First off, DONT ever touch or clean the piercing without washing your hands first! WebYes, you can shower with your new belly button piercing, but you must be careful not to let the water directly hit the pierced area. One Day We Will All Die, used under CC 2.0. Clean your piercing every day with saline solution or a mild soap, taking care to wash around both piercing holes and your belly button. Which Signs and Symptoms Indicate Sterile Pyuria? It's important to take action on these issues immediately so you can avoid serious health consequences and permanent scarring down the road. Because adding much more salt will irritate the skin, and introducing too little will have a small healing effect. I can't even begin to tell you how many people put these dangley rings in. In cases of the disease, you must also clean the piercing for very much longer durations because it may take anything between six months to a full year for the piercing to heal sufficiently. Getting tattoos or piercings with any of these conditions can cause infections in your weakened immune system. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. Theres nothing worse than getting a crusty old crumb stuck in there. What grade do you start looking at colleges? 4 yr. ago Showers are good. Theres no way to fix the issue without taking out the piercing and starting over. Take a shower instead, if you can. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. It will cause flaky skin, making the pierced holes smell very sour. In that case, you could always ask the professional who Piercing your belly button to suggest the most appropriate saline solution item for optimal healing. Prepare one teabag of chamomile and 100ml of water. Avoid nasal watering and contact lens options because they contain eye-irritating ingredients. If it does become infected, check to make sure that you are not allergic to the metal. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. WebAnswer #4. I thought when it leaked a whitish pus and crustiness it was, "It was a good article. If the piercing is too itchy or dry, apply a piercing aftercare mist spray or wash the navel area with saline water. It is easier, safer, and overall a better idea. Even if you believe that your belly button is the ideal candidate for a snazzy new piece of jewelry, you should know that, Jewelry rejection or migration (migration is when the piercing moves internally to a slightly different spot, and rejection is when your body starts to push the jewelry out and you see more and more of the barbell), Permanent scarring (this can happen if you dont bother to remove the jewelry after your body has decided to reject it). ", https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/piercingcare.pdf, https://uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings, http://www.skin-artists.com/piercing-aftercare-awareness.htm, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/piercings/art-20047317, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-piercing/. They tried to follow by a non-bacterial mild soap and water sanitizing. The only problem is some people may get skin irritation from lavender oil. Irritated belly button piercings should clear up quickly with proper treatment, so youll be well on your way to feeling better soon! This article was medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Savannah Vold. If sudsy waterfalls on the belly button, its fine as long even though you wash it off only with hot water and avoid scraping the area with your hands. 1 How do you shower with a new belly button piercing? Irrespective of which route you choose, it is recommended that you clean your piercing between two and three times per day until it has fully recovered completely. Washing the pierced area with a saline mixture (half of a teaspoon of sea salt in one cup of water) will help it heal faster. 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. Moreover, if you get an infectious disease, youll be cleaning your wound for very much longer. In addition, these substances prevent the growth of healthy new cells within the piercing, which slows down the healing process. In addition to checking the laws in your state. Signs of infection include: See how the area around the piercing is red and swollen? A. Rub the area with a cotton ball soaked in a saline solution. Try to avoid getting soap or other cleaners into or around your piercing as this can lead to infection and drying of the skin around the piercing. You can see way more of the barbell than you could when it was initially pierced (because its getting pushed out of your body), Noticeable movement of the holes of the piercing marked by a trail of redness, Hole appears larger than it was initially, The skin between the holes is translucent and thin, If you notice this happening to your piercing, you will have to. Yikes! Repeat this process twice daily to help kill bacteria and reduce irritation. Your piercer will mark the spot to be pierced. If youve gotten your ear or nose cartilage pierced before, that type of piercing usually hurts more than a belly button piercing. Lavender oil is not a substitute for antibacterial soap or saline water. There are two other methods for cleaning saltwater piercings. At least every day, dab the area with clean gauze or a saline-soaked paper towel. Or maybe keeping it clean is your only concern. Its removal may close up the hole, keeping the untreated infection inside. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. don't take bath!! 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. The quality of the piercing place makes a huge difference in the likelihood that your piercing will heal properly. Also, a healing piercing may secrete a white or off-white fluid. A saline solution is the most effective remedy. If this occurs, see a doctor and report your piercer. An infection can create fluid or pus, known as discharge, that can smell bad. You mustnt apply too much pressure when cleaning this area because it can irritate your piercing or cause infection. Whether youre rocking a two-piece bathing suit or want to show off a midriff-baring top, having your belly button pierced gives you an air of confidence and style. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Typically, belly button piercings go through the lip of skin above the belly button. Do this and knock out the cleaning 23 times a day as your cleaning solution for 15 minutes. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. If you change your piercing on your own, be sure to sanitize both the new jewelry and the piercing site before insertion. Then use a cotton swab and your cleaning solution to gently wipe the area around your belly button and the ring. While ear piercings typically heal in 6 to 8 weeks, a belly button piercing is usually not fully healed for six months to a year (which is why many people suggest getting your piercing in the winter so you can show off the fully healed final product come beach season). WebWhen can I take a shower after belly button piercing? Is it normal for a navel piercing to be red and sore after the first week, even if it is washed daily? At the same time, others argue that water and soaking it in saltwater is the greatest method of cleaning it properly. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Run warm water over your belly, penetrating for about two minutes, then wash it with salt and water soak. The materials that are least likely to irritate the piercing site include surgical stainless steel, surgical titanium, Tygon plastic, and solid 14K gold. However, you. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. It turns into an ugly, red-hot mass of pus and pain. Can you go swimming after getting your ears pierced? Most of them are If youre under 18, you must have a parent or guardian present to sign off on your piercing. To learn more, like how to treat your piercing if it gets infected, scroll down. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. This guide will take you through the piercing process and show you how to avoid potential problems as you heal. Youll also be at more risk of infection. How would you shower when you have a new belly button piercing? Wash the area with lukewarm water and then clean with a sterile saline solution or a mild liquid soap. From Miley Cyrus to Jessica Alba to Kim Kardashian and Beyonc, belly button piercings are all the rage for stylish, fashion-forward people. 3 How to take care of your belly button piercing after piercing? 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. You may see your piercing oozing clear fluid that forms a crust around the hole. That includes lotions, oil, and perfume. Belly buttons are typically pierced with 12 gauge jewelry, which is around 2 mm in diameter. 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. After the piercing has been done, some care you can give it involves adopting the correct lifestyle to facilitate healing. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. More specifically: belly button piercings. Also, these substances will dry out the skin, causing irritation. Youll go home with tips on how to keep your new piercing clean and prevent infection. Go with a barbell rather than a ring because theres less risk of the barbell getting caught on stuff in the healing process. Check this article to learn how to care for your innie or outie belly button. Dont use a washcloth or loofah to clean your belly button piercing. Then, dry out the navel with a soft tissue. How do you shower with a new belly button piercing? Also, avoid bacitracin antibiotics (primarily found in petroleum-based ointments). Gently rotate the ring or move the barbell up and down to make sure the lavender oil reaches inside the piercing. Web6. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. When am I allowed to stop having to clean my belly piercing? Any piercing place worth its salt will turn away an intoxicated person, both because you dont have the capacity to make good decisions after drinking and because drinking can cause excessive bleeding at the piercing site. Dont clean your piercing more than the recommended two to three times a day. When you want to adjust your jewelry or touch the area for another reason, be sure to wash your hands before doing so. However, it does not remove dirt, cream residue or skin oils. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". To create this article, 30 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Sometimes, if you get the wrong type of jewelry, you can end up with a nasty allergic reaction around your piercing. Each individual has their unique way of rocking the belly button piercing look, whether with a feminine charm or a more hard-edged approach. We promise not to bore you with too much science or too many details. Care for belly button piercing starts from proper washing. Also, choose a piece of jewelry that you wont get tired of seeing. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. White blood cells (WBCs), usually referred to as leukocytes, are one of the several blood. 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. Type above and press Enter to search. To create this article, 30 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Soak the site for almost three minutes before gently tapping dry with a paper towel if you decide to submerge your piercing. Opt for a shower instead of bath. Sometimes, if you get the wrong type of jewelry, you can end up with a nasty allergic reaction around your piercing. WebIf you have a problem transferring your belly ring yourself, you can either decide to use a threaded taper to enter your new belly button jewelry (with a dash of water-based lubricant on the top to let the taper drive through your belly piercing more quickly if wanted) or you can have your piercer replace your navel ring for you the initial time. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. While your piercer SHOULD use surgical stainless steel, some may not follow regulation. After you finish showering and also have run hot water over your belly button, gently pat the piercing with a dry clean towel rather than a towel. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Most piercing places also have websites where you can check out the portfolios of their piercers and read reviews from other customers. 2 More posts from the piercing community The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Cleaning belly button piercing with saline solution. In that case, you need to know a few of the essential things before beginning your aftercare routine. Infections are a risk even in piercings that are essentially completely healed, so dont lose all respect for hygiene after months of vigilance. The quality of the piercing place makes a huge difference in the likelihood that your piercing will heal properly. Rubbing alcohol slows down the recovery by killing new healthy cells in that area. 4 Can I go swimming or snorkeling on holiday with a piercing? During the day, you can spritz or rinse your navel piercing regularly with a saline wash, like Recovery Saline Solution. It's important to know what's normal and what's not. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. WebIf you already included this info in your post or if your post isnt about a problem with your piercing, please disregard. If you've had one for years, it can close in a few weeks, but for some people it can take longer. Pain or tenderness whenever the area is touched or the jewelry moves. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The easiest way to treat an irritated belly button piercing is to keep the area clean. The benefits of coconut, argan, tea tree and more. To make a salt soak, dissolve a teaspoon of sea salt in half a cup of boiled water. Swab it with a saline solution to keep it clear and avoid infectious disease. Last Updated: December 15, 2021 Its also important to avoid soaking your new belly button piercing in anything but a sterile saline solution until its healed; bodies of water both big and small like baths, The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Piercing places sometimes take these rules further and say they wont do certain types of piercings on minors or wont pierce anyone under the age of 16 even with the consent of a parent or guardian. Afterward, take a q-tip, dip it in the solution, and gently rub it around the areas where the piercing goes through your skin. If you reach the six to nine month mark and arent experiencing any of the issues detailed in the previous section, you can check the piercing to see if its fully healed. Infections are very common with belly button piercings because theyre in such a vulnerable area. Rest the edge of the glass beneath your navel piercing, then quickly flip it over, pressing firmly to prevent any water from leaking out. If the infection doesnt go away within a week or two, go to a doctor to check if you need to take more drastic measures to prevent it from developing further (i.e. Infections are very common with belly button piercings because theyre in such a vulnerable area. Just follow these guidelines: Before applying soap, soak your navel area for a few minutes (do it during your shower for convenience). Some health issues can make it harder for your body to heal or cause you to have a reaction after you get a piercing. If you want to get a belly button piercing, keep in mind that it only takes a few minutes to get it done, but it can take up to a year to heal. But what should be the cleaning frequency? You should prevent other pools or collections of water in the same way that you must also avoid using a bath rather than taking a shower. This is normal early in the healing process. No. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Allow the water to cool slightly, then transfer it to a clean glass or medicine cup. 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. But its good to keep the ornament simple most of the time. The reason is that a towel can become implicated in your piercing, causing the skin to become swollen and irritated, possibly leading to infection of your piercing. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Treat-an-Irritated-Belly-Button-Piercing-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Treat-an-Irritated-Belly-Button-Piercing-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Treat-an-Irritated-Belly-Button-Piercing-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Treat-an-Irritated-Belly-Button-Piercing-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"