Or maybe keeping it clean is your only concern. First off, DONT ever touch or clean the piercing without washing your hands first! However it is a great article and helped me in my first. If everything feels and looks good, Id recommend going back to your piercer so they can verify that youre completely healed. Infections are very common with belly button piercings because theyre in such a vulnerable area. Try to sleep on your back and avoid tanning beds at least for the first couple months of healing. WebAnswer #4. Avoid allowing soap to fall on the piercing when youre in the shower. Bleeding for the first few days is normal. Its also important to avoid using harsh soaps or This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Rubbing alcohol slows down the recovery by killing new healthy cells in that area. You can make your own or dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of sodium in 1 cup of warm, extracted, or water bottles. Its better to have a thicker piece of jewelry because it will make the piercing sturdier and more resistant to tearing and migration. Mix things up and do experiments with colors and patterns. Its best to choose surgical-grade stainless steel or titanium jewelry at first. These risks include: You can minimize these risks by finding a reputable piercer and caring for your piercing appropriately during the healing process (discussed in the next couple of sections). How Should I Sit For My Belly Button Piercing? Before applying soap, soak your navel area for a few minutes (do it during your shower for When you sweat, be sure to wash your belly button piercing at your earliest convenience. No. But what should be the cleaning frequency? After recovery, you can clean your piercing whenever you clean your belly button (which could be every time you take a shower). Lavender oil can be purchased at the supermarket or chemist's. Even if you believe that your belly button is the ideal candidate for a snazzy new piece of jewelry, you should know that some health risks come hand-in-hand with getting this type of body piercing. Irritated belly button piercings should clear up quickly with proper treatment, so youll be well on your way to feeling better soon! Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous (IV) therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. To disinfect an infected piercing, hold a saline compress against your belly button for 10 minutes. A belly button piercing is beautiful, and it can be a great addition to your style. This article has a list of piercing regulations for all the different US states if you'd like to verify your state's specific policies. Avoid activities that involve extensive stretching for two weeks, such as climbing and yoga. Is it normal for a navel piercing to be red and sore after the first week, even if it is washed daily? Once the solution is ready, pour it into a bowl and dip a cotton swab. The piercing also needs room below and behind the flap so that the area doesnt become irritated in the healing process. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. After cleaning the area, rotate your piercing about 4 times. Take the water off with a paper towel or soft cloth (making sure to pat dry instead of rubbing). Be sure to use sea salt to make your solution, not table salt! Typically, belly button piercings go through the lip of skin above the belly button. Then, press the rim of the cup against your stomach around the piercing, and lean back to completely submerge the piercing for two minutes. If everything feels and looks good, Id recommend going back to your piercer so they can verify that youre completely healed. Saline solutions are also available at the drugstore or supermarket. Green or blood-streaked pus seeping from the piercing. Mild liquid or antibacterial soap works well if you dont have sea salt at home. Rinse the piercing thoroughly with clean water, then dry completely with paper towel or tissue. And hold this against yourself allowing it to bathe in the salty water. A saline solution is the safest option to clean the navel area. If you think you have an infection, first of all, contrary to what you might think, you should leave the jewelry in your belly button. Products like Hydrogen Peroxide, Betadine, rubbing alcohol, and powerful soaps can dry your skin out and destroy formation tissue. While ear piercings typically heal in 6 to 8 weeks. Taking it out could cause further complications, including the formation of abscesses in the area. 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. The materials that are least likely to irritate the piercing site include surgical stainless steel, surgical titanium, Tygon plastic, and solid 14K gold. Unlike pierced ears, which take 4-6 weeks to heal, your belly button may not fully heal for up to 1 year. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. How to Clean Your Belly Button Piercing? Type above and press Enter to search. This saves you the effort of determining whether or not you added the correct measurements. You shouldn't get this done with a piercing gun since it can damage your tissue and raise the chances of infection. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Feature image: Spookygonk/Flickr, used under CC 2.0. Just like you should avoid taking a bath and instead take a shower, you should also avoid other pools or collections of water. 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. Other symptoms include feeling feverish, nauseous or dizzy. Well, crust-forming is a normal part of the healing process. Do you want to explore how you can clean your belly button piercing while taking a shower? You can wear gorgeous navel rings occasionally when the piercing has healed completely. Piercers should be trained professionals who are completely dedicated to their craft: Youve got to be careful about how often you clean your navel piercing. How to take care of your belly button piercing after piercing? This article was medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Savannah Vold. It does not store any personal data. 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. This removes the risk of picking up an infection from the water in swimming pools, lakes and rivers, and the sea. If youve gotten other piercings in the past, be mindful of how your body has reacted. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Youre looking good and feeling confident with your new belly button piercing untilow! These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Can you use sea salt to clean a piercing? The best way to care for the piercing is to. If it's REALLY sore or a small lump appears after a few days, it usually means your illergic to your jewelry. How Can You Clean Belly Button Piercing While Taking Shower? This includes both the procedure and the cost of the jewelry. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. Try to live a healthy, responsible lifestyle at least for the 24 hour period before your piercing. WebYes, you can. Is your belly button piercing looking a little crusty, and youre wondering what to do? They cause too much trauma to the area and cant be properly sterilized. If you think you may have an allergic reaction. She received her Massage Therapist License from the Amarillo Massage Therapy Institute in 2008 and a M.S. Belly button piercing may not be for everyone depending on the kind of lifestyle you live. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Moreover, it is best to confirm that the salt water solution that contains all of the necessary ingredients and measurement systems for proper care. You may need to return to the piercer to get the jewelry taken out if the infection has become too severe. I just got mine pierced yesterday. What You Need to Know Before You Try It at Home. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. For example, you should completely avoid rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. Avoid nasal watering and contact lens options because they contain eye-irritating ingredients. 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, If you dont have a solid flap of skin on the top of the belly button, sometimes piercers can go for the lower lip of the belly button instead (though this is a rare option). Let it turn golden in color, then wash your navel with it. Remember, you won't be able to take it out for another six months to a year. 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. No matter how cute your piercing is, it will always be surrounded by the same old skin bacteria. Stay away from ionized salt and rubbing alcohol. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Is there an herbal remedy for keeping the piercing clean? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Its removal may close up the hole, keeping the untreated infection inside. Sarah Gehrke is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas. {"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":"