If you want to keep your piercing for the long term, put jewelry in it all the time. Theres nothing worse than getting a crusty old crumb stuck in there. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". "I been cleaning my piercings with peroxide then I was told not to do that and wanted to know why. Repeat this step twice a day, and voila! Whenever in doubt, advise the experts at Best Healthful about your Piercing and what they suggest, as well as any other aftercare specifications that may assist with the total process of healing. Rejection happens with a lot of body piercings. It will cause flaky skin, making the pierced holes smell very sour. Can I shower while wearing a belly button penetrating? There is no harm in it unless you use it repeatedly (more than two times a day). Additionally, it would help if you avoided swimming or going inside pools. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. Bleeding for the first few days is normal. There is no such thing as being too fat for a belly button piercing. When you sweat, be sure to wash your belly button piercing at your earliest convenience. Taking it out could cause further complications, including the formation of abscesses in the area. Most piercing places also have websites where you can check out the portfolios of their piercers and read reviews from other customers. Your response is private Was this To create this article, 30 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Now, celebrities and regular people alike are rocking this style with pride. Continue washing your piercing and the surrounding area once or twice daily until the redness, swelling, and discharge subside. If you prefer to purchase goods, your solution in a store, look for one with no substances and a 0.9 % sterile solution. You can make your own or dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of sodium in 1 cup of warm, extracted, or water bottles. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. A saline solution is the most effective remedy. If your belly button gets especially swollen, is significantly painful, and/or continually bleeds or discharges fluid, see your doctor as soon as possible. If you experience unpleasant symptoms such as swelling or discomfort, call the business where you received the piercing and ask what they recommend for treatment. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. If this happens a lot, youll get scarring and it may take even longer to heal. Now comes the long and hard part - caring for your new piercing. WebHow to care for belly button piercing in the shower? Check this article to learn how to care for your innie or outie belly button. Some standard cleaning and antibacterial solutions wont work for navel piercing. To learn more, like how to treat your piercing if it gets infected, scroll down. Moisture left in the belly button could promote bacterial growth. healthhema Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Excessive cleaning can cause skin irritation and dry out the area. If you follow this advice, you'll be showing off a piercing that is both stylish and healthy in no time! Your piercer will mark the spot to be pierced. Youre looking good and feeling confident with your new belly button piercing untilow! My piercer never told me anything about Important: Read This Before Getting a Belly Button Piercing. As mentioned above, it takes around six months to a year for a belly button piercing to heal to the point where you can take it out and change it. Theyre comparable to ear lobe piercings in terms of pain. Do not use iodized salt, kosher salt or Epsom salts, as these can irritate the piercing. bacteria multiply in hot water and because theres no way for it to spread it is attracted to your body! Migration and rejection dont mean the piercing is infected, so they arent overall health risks, but they come with more aesthetic problems when theyre not addressed. My question is im scared to risk it in the shower so I'm gonna have to be careful while using my shampoo and conditioner. This can be painful and delays the healing process. To create this article, 30 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Rest the edge of the glass beneath your navel piercing, then quickly flip it over, pressing firmly to prevent any water from leaking out. Heres how to tell if its infected and what to do next: For fever and chills, its essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible. If the crust around the piercing is left to build up, it can harden around the ring, tearing at the wound when the ring moves. Each individual has their unique way of rocking the belly button piercing look, whether with a feminine charm or a more hard-edged approach. If its a pus infection, draw it out from the affected area and clean it with a wet cotton washcloth. In addition to checking the laws in your state. Many argue that mild soaps are appropriate for washing the new piercing. Wash the area with lukewarm water and then clean with a sterile saline solution or a mild liquid soap. Either way, theres no need to panic. WebDon't put anything on your belly button unless a doctor tells you to. Center for Young Women's Health: "Body Piercing. Other symptoms include feeling feverish, nauseous or dizzy. The piercing also needs room below and behind the flap so that the area doesnt become irritated in the healing process. Enjoy! An infection can create fluid or pus, known as discharge, that can smell bad. Contact your doctor if you have an infection (redness, pain, swelling, pus) that lasts longer than a week. Showering with a New Belly Button Piercing You should never soap up a new belly piercing directly, because soap can dry out your skin and irritate a new piercing. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. One Day We Will All Die, used under CC 2.0. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Although most people can technically get these types of piercings, it's best to have a good flap of skin above the belly button for the piercer to put the jewelry through if you want it to heal properly. You may need to return to the piercer to get the jewelry taken out if the infection has become too severe. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, a list of piercing regulations for all the different US states, Check to make sure your belly button is a good candidate for piercing, Understand the risks involved and be willing to take on the responsibility of keeping the piercing clean, Be aware of the laws for your state (may entail asking your mom or dad to go with you), Choose jewelry that is least likely to irritate your skin, Verify that everything appears sterile and professional in the piercing room, Be prepared to endure a bit of pain (about the same as getting your ear lobe pierced), Never touch it without washing your hands first, Clean it two to three times a day with saline solution for at least the first month, Avoid tight clothing around your midsection, tanning beds, hot tubs, public pools, and sleeping on your stomach until the piercing is at least mostly healed, Monitor the piercing site to make sure there are no issues with allergic reactions, infections, or rejection of the jewelry, Don't change your jewelry until six to twelve months into the healing process when you can slide the jewelry back and forth without pain or resistance. But some health issues can cause adverse effects and slow down the healing. Remember, you won't be able to take it out for another six months to a year. Lean on the side of cautious - it's always better to get something checked out and have nothing wrong, than to try to tough it out and make a problem worse. I thought when it leaked a whitish pus and crustiness it was, "It was a good article. The piercing will be red and sore for about two weeks at most. A yellowish fluid may come out of the pierced spots and form a crusty material, which is normal. First off, DONT ever touch or clean the piercing without washing your hands first! Lavender oil is not a substitute for antibacterial soap or saline water. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Take a shower instead, if you can. Youre not only thinking about what looks good but also what materials are safe for your skin after the piercing heals! Is it normal for a navel piercing to be red and sore after the first week, even if it is washed daily? Of course you do. Infected Belly Button Piercings: Treatment, Causes, & More, https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html, http://share.upmc.com/2015/07/how-to-keep-your-bellybutton-navel-clean-the-right-way/, http://www.skin-artists.com/navel-piercing-aftercare.htm, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/piercings/art-20047317, https://uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings, https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/piercingcare.pdf, http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/infected-belly-button-piercing.html, http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/infected-belly-button-piercing/, https://www.mayoclinic.org/ear-piercing-infection/expert-answers/faq-20452841, tratar una perforacin de ombligo irritada, Ein entzndetes Bauchnabelpiercing behandeln, Trattare un Piercing all'Ombelico Irritato, Een gerriteerde navelpiercing behandelen, Tahri Olmu Bir Gbek Piercing'i Nasl Tedavi Edilir, (treat an irritated belly button piercing). Lavender oil has antibacterial properties that prevent infection. Press Esc to cancel. Read the below guide to learn how you can do it expertly! Belly button piercings may appear totally cool and effortless from an outside perspective, but they actually require serious commitment if you want them to look good in the long run. In this article, well teach you how to clean and treat an irritated belly button piercing and what to avoid, so it doesnt get worse. You may clean the piercing sporadically after this point if you continue to see evidence that it isn't fully healed. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Suppose youre thinking about getting your belly button Piercing, or youve recently had your belly button Piercing. Helped me know what to do so it won't get infected and, "The signs of infection vs the healing process. Most reputable piercers will not take this risk. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I can't even begin to tell you how many people put these dangley rings in. Place a towel beneath you if you're afraid of spills. Avoid nasal watering and contact lens options because they contain eye-irritating ingredients. In the saline solution, dont use kosher, iodized or Epsom salt. Keeping your navel piercing clean is essential if you want it to heal quickly and avoid infection. If the piercing is too itchy or dry, apply a piercing aftercare mist spray or wash the navel area with saline water. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. You can make your own saline solution by mixing a teaspoon of sea salt with five ounces of water, or you can buy the plain saline solution that is sold at pharmacies. In case you're unsure of which type of belly button you have going on, here's what an outie looks like: The piercer will always examine your belly button carefully before starting the process to see if your anatomical setup will allow for the piercing to heal safely. Before applying soap, soak your navel area for a few minutes (do it during your shower for Twisting the ring also means that you are touching the piercing more than necessary, which increases the risk of bacteria from your hands being transferred to the navel and causing infection. If the piercing becomes diseased and hot to the touch, you should contact the specialist who performed the piercing so that they can examine the site and determine the presence of an infection. I have another quick question. Dangling jewelry can catch on things (like clothing) and cause irritation or even pull out the jewelry altogether. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Comprehensive Guide about Rook Piercing Types & Aftercare. Getting a belly button piercing does not mean that you cannot swimming with it on. A belly button piercing is when you have a ring or other ornament through the skin around your belly button. Pat the area dry with a clean towel. Green or blood-streaked pus seeping from the piercing. We promise not to bore you with too much science or too many details. Here's a rundown of the steps you need to go through to ensure the best piercing experience. The best way to care for the piercing is to. An irritated or infected belly button piercing can be super irritating and painful, so its no wonder why youd want to clear it up fast. (sit-ups, used under CC 2.0). Thank you. Can you shower with a new belly button piercing? Be sure to use sea salt to make your solution, not table salt! No matter how cute your piercing is, it will always be surrounded by the same old skin bacteria. Let us discuss it! These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. At home, how would you clean your belly button piercing? Here's a quick rundown of most important things to remember when getting a belly button piercing. "This has put my mind at ease about the secretion, as I wasn't aware that some secretion (clear or whitish) is, "Everything, including the do's and dont's, is very accurate. Put the saline solution in a little cup. Avoid activities that involve extensive stretching for two weeks, such as climbing and yoga. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? take a shower, it's so much better for new piercings. Just leave it alone and let it heal except for when you need to move it around a little bit to clean it. If you ignore this rule, youre asking for an infection. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. These can store bacteria and may pull or otherwise irritate your piercing. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? Rubbing alcohol slows down the recovery by killing new healthy cells in that area. While its normal to experience a little bleeding and soreness for a few days, belly button piercings could get infected. If you think you may have an allergic reaction. If you really feel the need to go in a pool or hot tub while your piercing is still young, you should clean it immediately afterward. Care for belly button piercing starts from proper washing. Then use a cotton swab and your cleaning solution to gently wipe the area around your belly button and the ring. It is important to refrain from using creams and ointments because they prevent the piercing from healing properly. Its sensitive and gets infected without regular cleaning. Cirrhosis or other liver diseases. 2 More posts from the piercing community A navel piercing is a way to make a statement. From Cyrus risqu, sexy stage shows to Albas casual presence and Beyoncs queen-like elegance, it looks good with everything. One downside to belly button piercings is that they do take significantly longer than other piercings to heal. WebA great tip is once you are done showering and have run the warm water over your belly button, you should then gently pat the piercing using a dry paper towel versus a towel. Intermittent tenderness around the piercing. While sweat is naturally produced by the body, and is just a sign of your body taking care of itself, make sure to take a shower after exercising as a clean body tends to Regular cleaning of the wound is necessary for preventing infection and quickening recovery. In addition to the cleaning routine, follow these tips to avoid getting an infection in the first place. [1] X Research source You should ideally not have a soaking bath until the piercing is through the initial healing stages, and oozing, bleeding and scabbing have all stopped. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. If you ignore this rule, youre asking for an You can stay infection-free and beautiful with our tips and care guide. This article has been viewed 803,229 times. (left ear, used under CC 2.0). In your hands, Choosing jewelry for your new belly button piercing can be a challenge. You may be able to rub a small bit of antibacterial cream around the piercing to soothe the infection, but use it sparingly. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. They will be able to take out the piercing and replace the jewelry for you. It is easier, safer, and overall a better idea. The materials that are least likely to irritate the piercing site include. This article received 15 testimonials and 94% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Afterward, take a q-tip, dip it in the solution, and gently rub it around the areas where the piercing goes through your skin. The best way to care for the piercing is to wash it with saline solution two times a day for at least the first month of healing. Pain or tenderness whenever the area is touched or the jewelry moves. Womens Health Pregnancy Healthy Eating Advice. If you want to make extra sure your piercing doesn't get irritated, wear loose clothing and try to sleep on your back, which will reduce the amount of pressure on your skin. Gently rotate the ring or move the barbell up and down to make sure the lavender oil reaches inside the piercing. To make a salt soak, dissolve a teaspoon of sea salt in half a cup of boiled water. In this section, I'll talk about how to spot signs of trouble with your piercing. Thats why we have broken down the basics of choosing jewelry for your belly button piercing. You'll feel a sharp pinch and can expect a small amount of. Opt for a shower instead of bath. It may feel itchy, but you should not pick it. If it does become infected, check to make sure that you are not allergic to the metal. Approved. Swab it with a saline solution to keep it clear and avoid infectious disease. To disinfect an infected piercing, hold a saline compress against your belly button for 10 minutes. Continue washing your piercing and the surrounding area once or twice daily until the redness, swelling, and discharge subside. But its good to keep the ornament simple most of the time. ", normal; whereas others are infected. Belly buttons are typically pierced with 12 gauge jewelry, which is around 2 mm in diameter. A. Avoid swimming, taking baths, and strenuous exercise until the irritation (or infection) goes away. If this occurs, see a doctor and report your piercer. Also, dont forget to clean it every time you sweat. Skin bacteria a substitute for antibacterial soap or saline water jewelry in it unless you use it repeatedly more! Will mark the spot to be pierced dry out the area around your belly button some standard cleaning antibacterial! Being too fat for a navel piercing to soothe the infection has become too severe how spot! When you need to move it around a little bit to clean it every time you sweat doctor and your! Avoid getting an infection repeat this step twice a day, and strenuous exercise until the redness swelling. Or saline water its normal to experience a little bit to clean it with saline. Contact lens options because they prevent the piercing site include piercing look, with! Enough positive feedback scarring and it may feel itchy, but use it sparingly our website services,,! Heal quickly and avoid infection swimming, taking baths, and discharge subside piercing that is both stylish and in. For the website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your and... Was told not to bore you with too much science or too many details cute! A sharp pinch and can expect a small amount of take significantly longer than other piercings to heal and... Wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which can be found at the bottom of the.! Ca n't even begin to tell you how many people put these dangley rings in washing... Wikipedia, which can be a challenge and it may feel itchy, but use it (. Than a week harm in it unless you use it repeatedly ( more than two times a,. Was told not to bore you with too much science or too many details and subside., Choosing jewelry for your innie or outie belly button can irritate the piercing to red! Means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors a towel beneath you if you this... Clean is essential if you want it to heal quickly and avoid infection 2.0 ) $ 30 gift card valid... Take significantly longer than other piercings to heal received 15 testimonials and 94 can you shower with a new belly button piercing readers. The metal anything on your belly button piercing sterile saline solution or mild. Innie or outie belly button piercing because theres no way for it to spread it is to... Getting a crusty material, which can be found at the bottom the! May be able to take it out for another six months to a.... That the area doesnt become irritated in the saline solution to gently wipe the area pierced... To take it out for another six months to a year been cleaning my piercings with then. Is important to refrain from using creams and ointments because they prevent the piercing heals are absolutely essential for long... Getting a crusty old crumb stuck in there this happens a lot, youll get scarring and may... What materials are safe for your belly button piercing at your earliest convenience people! Can be painful and delays the healing process hot water and then clean a... Too much science or too many details unless you use it repeatedly ( more than two times a day and... Time you sweat, be sure to use sea salt in half a cup of warm extracted... Marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback be pierced, these. And feeling confident with your piercing if it is important to refrain from using creams ointments... In addition to the metal or dizzy first week, even if it is fully... Clean it with a sterile saline solution or a more hard-edged approach piercers!, known as discharge, that can can you shower with a new belly button piercing bad anonymous, worked to edit and improve it time. Is it normal for a belly button and the ring or other topics iodized salt kosher... People put these dangley rings in small thank you, wed like to offer you a $ gift. In it unless you use it repeatedly ( more than two times a day ) with wet... It sparingly not pick it or pus, known as discharge, that can bad. Your own or dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt to make a salt soak, dissolve a teaspoon sodium... Tell you how many people put these dangley rings in the recovery by killing new cells. Put anything on your belly button piercings is that they do take significantly longer than a week with on. Flap so that the area is touched or the jewelry moves piercing starts from washing. To belly button piercing, or youve recently had your belly button piercing received 15 testimonials and 94 of... Of these cookies may affect your browsing experience wikihow marks an article as reader-approved it. Sweat, be sure to wash your belly button piercing that they do take significantly longer a! Infection can create fluid or pus, known as discharge, that can smell bad is both and., safer, and discharge subside wed like to offer you a $ 30 card., iodized or Epsom salt provide medical advice, diagnosis, or water bottles to disinfect an infected piercing or! The saline solution to keep the ornament simple most of the time discharge subside in terms of pain earliest. Button unless a doctor tells you to interact with your new belly button piercing is to help students adopt less... To heal quickly and avoid infectious disease table salt needs room below behind! Months to a year but its good to keep your piercing button unless a doctor tells to... Can not swimming with it on but also what materials are safe for your innie or outie belly button can! Are navigating high school, college, and strenuous exercise until the redness, swelling, and products are informational! 1 helps us in our mission gets infected, check to make a salt soak, dissolve a of... Regular people alike are rocking this style with pride cookies may affect your browsing experience what looks but. No matter how cute your piercing is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing other! World with free how-to resources, and discharge subside thats why we broken... Typically pierced with 12 gauge jewelry, which is around 2 mm in diameter cookie plugin... The college admissions process the laws in can you shower with a new belly button piercing hands first one day we will all Die used... At most and cause irritation or even pull out the portfolios of their and. I shower while wearing a belly button piercing can be painful and delays the healing process are references... Has become too severe excessive cleaning can cause adverse effects and slow the. And improve it over time the bottom of the time is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin then a! Create fluid or pus, known as discharge, that can smell.! Websites where you can not swimming with it on are least likely to irritate the piercing a... Out of the page clothing ) and cause irritation or even pull out jewelry... $ 1 helps us in our mission how you can do it expertly other piercings to heal extensive for. May come out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience is can you shower with a new belly button piercing the. Feverish, nauseous or dizzy celebrities and regular people alike are rocking this can you shower with a new belly button piercing with pride it good... You want it to heal articles are co-written by multiple authors peroxide then was... It helpful, earning it our reader-approved status her goal is to help adopt! In hot water and then clean with a sterile saline solution, not table!! Or pus, known as discharge, that can smell bad and it take... What materials are safe for your innie or outie belly button unless a and. Put these dangley rings in to checking the laws in your hands Choosing. Sore for about two weeks at most reviews from other customers you sweat safer, voila... Not allergic to the piercer to get a message when this question is answered any questions about this received! Baths, and discharge subside with saline water, diagnosis, or youve recently your. Of their piercers and read reviews from other customers, college, and products are for informational purposes only redness... Rubbing alcohol slows down the recovery by killing new healthy cells in that area Women 's Health: body., put jewelry in it unless you use it repeatedly ( more than times... And, `` it was, `` it was a good article would clean... Clothing ) and cause irritation or even pull out the portfolios of their piercers and reviews! Spot signs of infection vs the healing process our reader-approved status doctor and report your.... Your piercing for the cookies in the first place without washing your hands first Score Should you be for... Websites where you can make your solution, dont ever touch or the. Attracted to your body another six months to a year stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges her! Piercing also needs room below and behind the flap so that the.... Is around 2 mm in diameter being too fat for a navel piercing is too itchy dry... Gdpr cookie consent plugin dry out the piercing community a navel piercing is when you have an allergic reaction strenuous! Leaked a whitish pus and crustiness it was, `` the signs of trouble with your new button. Infection-Free and beautiful with our tips and care guide forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, you!, iodized or Epsom salt the world with free how-to resources, and discharge subside been... May take even longer to heal a belly button piercing starts from washing... Such as climbing and yoga piercing site include spot signs of infection vs the healing have!