10 was like a 3 or 4. But like Whitney said it does vary for each person. I know a couple people who have there's done and they say it didn't hurt at all and the clamp hurt more that the needle, but in my case I couldn't even feel the clamp and the needle hurt more, but even then it wasn't that bad. I had to squeez my mom's hand for like 2 seconds because the further it got the more it hurt for me, but even at the worst it wasn't that bad. I was so nervous and almost chickened out but I wanted it so bad that I wouldn't let myself not do it and even if it is horrible pain (which i've never heard) it is worth it.
Also Whitney, after the healing is done do you have to clean it with anything else? Or do you just leave it and clean it with non-scented soap in the shower?
After it's fully healed you really don't need to clean it. I just rinse with saline once in a while and leave it at that. You will need to clean the jewelry though, but you can just soak it in saline or rubbing alcohol and thoroughly dry it off before putting it back in your navel piercing.
I got mine done in february. so its about 4 months old. i clean it alot. with saline, but when I'm out of saline, I'm stuck with using rubbing alcohol for a little while untill i can get more, but it doesnt irritate it or anything. It works quite good actually, for my skin anyways... I thought it was completely healed once, because there was no red or anything, and i was using rubbing alcohol to clean it because i didn't know of saline. but now its red again. I wasn't cleaning it for a few days because i was at a friends house and i forgot my cleaner... but it doesnt puss or anything. it just goes red around the holes, but thats it. does that mean its infected or just still healing?
Thanks. I was at save-on-foods today and saw belly button rings there for $10 and they where surgical steel. Would that be okay to buy and use when I can take out the piercing or should I not get something like that and something that's from somewhere like that. Also, my piercer said that I can take out my piercing and change it after about a month and that I can stop cleaning my piercing after a couple months (which I assume means 2-3 months) are those things true?
Lisa, it means that it's infected or irritated. STOP USING RUBBING ALCOHOL. Saline is rather cheap and inexpensive.
Jennie, Remember that you pay for the quality. Cheap isn't always good. It's said that bare minimum to change is after a month, but it's best that you stick with until healed to prevent possible irritation. If you do not wait long enough, there is a high risk of migration.
HI I have had my belly pierced about a week now..The pierceing studio said to use Bactine..You say not too..It is a little red around the top ball.Is that normal?Thank you
The red bump isn't normal. Use saline to clean the piercing.
One last question, is it true that I can go swimming after 6-8 weeks? That's what my piercer told me but I'm not sure.
hey i got my belly button pierced two days ago is it still suppose to be kinda red and like crusty and stuff coming out of it
where do i find just regular saline,not contact solition right I got mine done last night and the person told me to use neosporin
well im getting my belly button pierced in like two weeks and i have been researching and looking at articles about the aftercare and the side affects of it... i was wondering is it really as much work as it seems to take care of it? and i take showers and i use Dove soap is that fine?
jennie, you should wait until the piercing is healed.
jessica, that is normal. just keep cleaning appropriately and do not mess with the piercing otherwise.
connie, you can find saline in the same area of the store as contact solution.
princess, don't use the soap on the piercing and it'll be fine, and remember saline soaks at least twice a day for the first two weeks and once a day until healed. It's not that hard as long as you set a schedule.
well im getting my bellybutton pierced today right before i go down the shore. sucks that i can't go swimming but whatever. im trying not to worry about the pain or any of that but would it heal faster if i were to wear loose shirts all the time?
Yep no swimming till it's healed. Loose clothing will be beneficial. Make sure not to get any sand or anything in or around the piercing. I wouldn't really recommend getting a piercing and then going to the beach. It's just not safe and has high risk.
If i put a waterproff bandaid on top of the piercing and go to the beach or go swimming do you think it would be fine?
Anna... no.. you're not letting the piercing breathe.
Anna, like Sarah said no that will not be sufficient .
Ok I just got my belly button pierced 3 days ago. And I have a older sister who got hers done a month ago. I have been reading a lot about it and have been talking to different people about it. After a week it's alright to put on a waterproof bandaid and go swimming because you are not going to be in the water long. My sister had hers done for 5 weeks and then went away and went swimming the ocean. So I guess it depends who you talk to...they tell you different things.
is it normal for the belly button to be a tiny bit red around the top of the piercing, like the top ball? after 3 weeks?
Hey. I've had my belly piercing for about two years now and never had a problem with it, but I was checking it out yesterday and, not that I would really know, I think it's migrating. Can I stop it and what should I do?
i just got my peircing today, and the peircer told me to use bactine. but after doing research i found that doing salt soaks (1/4 tsp salt - 1 cup of water) twice a day is best. is this true? and is there anything else i can do/use?
Sam, It's not safe and never recommended by reputable piercers. bandaids are not full-proof when in he water. Just because it didn't affect your sister doesn't mean it won't affect you. It's your body; better safe than sorry and not swim with a new piercing.
fashioncentral, yes and no. sometimes that redness is scarring, which is normal. if it's painful then not really. but it will all depend on your body and it's healing time on average.
Lita, You can't stop migration. It is highly possible it is though. It's not uncommon for navel piercings to migrate after time.
jasmine, i'd stick with saline, as it's just easier, but overall that ratio of seasalt soak would do as well. with saline, you just don't have to mix anything.
I got my belly button pierced five days ago and its still red at the top hole and hurts. Is that normal? I clean it about 4-6 times a day with this Purified Ocean Salt Water the guy who pierced it gave to me
Yes, 5 days is normal to experience a litle sorness. I'd stick with saline twice a day for a the first 2 weeks and once a day thereafter till healed.
I got my belly button pierced 3 months, then just last week I noticed a red bump right beside my top hole. Could it be hypertrophic scarring? I don't think it's infected, because there is no pain, itching or pus. My friend had a similar bump by her nose piercing. Any suggestions on how to treat this? Will it always be there? Thanks!
Yes, it's highly likely that it's a keliod. There's really not much you can do. Some claim the teat tree oil will help reduce the scar, but I haven't heard that it's a guarantee for the majority of people.
i got my belly button done 3 weeks ago i have a pool party to go tonight should i go in the water..
also my belly button hole go bigger at the top ball and it all red i use bactine twice a day and salt water once a week ..its still very red and hurts a little bit.
I got my belly button pierced a little over a week ago. I am suppose to go to a pool party tomorrow. WOuld it be ok to swim. Or should i just wait
db24, sounds infected. I would NOT recommend swimming
Sammi, no it's not a good idea to swim with a new piercing.
I got my navel piercing about 3 months ago. The first month or so it looked great! It was a little crusty sometimes, but other than that it looked good. I had to change the piercing because the one I got it pierced with broke... I don't even know how. So I changed it. I ended up switching to a whole nother bar and everything. Then the next day I realized that I could just use the bar I got it pierced with and just change the balls. I did that and I've had it in ever since. Just the passed little while it's been looking really gross. Not on the bottom but on the top part. It is a pinkish colour and looks like a bump beside the piercing, almost like a blister but not. I dont' know how to explain it. It just looks weird, and gross. I don't know what to do. I haven't been cleaning it with Saline salution for about a month now because I ran out and haven't bought anymore... if I buy more and wash it out with that instead of just warm water and sometimes Sea Salt, will that go away? It doesn't ever hurt, it just looks ugly, all red and has a bump beside the piercing. I want it to go away!
what should i use on it?
Megan, It sounds irritated because you changed the barbell too early. I'd keep cleaning definitely. The bump could be a keliod
db24 saline.
I've got a lightly broken navel..
my mam says it would be already dangerous if I'd ever would be pregnant..
but I really want a belly button ring..
in july I'm going on a vacation and there will be a swimming pool.. and because I really like swimming, my dad desided to wait and do it after that vacation.. but I'm afraid that it would hurt a lot and that I won't be able to find any saline..
I've never heard of it befor.. maybe it's because I live in belgium?
X
i got tree tea oil is that fine couldn't find saline
Ive had my belly button pericing for about six days now, and at frist i did antibacterial soap twice a day, and sea salt soaks once a day, but a friend told me antibacterial soap just irratates it, is that true? Ive stopped with that and just did seasaltsoaks twice a day.
My navel gets a bit dry usually, and i was wondering, is it alright to rub creaam around/on it? And how lonng does it usually take for a navel piercing to heal, because its summer now, and i usually spend a great deal of time in water. Do we have to wait until it COMPLETLEY heals, or is like one month okay?
Lala, Ask a professional piercer his/her opinion, but if your navel isn't curved enough, then it's not going to work. After your vacation would be best if you are planning on swimming. Saline can be found anywhere that sells contact solution.
db24, tea tree oil won't heal the piercing.
Bellybuttongirl, yes, your friend is correct. Antibacterial soap should not be used on a piercing. It's probably getting dry because you're not mixing the appropriate amounts of seasalt and water. Too much salt and it can dry out a piercing, potentially causing more irritation. I wouldn't use any cream until the piercing is fully healed, and healing will depending on your body. You should wait until fully healed to swim, but it's your body and your choice to potentially cause problems. I would not condone swimming in any body of water with a piercing that is stil healing.
i got mine pierced wednesday and this saline things kinda new i keep hearin sea salt thats what i got and stuff.also told neosporin is ok.its bad cuz i end up sleepin on my stomach and then i wake up and its red round the top....and when i got it done i had a dangly 1 put in cuz i bought it when i had the old 1.i had to take it out get it repierced months later cuz it started pushing out so this time im tryin to make sure nothing goes wrong!
Neosporin is not good for a new piercing bc it can clog it and block air exchange. Sleeping on your stomach with a new piercing is a big nono and can cause major irritation and rejection. I'd rethink that. saline is much better and easier than sea salt, but properly mixed sea salt is ok as long as the proportions are accurate- very little sea salt and a good bit of water.
is polyspone good for the navel
sorry to keep asking you questions but am curious what will tea tree oil do ?
Whitney,sorry one more question white puss coming out is that normal?
Is any uncented soap okay for navel?
dezzy/db24/laurie, I wouldn't suggest polyspone. Stick with saline or a sea salt mix about a fourth a teapsoon of sea salt and 6 ounces of water (something like that). There are accounts that tea tree oil can reduce scarring on a piercing, but the accounts are anywhere near enough to say it works the majority of the time. It's not going to help heal. It's not safe to use soap (explained in the article) because it can cause irritation. If you read the article, you will find out what you can and cannot use (or at least what is not recommended).
i have a question that was listed before is white pussing normal..?
Is bactine good why or why not? the person that did it said that it was the best to use and what about epson salt? what kind of saline do i use the one for the nose?
am using tea tree oil and bactine and uncented soap ...and also sea salt once a week At least should i stop using it my piercing is 3 weeks old and it red and pussing white and hurts a little bit every time it is touched
dezzy/db24/laurie/lucy/fatima/emma if you continue to ask the same question under different names, I will start deleting them. Is it puss or lympg? Puss is typically going to be greenish meaning infection. Lymp is clear or a light yellow, which is normal. There is only one type of saline, it just comes in different bottles for different purposes. Epson salt is not good for a piercing, neither is bactine bc both are WAY too harsh on a nw piercing, potentially drying it out and causing more irritation. I have already told you that teatree oil is not going to help heal, bactine is too harsh, and unscented soap is going to cause irritation and dryness. If it hurts, then there is major irritation and probably infection, which is caused by the harmful chemicals you're using. Please I'll ask you to read the article again, and please stop asking the same questions under multiple names. They will be deleted from now on if you continue.
First thing what kind of saline do i use for what purpose and its a yellow-ish coulour of puss...thank you so much you made me understand so much and i thought you would get mad if i kept asking you questions and i did read the reading ubove like three times i just wanted to get more pacific with you because you new what you were talking about well at least you make it seem like that .Thanks Whitney!! :D
Yes, but you were asking the same things over and over again. Saline is saline- it is the same basic make. I just purchase the one that comes in a simlar bottle as contact cleaner (but do not use contact cleaner). Sounds infected, which goes to show why you shouldn't use random products.
I was just wondering, after/when shower do i do anything to my belly piercing or do i just rinse it out with the water and than leave it? Some told me to clean it out with soap, some told me to just rinse it, and others told me to leave it, but after i get out of the shower to do the sea salt soak? I dont know which one to do, and im hoping you do
Do not wash it with soap. It's best to just leave it alone when in the shower, and clean it with saline afterwards.
i dont think so but sure..
But the saline i have been seeing is all for your nose so that why am not sure.
You should find it in the same area next to the contact cleaner.
i was wunderin, is vaseline gud fer a one week old peircing?
Thank you Whitney05 for all your time
And if saline is the same thing as contact cleaner?
Confused/Dogluver no you should not use vaseline on a new piercing. It will block the air flow causing the piercing not to be able to breath.
db24/melissa. what did I say about multiple names. I already explained that it is not the same thing as contact cleaner but sold with the contact cleaner.
wasnt the samme people make sure you know what you are talking about.. thanks
It was you, and you could easily ask the same question one time under the initial name you started asking questions. It keeps things less confusing for others. I will provide the same answer no matter how you answer the question or what the name is.
i got my belly done lasst thursday with my friend mine looks swollen and tight is this normal??
Okay! So i had my piercing for 2 1/2 months. I went to Florida and I got into the ocean, my original piercing got lost so I had to buy a new one!! And the new ones barbell was too short and made my piercing hurt like crazy and puss a little. My dad is a medic and he bought me a new barbell that is much longer but it has something dangly from it. Thats all we could find in such a short notice. So, i know its extremely irritated and a little infected. So here is my question.. Is the dangly part going to make my belly worse? And if so, should i change it once more? Or should I just leave it and continue to clean it with Saline and a lil' bit of peroxide? What do you think?
I got my navel done earlier today and have a pool in my garden. It's completely clean but it has chlorine in it to help keep it this way. Would I be able to go swimming in it now or sometime soon?
katy, your body isn't going to heal the piercing just like your friends. It is probably normal for your body. Just keep an eye on it and keep cleaning it.
Caitlin, Yes the dangly is going to weigh down the already infected and irritated piercing. This is why you shouldn't swim with a new piercing. No peroxide just saline and try to snip off the dangly without removing the jewelry. If you continue changing jewelry then you're going to make it worse.
db24 I already told you I wasn't answering any more questions with various screen names that you choose. Don't you realize that I can tell that it's you every time you change your name? You're not being sneaky. I will continue to delete any furhter comments unless you have a legit question and you stick with the original screen name. We have already discussed this, and your reasoning was b/s trying to figure if I really new my stuff, yet you asked the same thing different ways. I will still be able to answer any question to the best of my ability with the original name that you started asking questions with, so I'm not sure what the excuse is that's making you continue other than being irritating to me.
Darby, Nope. You should not ever never swim with a new piercing in any body of water.
Thank you! And yes, I do regret swimming. I didn't know you couldn't. Even with the dangly my piercing is feeling, and looking wayyyy better with just using the Saline Solution. Thank you! I don't know if I can cut the dangly off, I will try but if not it seems to be doing fine. Thank you very much!!
I got my belly pierced last Saturday and about 3 days ago i noticed that around the top ball there is like a red ring around it n in the middle of it its white.My mums going to take me to the place that i got it pierced at so they can have a look at it.I think it's infected but i looked on the internet and it said that its fine but others say it's not.I've been cleaning it with sea salt water but it doesnt seem to be getting better.please help . x
You'll probably need wire cutters to remove the dangly. Dangly belly button jewelry isn't really even recommended for healed piercings wearing them longterm because they can weigh down the peircing, causing iritation and migration.
ChelsLouise, it's perfectly normal. Just keep cleaning the piercing. Remember you had a needle shoved through yoru skin. There is trauma there.
I had my belly done on Wednesday and it hurts when I move about, How could I make the pain abit less?
Thank you for the help :) x
heyy, i was wondering i got my belly done about five days ago and in a week i will be going to wild wood and will be going in the ocean and pool is this okay? i had bought water proof bandages and i wash it twice a day.
thankyouu:)
Princess, you'll just have to live with the pain.
ChelsLouise you're welcome.
ashley the bandaid isn't the best option. in the woods you'll be fine as long as you keep up regular cleaning. I wouldn't get in the water or ocean though. Not even with the bandaid.
i just got my done a week from today and it is all red around the top and bottom and also on the bottom there is a bump is that normal... and its red...
Is wound saline fine?
skapoor, it could be a keloid forming. Just watch it and keep cleaning like normal to see if it gets bigger, sore, or goes away.
db24, if that's all that you can fine they I guess. Just spray it in a cup and flip it over the piercing.
thank you...but what is the best one or best type of saline?
It's essentially all the same. just in different bottles. Just check the ingredients for saline.
heyy
i plan on getting my belly button or nose pierced this summer but i live in east africa cause my parents work for the us embassy here. So the only time i can get it pierced is two days away from my big travel from florida to tanzania (which is two eight-nine hour flights and a layover in Amsterdam). Can I get a piercing before this? And do you have any thoughts on which one i should get? There are no good piercing parlors in tanzania btw, that's why i'm getting it in the states (here they pierce noses with guns and earrings)
thanks.xx
It's your perference as to which pericing you want. I don't see any reason why you can't get a piercing before you go from FL to Tanzania. Just don't get in any bodies of water with a fresh piercing. Yea, avoid any place that is going to pierce with a gun. You want a piercer who uses piercing needles, not the piercing guns.
Thanks for your help =]
ok well i got my piersing like 3 days ago and my parents are planning on goin to the beach tommorow is it bad if i go in or not? and can i move my piercing around?
You should not get in the ocean. Also don't touch the piercing except to clean with saline, and in that case you really don't need to touch it.
Hi Whitney,
well i got my belly button done on July 2nd and right now i don't feel well at all
and i really want to take a bath, is that okay if i take a bath? lol
so i got my belly button pierced on may 24th of this year & i didnt notice that they didnt go deep enough until recently. i never had any pain from it, its not warm when i touch it, & i never got puss besides the dried up crusty's from when it was first healing. at first i couldn't find any sea salt so the SSS were not possible. i used to clean it twice a day with diluted antibacterial soap & then when i started that SSS i inverted the cup over my piercing for about 10-15 minutes twice a day & now i still do that expect for that i only clean it once a day. and now my question is when can i take out my piercing so that i can let it heal because i can tell that it's on the verge of rejection from the fact that its not enough skin for it to last a long time. its not see through yet so i know its gonna be a while but the top hole is kind of darkening & there's a tiny bump on the bottom hole. sorry i know this was really long lol & i can send pics if that wasnt descriptive enough =]
kelsey, I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I really wouldn't recommend it, as the water will be filled with whatever washes off your body and whatever is on the floor of the tub.
Confused, It sounds like rejection. Also sounds like a keloid on the one hole and just a scar on the other.
It's been about a week since I got it done now and I haven't had any problems with it. I've been cleaning it with saline and It doesn't hurt anymore and has no redness or anything just a little crust. Does this mean it's healed or is going to be healed soon? I'm wanting to know as I'm going camping in about 3 weeks and want to know if I can change the piercing.
okay thankss thats what i thought. so should i keep taking care of it or just take it out now to reduce the chance of a bigger scar?
Darby, it can take up to 6 months to heal a piercing. The piercing is healing, but no where near healed. You should not change the jewelry until at least 1 month, but even then you can start irritation and migration caused by early changing.
confused, it's up to you. You can continue taking care of it, but if you plan on getting it redone, it may be better to remove it and just let it start healing. Since it doesn't sound infected just scarring and rejecting, there shouldn't be a problem removing the jewelry. Remember that not everyone can cleanly heal a navel piercing, and some people can't heal them at all with at least some rejection.
Im a swim teacher and i have to be in the pool next week for 30 mins for my lesson. I got my piercing today. Is there anything I can do to make sure it doesn't get infected?
Great page, Whitney.
I think db24 is looking for a brand name from you. Or a pic of the saline bottle to buy. It can be a bit confusing, I suppose.
Question: How long should I soak it in the saline solution? 5 minutes okay?
how long should i keep the dixie cup + saline over my piercing? (how many minutes)
Babygirll, you shouldn't have gotten the piercing knowing that you're going to be getting into a pool. You should not get into any body of water with a new piercing, you are opening yourself into a sespool of nastiness. Yes cholorine helps, but the chlorine can then take part to irritate a new piercing.
Ash, there isn't a brand name for saline. It comes in a variety of forms and a variety of brands. It flat out says saline on the bottle, and is sold right next to the contact solutions. I soaked for 10-15 minutes twice a day.
Alisa, 10-15 minutes twice a day
im gettting mine done in like 15 minss is it really that badd to go swimmig and how long do i have to wait to take it like for a sportt ?
I got my belly pierced a week ago, it was a re-piercing as it was originally done 14yrs ago but i had to remove it during my last pregnancy 3.5yrs ago as it had grown out. So i had it redone. I have been cleaning with a sea salt solution 3ish times a day. I did a slightly stupid thing 2 days ago though, i had a bar put in (14yrs ago the only choice was a ring but now can have bars immediately) and i was desperate for my old bar as it was so much prettier, so i sterilized it and changed it (i know i know, as soon as i did it i knew it was a bad idea!) It has been a bit pussy since then (although there was a bit of puss that came out when i changed it too so it may have been going like that anyway, i do remember pussy periods when i had it done originally, is light yellow not green) It is a bit sore and a tiny bit crusty, not red and hot though so not sure if it's infected or just badly irritated. Do i just keep up with the saltwater?
Thanks for any advice..
Cheergirl, yes it is bad to go swimming with a new piercing. Read all the comments above. I've said it numerous times.
Terri, yea never change jewelry until healed. when you rush piercings, you create problems. just keep cleaning. if it gets too bad, you'll have to consider an antibiotic.
I WENT TO FLORIDA AND GOT MY NAVEL DONE ON7/13/09 AND IT IS A LITTLE RED ON TOP AND HURTS A LITTLE IS THAT NORMOL TO BE RED
I TRYED PUTTING A CUP OVER MY NAVEL WITH SEA SALT IN IT BUT IT DONT GET MY NAVEL WET WHY NOT
If you put enough diluted sea salt in the cup and put it over the piercing, there's no reason why it didn't cover it.
Also you are using sea salt granules mixed with warm water correct? Not real sea salt. Just want to make sure.
hey i just got my belly done, and been cleaning it properly etc. the bar is sticking to the skin around it though, is it ok to use normal moisturiser on it untill i can get some lanvendar oil? thanks xx
Hi, I'm 13 and I got my belly button peirced a week ago and I've recently noticed a red ring around the top ball. It isn't painful its just looks abit sore. Is it healing? Also the skin at the top of the metal bar is sticking to my skin, I am using vasaline to help with the movement, is that ok? And I have heard that going swimming actually helps the peircing, as long as the pool is clean. I am going on holiday in 2 weeks now and want to go in the pool and wear bikini's, has anybody had a peircing for about 3 weeks, what does it look like, i dont want it to get any redder than it is. But I would hate to go to the waterpark and not be able to go in the water!!!
Becca, Is it sticking because of the lymph? Don't use moisturizer or lavender oil. Stick with cleaning regularly and wiping away the lymph with a Q-Tip.
Charlotte, the ring is normal. you had stress to the tissues with a needle being shoved through your skin. Swimming can be very detrimental to a piercing, as you can get bacteria in the piercing that is healing. Waterparks are probably the worst place to go with a new piercing. Sorry... :-/
Hi thanks for the advice,
I am so upset now =/ lol
Its worth it though! i ? it!
How long will it be before I can go swimming?
Thankyou =D x
Until the piercing is healed, which can take up to 6 months or more in some cases.
Many believe that the chlorine disenfects the pool, but it really doesn't kill all bacteria. Remember people get E.coli and whatnot through waterparks that use chlorine in their water. If chlorine was the end all to pool cleaning, then no one would ever get sick from swimming in a public pool.
Ok thanks =P
Hello ..what does a yellowish greenish puss mean?--is it bad or good.
It means you have an infection. Don't take out the jewelry as you can block the infection in your body. Keep cleaning and add a pinch of antibiotic cream to the outside of the piercing and run it through by moving the piercing up and down. Wipe away any excess antibiotic cream.
argh, help!!!
before I only had a little red ring around it, and now its going crusty! :o .I've had it a week and abit, is this normal!?
okat thanks but where do i get this cream?
charlotte, sounds like normal lymph from healing. as long as it's not green or a yellow, you should be fine. as long as its a clear-ish crust, just soak the piercing as normal and wipe it away with a q-tip when you clean.
dezzy, neosporin comes in a cream. it's an antibiotic cream/ointment.
is polysporin the same thing?
sorry one more question is a keloid on the percing or beside it?
I haven't heard of polysporine. If it is an antibiotic ointment/cream (cream is better), then I guess. But if it doesn't specifically say antibioitic then no. Keloids are typically right around the hole; it's raised scar tissue caused by trauma to the skin tissues
okay thanks for the cream info..what do i do to get rid of the keloid.?
there's no proven way to get rid of a keloid. Some say tea tree oil, but it's not proven effective. I'd wait until you get rid of the infection first.
okay thanks i went to get the neosporin and it has to be a prescription.
sorry one other thing i wanted to know if was normal is that today i just finished cleaning my belly button / navel piercing with the sea salt and water and after i did that i lifted up the piercing and it started pussing is that normal or okay ? thanks whitney so much again for all your time and effort :D
neosporin is over the counter- no prescription. Depends on the type of "puss" puss is dark yellow- green infection. If it wasn't that color then it wasn't puss, but lymph, which should be normal, as long as there is no pain or redness in the area.
So if it is pussing does that mean that it is cleaning out the infection cuz my piercing is kinda late in the beginning it never pussed or crusted now it hurts a bit and is pussing a greenish yellowish color more yellow tho..
Sounds like it’s just cleaning and the pressure of the puss (if it’s green then it is puss) is just coming out of the wound. It doesn’t necessarily mean that cleaning is pushing out the puss though. Keep cleaning though.
okay sounds good thanks going to the doctor tomorrow..anyways but thank you again.
sounds good. just remember that doctors don't generally agree with piercings and he'll probably tell you to take it out, which is considered overall bad if it is a true infectin.
Lol yeah he told me to take it out but am like nooo... he is like fine i will give you a cream so i will let you know how that goes. thanks again :D
I have my belly button pierced 4 times (top bottpm left and right sides) I've had them all for years and they have healed perfectly. I have found a tattoo parlor that offered to make me a ring that will go through all 4. He said he'd need measurment to ensure a proper fit. Could a ring like this cause irritation or would it be safe to wear? Thanks.
I've had my peircing since the Second of July, and I'm coming across all the infection sympth. What should I do and where could I get a product to fix this? Also, is it normal to be able to feel the bar really well between the two balls in your skin?Alo I heard Bactrine was a good cleaning product, is that true?
I've had my belly button pierced since i was 17 and now im 19 and still have not changed my belly button ring. It hasn't caused me any problems or anything... i was just wondering if that was o.k.? The reason why i have not done so is because the balls on my barbel is to tight for me to take off. Any advice? And anything i should be concerned about keeping it on for so long?
can i change my belly ring its been lyk 2 months n 3 weeks cant i just change it n keep cleaning it ??
dezzy, you may have to take it out if it doesn't heal properly, but you should never remove a piercing with an infection.
courtney, if the ring isn't measured and created to the 100% tee perfect angles you will probably see irritation and possible rejection or migration.
ccmariee, don't use bactine, it's too strong of an agent for piercings. Keep cleaning the piercing just add another cleaning time- ie if you're cleaning once a day, start cleaning twice. You really shouldn't feel the bar; you may be able to feel it some but if the bar is prominent, then the piercing is too shallow.
Toni, There's no reason why you have to change the jewelry. Leaving the original jewelry in is perfectly fine.
Arrr. Haych, as long as the piercing is healed, you can change it. If the piercing is not healed, you may run across potential irritation. Some say after 6 weeks it's ok, but personally I've seen many navel piercings go bad by not waiting until it's healed all the way.
no it doing really well with the cream..
That is good to hear.
I'm going to a lake tommrow and I'm going back and forth on if I should be water skiing and all the activities at this lake Since I;ve had it since the second and have had the signs of infection is this trip a bad idea?
Go, but it's not recommended that you get in the water.
i just had my bellybutton pirced about 5 days ago and it red and the top and the bottom whole what shall i do ?
PLEASE HELP x
You just got it pierced, it's normal. Remember you had a needle shoved through your skin.
Just clean the piercing twice a day.
thank you i was just a little worried beacause for the last two days it only been red ? x
would you recomend any think apart for cleaning 2/3 times a day + i have been cleaning it more than 2/3 times a day would that be effecting it ? x
Just clean it. You had a needle shoved through your skin, don't expect it to be painless, and perfect right away. Expect redness, swelling, discomfort, and lymph.
thank you x if i did have an infection what would the simtomps be x and one last thing it scab and dry skin around the top of the pircing x
sorry one more last thing what is lymph's thank you for your time and help x many thanks loo :D a least i now know that it is ok xxx :D :D
many thanks
lymph is basically a clear or yellow-tinted fluid that drains from a new piercing.
Yes it is thank you whitney for all your time again and patients with me lol :D
i have scab forming around the top is that bad :(
please help thank you for all your help x
dezzy, if you have any other questions, just ask.
loo the scab will come off when you soak the piercing. you should be soaking 1-2 times a day, rubbing any lymph away with a q-tip. you've only had the piercing a week, stop worrying. if it's still doing this in 2-3 more weeks, there could be a problem. remember, i keep saying you had a needle shoved through your skin. expect that things aren't going to be without normal wound signs (redness, pain, swelling, scab, etc). a little common sense is needed.
well thanks for all your help i would recomend bannans in england basidon town centre
I had mine done about a week ago it hurt a little bit but i think that because he didnt put eny numbing spay on before and e amdeme stand up but i would rate it from 1 to 10 about a 5 or 6 but it depends on what you think hrts i didnt hurt as much as i thourt it wouldnt but it made me go dizzy but im soglad i got it done . :)
loo, if you have any other questions just ask
Molly, numbing spray only numbs the outer skin, not the inside where you fill most of the pain. Not many piercers actually use the stuff, as there will still be pain with or without it. Pain depends on pain tolerance, so not everyone is the same.
I had my belly button peirced 5 days ago and im told that its supposed to puss? Mine hasnt, should i be worried? x
No piercing is supposed to puss. Puss is a sign of infection. What will happen, is you will experience lymph, which is a clear leakage which is normal.
I just got mine pierced about 3 weeks ago, and I don't know how but the barbell fell out, and I don't have any extras, so I sterilized a thicker paper clip, bent it like a barbell, and put it in. I cleaned it with sea salt, and it is a little red and a little swollen, but it was like that before too. Will my piercing get infected?
Yea... Probably wasn't a good idea. You've definitely increased risk of infection and rejection. The paper clip is a bad idea. You need to find a barbell and have the piercer replace it properly. If the paperclip wasn't bent properly, then there could be complications in the future if healed at that angle. Also best way to sterilize metal is to autoclave it- rubbing alcohol, burning it, etc. is not going to properly sterilize it, which can bring in bacteria into the new piercing. It is odd that the barbell fell out, as usually the ball that twists easier is placed on the bottom so that if it falls off, the top ball holds the barbell in place.
im getting my navel pierced soon and my mom's friend got hers and told me she theres this kind of jelly that numbs the area you aply it on and that i should use it before the piercing...
would that cause any negative effect afterwards?
The numbing solutions only numb the outside, the nerves that will deliver the most pain are not going to be affected by the solution or gel.
Hi, I have just got back from my holiday, I had my belly button pierced 2 weeks before I went and I have been in the pool and swam in the sea. Now I have found gooey puss and sometimes bleeding coming from the bottom hole and also this is turning into a kind of crust around the bottom ball. Its not that much coming out but I'm worried it could of been caused by swimming and maybe its an infection. Please help! x
That's why you shouldn't swim with a new piercing. It sounds infected. Is it a dark yellow color? Does it hurt? Is it red? Start cleaning with saline and go from there.
Hi, so i just got my belly button pierced last wed. and the first day it was fine the second day i went to the beach button i didnt go in the water. I just laid out but i got my stomach burn then sat. I woke up and looked a little red..today i woke up and it looks like it got redder. there is no puss coming out and I have been using dial soap and just started using sea salt? it is also a little sore...do i have a infection? what can i do to reduce th redness? HELP!
I also forgot to add that its red on opening and closing of the piercing and when i push it up its and and then theres this white ring around the piercing when i squeeze it but its not puss wat is that?
Don't use dial soap, it will irritate the piercing. It's too strong. Stick with saline. If you don't mix the sea salt solution properly and have too much sea salt to water ratio, you can also irritate the piercing. It's just so much simpler to use saline. Redness will reduce as the piercing heals. You've only had the piercing for a week. Don't squeeze the piercing. Any leakage that's not yellow-green is lymph.
Read the care and tips above, you'll find the information where it says not to use soap and how to care for a piercing, which should have been read before any comment was left in case it answered any questions (just my thoughts as to why I wrote it and all; comments section is for questions not answered in article above, generally you shouldn't skip to ask a question before you read). Thanks :-)
ok sorry...thank you very much..where can I buy saline? I have been cleaning it twice a day with the sea salt is 1/4 a tsp per 8 oz of water correct?
You can purchase saline from a pharmacy. It will generally be by the eye/contact solution, and bottled in a similar bottle. Just make sure not to purchase contact solution. Saline will clearly say 'saline solution' on the bottle.
Yes, that is the correct ratio.
okay thank you very much :]
Hello, I got my belly button pierced four days ago and I noticed today that it is red on the opening and closing of the piercing. Is that normal? I was also wondering does the saline solution really work? thanks
paranoidbrandi, you're welcome
Chelsea, that's normal. If you read the comments above, you would have found the redness is normal. 4 days after you've had a needle shoved through your skin, expect redness, soreness, and swelling. Saline works; it's the ideal cleaning solution for new piercings.
Alright thank you.
Hi, Whitney! I've notice that u've been mentioning the SALINE most of the time, I don't know if I can also use it on my case. I've got my pierce about Jan this year.. And it was fine not until I started using dial soap (a week ago) and went to waterworld over the weekend. It became dry and itchy around the jewelry, is it Ok to continue to use saline + neosporin with it? Thnx!
Saline can be used at any time with an infected or irritated piercing. Dial soap can greatly irritate a piercing by drying it out. If you opt to use Neosporin, you'll want to use a very thing amount putting it around the outside of the barbell on the top, gently pushing the barbell up and down so that the ointment or cream (cream version is better) has gone through the piercing. Wipe away any extra so that it doesn't collect bacteria.
hi, im an athlete and this is my senior yr in field hockey and i just got my belly button pierced so, should i take it out or leave it in cause ill be doing sit ups and some waste techniques, prac. starts the 27th and i just had this for two days. what should i do =(
hi so I got my belly button pierced a week a go and I noticed when i clean it theres a white ring..is that normal? i can wipe it a way with a q tip but it gets raw after? i also have been doing the sea salt soaks and microwaved the shot glass too long and i burned my stomach and i was wondering if that hot water would burn the wounded area and infect it? thanks
Jenny, if you take it out and put it back in without it being healed, it won't heal. You will irritate the new piercing, and if you take it out now, exercise, and try to put it back in, more than likely you won't be able to get it back in. Just be careful.
Kelly, are you using proper sea salt and water ratio? It's just a quarter teaspoon or sea salt to 8 ounces of water. You want to use lukewarm not not. Unless the cup that the water came from or the water itself was dirty, it probably isn't the the water.
hi its me again. so i have been doing the sea salt soultion and its working pretty good but today i noticed that at the top hole and bottom hole it is peeling around it. is that normal? its not a lot of peelig but it looks like its just healing. I just want to make sure. thanks
I got my navel pierced 3 months ago. The hole is fully healed now but beside the lower hole there is a gross red bump that is has pus and blood sometimes and it hurts. Any remedies?
paranoidbrandi, I wasn't able to look at the images. It shouldn't be peeling, but I'm not really sure what you mean.
Nila, I'm not really sure what that is. Keloids don't hurt nor do they puss, so I'm not sure. Are you continuing to clean the piercing? How often is the bump there?
hi i got my belly button done last october and everything was fine but after i put a dangling belly bar it for like a 3 days after i took it out and put a small one in after a week or 2 the whole has gotting bigger and the skin is really skinny ? should i take it out and wait till it as heeld up than get it re periced what should i do help me ! thanks xxx please write back i need your help xx
I'm not really understanding what you're describing. But, from what I gather, the dangly jewelry was worn longer than it should have and it caused migration. It's up tp you want you do. The piercing isn't infected or irritated. Just sounds like it migrated.
well i put some mosturizer around the it and it stopped peeling. I had been using sea salt and hot water and I think thats wat was drying it out. the other day i bought the saline. but it says wound wash saline..is that the correct stuff? it is made by blairex. thanks
It's not recommended to put moisterizer or lotion around an irritated or healing piercing. More than likely, you weren't mixing the saline properly, and yes that was probably causing the irritation. Saline wound wash should be the same. I'm not sure. I've only ever purchased regular saline from the eye cleaner section; that is what is recommended. Now, I have used would wash on wounds, and they healed fine. I usually purchase the grocery store brand of saline; it's in a similar container as contact cleaner, but specifically says saline.
ok well wen i run out of saline wound i will us that is it normal for it to be crsty?
Yes. It's the lymph. After soaking, use a q-tip and gently wipe away.
okay thank you for helping! youve been such great help!
hi, i got my belly pierced on monday and it seems to be going alright.
i have a bit of redness around the top ball though and it does hurt quite alot, especially when i sit & bend over.
they gave me a gel type antiseptic to put on it which i put on 3 times a day.
today i tried salt and warm water, can you tell me if the pain and everything is normal?
You had a needle shoved through your body. Pain and redness is normal, as I've mentioned several times so far.
Use saline solution instead of the antiseptic. I've never heard of a tattoo shop passing out antiseptic for new piercings. What is it called? Also make sure that you dilute the sea salt 1/4 teaspoon to 8 ounces of lukewarm water. Do not use regular table salt.
Okay, well i got my mum to try getting me saline solution today but the chemist gave her this antiseptic spray its called ear care but they said it can be used for all piercings?
If it's saline, then it should be fine.
whats a good excuse to tell your dad
why you want it if he keeps saying no
and all he wants is a good reason ?
It's hard to convince a parent of a piercing, especially if you're under age. I suggest just taking the high road, and waiting until you're of age to get the piercing. But even still, you never want to go behind your parent's back.
Pick your battles carefully. New piercings just aren't the battle you want to fight over.
Princess, you don't have to yell. It's inappropriate online behavior and plain rude. Saline is essentially salt water; it's ideally mixed for your body. You won't have too much salt or too little. It comes in different forms. It's easiest to use the one that's in an eye drop bottle, like contact solution but not contact solution.
hi ive had my belly button picerd for 7 months now but the hole as got big and the skin is really thin !what can i do to make it go back to normall
Sounds like it's migrating. Is the hole getting bigger, or is there just less skin between the enter and exit points of the barbell?
If that is the case, there's nothing you can do. It will continue to reject and migrate. You can remove the jewelry, let the hole heal and close, and then have it repierced, but some people can't heal navel piercings. In your case, if nothing caused the migration, then you may be one of those people who's body just doesn't like navel piercings.
Hi i got my belly button pierced a few weeks ago. I saw that u said to use saline solution and that its near the contact solution but i went to the store and looked near the contact solution and didnt see it. I saw contact solution and it said saline solution but u said not contact solution. im so confused.
Hi Whitney. i've noticed stringy yellow puss and blood coming out of the bottom hole of my piercing. it is a little purple around it but it doesn't hurt. ive had my piercing for about a month or so and has only just started doing this, i dont think it is fully healed yet although im concerned it may be an infection? Thanks x
Miranda, Contact solution is going to be like bausch and laumb and stuff like that. The saline product that you want is going to be in a bottle just like the contact solution. It will say saline solution on it. It may say that it can be used for contacts, but it's not going to be a specific contact cleaner.
Charlie, The purple is scarring more than likely since it doesn't hurt. Is it puss or lymph, which is also a light tinted yellow color. It's probably not fully healed, so continue cleaning.
ive had my piercing since march of this year. It dosnt smell and i clean it at least 3 times a week but it itches like crazy but its very ocasional. im really hoping i dont have those mite things. what should i do?
First of all, this is an amazing article (thank you for writing it), and I read all of the comments... so I'm 100% positive this has not been asked before, lol.
I got my piercing done a little over a week ago. I find that I can't bend back very far because the piercing starts to sting a little (very normal, I'm sure).
This may be an awkwardly random issue, but I don't want it to heal like this now and then make me unable to bend back later(I pride myself in my flexibility haha), but I'm afraid of bending back now and irritating the piercing. Which is the better way to go?
Jessi, it itches because it's healing.
Kiki, It's stinging because you're bending backward, which is more than likely pulling the skin that is either 1) tight around the barbell or 2) has a little dried lymph that is pulling the skin.
hmm ok. how long does it itch for?
It will vary per person. It's like a scab. When healing, scabs itch. Don't scratch it and if you have any lymph, when cleaning use a Q-tip to gently rub it away. Do not pull it off and do not pick at it.
ok one more question. I leave for boot camp nov 9th. and of course we cant have jewelry. I'm pretty sure i know the answer but i want to make sure. Will my hole close? i won't have a ring in for 8 weeks
If it's not fully healed, then there's a high chance that you'll loose it.
Erm...hey...i just wanted to ask,i got a belly piercing just yesterday & i just want to know, can i get an infection if the piercing is like over 1 week? & how long is the possible infection period before i can relax about the infection thing? & i can't really perform the cleaning task cause i can't get the things in this part of the world... would there be anything else that i can use to clean the piercing? so far, i've been using alcohol swabs... thanks a lot.
Hello. i just got my belly pierced in less than 24 hours. i just want to ask, since i go for a lot of outdoor sports and i sweat a lot. since you said that we shouldn't go into places like pools, i was just wondering, will my sweat irritate the skin? and if it does, what should i do to prevent this from happening?
Rubster, You can get an infection at any time throughout the healing process. If you can't clean it, your infection risk is high. NEVER use alcohol with a new piercing. The movement can irritate the piercing, as well as pools, lakes, oceans, river, etc. Be careful with sports as the peircing can get hit and injured, which can cause irritation, migration, and possible infection. Sweat shuold be fine, just clean the piercing after.
i just changed the ring cause i pierced it about 3 days ago and the wound had still not healed. there was blood and it was a really scary site as i thought that it had already healed. there is a swelling around the upper hole of the piercing. its a purple-ish colour and i'm not sure weather i should take off the piercing permenently or leave it on for a few days and see what happens. any suggestions? does this mean that i still can't eat seafood and eggs and nuts? thanks a lot. your blog has helped me A LOT... :)
Shouldn't change the jewelry until healed. 3 days is not enough time. Minimum is about 3-4 weeks before changing jewelry. You've probably badly irritated the piercing. Leave it alone, continue cleaning with saline soaks. You are at higher risk now of infection and migration.
I'm not sure what seafood and nuts have to do with a piercing.
hi i got my belly button peirced today is there any way canuse a taning bed?
I'm not sure what you're asking. The tanning bed is not good for your body to begin with. As for a new piercing, it's recommended you wait until it's healed before going to the tanning bed.
hi
i'm 15 at the moment but will be 16 in a few weeks time. I'm thinking of getting my belly button pierced and i'm just researching around trying to find facts. i have friends who have them and i think they look really nice but i've always kind of wanted it done anyway. so what age can i be to go and get my belly done without parental permission? and does it take long to actually perform the piercing itself???
any info would be great
thank you xx
Depending no your state's laws, your age will vary. Some states allow for 16, but usually you'll still need your parent there. Some states require you to be 18 no matter what. Your best bet is to ask your parents, and if they say no, wait till you're a legal adult (18). Otherwise, you'll probably be in pretty big trouble if it gets badly infected and they have to know so that you can go to the doctor.
It takes a quick minute to line up the piercing, mark it, push the needle through, and put the jewelry in.
Whitney,i read majority of your posts and i will try not to ask the same questions however this is my situation.
I got my belly button pierced a week ago today. When i first got it pierced the guy told me how to clean it etc.. its a ring and when i got home after getting it pierced it bled a little. cleaned it, it was fine. no blood or puss was noticed. I was cleaning it with sea salt mixed with hot water 2 times a day and it still hurt when pushed up against and was still red on the top and bottom...so i switched to using an ear cleaning solution. the store lady said it is fine to use on body piercings and recommended it actually. it is just a basic ear cleaning from icing by clairs. it helped to clear up SOME of the redness, it is still noticably red but like i said it helped...but i now have a white puss coming out. i read about what you spoke on the lymph...how normal is it? how long should it last? how can i take care of it? when should i notice it getting better? what else should i be concerned about?
thank you
Lymph is normal, meaning it happens to everyone with a new piercing, no matter what piercing. That's what I mean by normal. It should last nearly until healed. It's not a problem, it's normal. You want there to be lymph because you're healing. Just soak the piercing with saline, and wipe away the lymph with a q-tip after.
Also, the ring is the worse thing that you can have in a navel piercing. You're going to experience potentially more complications than if you had it done with a barbell. You need to go back and have the piercer replace it with a barbell to minimize complications and irritation.
Hey there, i had just gotten my belly Re-pierced just under three weeks ago, and not long after the piercing got hooked on to my shirt. It got a tad scratched but it healed up fine. But then now i have this small bump just a bit under the top ball. It's not hurting or anything,just sometimes when i sit awkwardly the piercing feels uncomfortable. What is the bump and what should i do to get rid of it?
Sarah, the bump could be a keloid, but it's hard to tell from that description. If it is a keloid, there's not really any way to get rid of it besides having it removed. If it grows or remains there, that's probably what it is since it doesn't hurt. Just keep cleaning the piercing since it's only 3 weeks old. It could have been caused by piercing through the scar tissue from the first piercing.
hi i have had my belly button pirced for around 2 month and i have just out that i have a klump but it not saw but my whole of my belly button is red and i am still lymthus is that bad and how can i get rid of it help there is no one eles in my family who has it done so i dont what this lump could be can you help me please many thank loo xxx :S
After a month, it will probably still leak the lymph. It's still healing. As for the lump, it's probably scar tissue, which may or may not go away. If it's a keloid, it probably won't go away, but it's hard to say with just the description of a red lump. Just keep cleaning with saline and keep caring for the piercing.
I need help. I got my navel pierced two weeks ago and the top hole is still very red. I'm afraid it'll reject. Is it rejecting? How would I know? And...I think they put the piercing too deep in my navel because when I sit or lay down, the bottom ball will get pulled into my belly button. Is this normal?
It's only been two weeks. The redness will all depend on how you're caring for the piercing and how well it was pierced by the piercer. Just keep cleaning and see how it goes. You won't see signs of rejection in the first two weeks.
whitney,
my parents flipped when they found out i get my naval pierced so today they went and took me back to the piercer to have it removed. he removed the ring and soaked the holes in alcohol and said for me to do this 2 times everyday for 3 days...well when i got home i had a spare barbell and put it in because the piercing hadnt yet closed...do you recommend me leaveing it in or should i really just keep it out? im worried about the infection risk now. it wasnt infected when the guy removed it-i took good care of the piercing..i had it done only 2 weeks ago...o and the barbell fits VERY VERY tightly..like amost its too short to even work. i guess because it was a hoop, the holes were spaced out farther...does that make a difference on infection?
whitney,
Never mind. i decided to take out the piercing after all- its not worth the risk of a new infection. however when i took it out it bled a little bit because a piece of skin was torn off and after an hour or two i have noticed that the bottom hole has already closed up...how to i continue to clean this so it does not create an infection inside my body? the piercer said rubbing alcohol, but if the holes are closed, what good is that doing??
whitney- hi i got my belly button pierced about 2 months ago. About two weeks i unscrewed the top ball and had realized the ball was indented into my skin and it was raw. someone recommended i put a hoop in instead so the top skin can heal. When i got it pierced they put a barbell in. since then the bottom hole looks good but the top where it was indented is still red. Ive tried the saline solution and sea salt soaks but nothing seems to be working. Can you think of anything else I can do?
The hoops do not heal as well as the barbells. They generally cause more problems. The saline and sea salt soaks aren't going to get rid of redness, but just heal the piercing. The redness is more than likely scarring. It may go away on its own, depending on how your body heals.
hi its loo i have to lump in my belly button what shall i do and i have lymthus still help me please but the lumps you cant see and do not hurt what shall i do i am worried xx please hellppppp
You do not need to keep asking the same question. I believe I answered your question on the other hub several days ago. The lymph is normal. Just keep cleaning, and when it has healed, the lymph will no longer be. It shouldn't hurt any more, you've had the piercing for a few weeks or months or so. The bump is probably scar tissue. It may or may not go away. There's nothing really you can do but wait and see.
I got a tiny lump of blood/puss skin and i dunno what it is?
You haven't provided enough info. How old is the piercing? What jewelry are you using? How are you cleaning it?
I would suggest just cleaning with saline, if the piercing is still young.
Does the piercing hurt, is it swollen?
oooh im sorry. it is 2 months old, im using a stainless steel belly bar and im cleaning it about once a week. what the hell is saline? and it doesnt hurt but there is a small blob of blood/puss which wont budge its like skin, its underneath the bottom hole.
You need to be cleaning daily. What are you cleaning it with? Please, don't curse, there's no need to. Saline is basically a premixed salt solution; it's perfect for cleaning piercings, and can be used for many other things as well. Sounds like the piercing is irritated, possible infected. You need to clean daily not once a week. You want to get the bacteria out of the piercing, versus leave it there to sit and multiple throughout the week. Cleaning once a week isn't going to get rid of what's been growing during the week.
My daughter got a piercing and I went thru the roof! Then she did not take care of it properly so she just let it heal shut and now it is the ugliest thing to look at. I really think piercing in that area is a little too much. That is just my opinion. Any fan of piercing, pierce on!
i got my bellybutton pierced on friday, and my piercer gave me something to clean my bellybutton with, and it smells/looks like neosporin or vaseline. should i contiue to use it, or should i just buy the saline?
For how long do I need to avoid going into a swimming pool, lake, sea etc? Because my mum said I could get my belly pierced on my birthday, which is in may. But I know we'll probably be going on holiday in august to croatia - would that be enough time to hit the beach?
thanks x
mairssasauruss, What is it called? Generally you don't want to use something that is like a cream or ointment on a new piercing.
puipui, Avoid them until the piercing is healed. Belly button piercings can take up to 6 months to heal.
Hi there
I got drunk and had a belly button piercing on Saturday. I now really regret it as I'm scared I'll get an infection, and I'm prone to keloid scarring. Is it safe to remove my belly button ring? Or do I have to wait for it to heal. I thought if I took it out now then it may not scar so badly .
Thanks soo much!
You can carefully take it out in order to reduce scarring.
Hi
Thanks soo much for your reply. I went to my Dr today and she liked it and so now I'm in two minds whether to keep it in. I really want to prevent an infection so is it best to clean twice a day with sea salt? Also, could you please suggest the right quantity to use. I have been using one teaspoon of sea salt in a mug.. Also, I do the shot glass thing for 15 mins every evening. How long do I need to do this all for and should I cover it for bed?
Thanks, honestly you are fantastic and provide the best info on the internet!
Keep up your great work.XX
One teaspoon of sea salt to every 6 ounces of warm water. All you need is enough to soak the piercing. You can store the rest and use the next cleaning. Make new mix when you're out. Twice a day for the first few weeks, and then just once a day after that. There's no reason to cover it with a bandage or whatever ever. you're cutting off the air supply so that it can't breath, which can cause irritation.
Thanks soo much, that's really helpful.
i'm not sure what its called, but he gave it to me. i just bought the saline, and do that three times a day and i use the sea salt with the warm water idea aswell. should i just continue with my new cleaning ways? :)
thank you, by the way.
2-3 times a day with saline for the first few weeks, then once a day after that. There's no reason to do saline and sea salt. I'd do one or the other. I just prefer saline, as you don't have to mix it and hope that you get it diluted enough.
Okay...I changed my barbell like 2 days ago and now the skin around my piercing is sore and red. Its starting to crust again. I've had it for a month so I thought I could change it? Also, I've had it pierced once before, and the old-top hole (which is slightly above the new top hole) feels hard and is slightly discolored. Is this a normal scar from the old hole? Or a keloid? Or just irritation from changing the barbell?
Brando, not all jewelry has the same curve, so in some cases you're piercing will have to adjust to it. Plus, since you didn't let the piercing full heal, changing the jewelry caused irritation. Keloid is a raised scar, so if it's not raised it's probably not a keloid. It really shouldn't be hard though. I'd ask your piercer just in case.
Hi Whitney,
I am going on holiday tomorrow, i want to change my belly bar tonight. I've had it pierced for about 4 months, it still crusts a little bit. Got any tips on how to remove the bar bell before putting the new one in? I've heard that if you do it in the shower it slides in more easily. And do i need to steralise the steel belly bar before i put it in, if i do then how? Thanks x
If it still crusts, it's not healed, which means it'll be a risk to change it. If you change it you could potentially suffer irritation and a set back in healing. If you have to change it and refuse to wait, soak the piercing, make sure there's no crust on it, and remove the barbell. If you change it in the shower, the likelihood of dropping it from wet hands is higher, your choice. You can sterilize the jewelry in rubbing alcohol. It's not the best way, but more than likely you don't have an autoclave in your house, so rubbing alcohol will do.
hi,
i have had my belle button pirced 8 weeks ago and it is still red at the top is that normal itis not cumming out all pusyy or nuffink
it's more than likely lymph not puss, which is normal during healing. I'm not sure what nuffink is. It's going to be sore and red after the piercing. Just keep cleaning it.
ok thank you so it is not infected.x
I just got my belly button done, and I have changed it several times. When I changed it, I cleaned everything, including my belly. Right now, I have a stud in it, so it wont get caught, or irritated on anything. I know my belly button is not infected, but since I changed it, will it make the healing proccess longer?
You shouldn't change the jewelry until healed. You should never use an ear stud as belly button piercings. By changing so often, you're increasing risk of irritation, which yes can cause healing problems.
How do you knoq if it is getting infected?
hi i got my piercing done like 2 months ago and i just came home to find the top ball to my piercing missing what should i do until i can get to a piercer
Tori, if it is sore, swollen, red, and leaking a dark yellow- greenish puss.
Kelsey, find a way to keep the barbell in. You'll want to find something to hold it up. A piercer can easily just give you another ball.
I have had my piercing for 3 months now. It is reddish purple around both holes, but does not hurt at all. I decided to take it off to clean it better. when i did I saw that their was a little bit of white gooeyness around the outside and so i squeezed it. a small amount of blood came out. Also i can feel a small ball underneath the skin. Is this scar tissue? .... My piercer told be to use dial soap and bactine...however after reading this I think i will go buy some saline :D
Don't take out the jewelry, as you're increasing risk of irritation. The white goo was lymph, which is normal healing. The blood is normal because it is a wound. The soap can get stuck in the piercing potentially causing infection if not washed out properly. Bactine can be strong.
badcompany99 says:
7 months ago
I like a nice belly piercing, looks nice.