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How To Take Care of A Belly Button Piercing

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Belly Button and Body Piercing are a very common thing today. Almost everyone you meet has some kind of piercing whether it is eyebrows, nose, lips, ears, tongues or belly buttons.

Belly Button piercing has been prevelant for centuries and can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Indians. Body piercing made a statement and stood for their status in society. Many piercings were believed to represent a connection with the Gods. As time evolved, society and the perception of piercing changed, the only accepted piercings were that of the ears of women. The truth be told is that body piercings look good.

During the 1980s, the punk scene came about in full force and the younger generation began piercing several parts of their bodies - men and women alike. Not only were there more body piercings, but belly button rings were seen even more. The main reason is a sexy look, it calls attention to the belly and waist. Belly button jewelry hides the look of your belly button, with a piece of jewelry, your belly button is a fashion statement and creates a total look for mid tops and hip hugger jeans.

Today, piercings are almost zero pain and it is much easier to care for and clean those piercings.

Choose your belly button piercing carefully. Although Belly Button piercing is the most popular of piercing, it is the most difficult to heal, usually 6 months to a year.There are several types of recommended nontoxic metals:

Solid 14K gold Platinum Titanium Surgical Steel

Silver in general should be avoided.

When going for your Belly Button Piercing some thing to check for:

Do Not pierce at home! The Studio should be clean Equipment and jewelry sterilized Keep Your Belly Button piercing clean

  • Clean your belly button 2 times a day with antibacterial soap.
  • Remove any crust around the piercing Salt Water works well to encourage healing
  • Do NOT remove your belly button piercing until it has healed about 6 months
  • Avoid swimming pools until your belly button has healed about 6 months
  • Do not wear tight waistbands that will rub your belly button

Comments

onewvbrat 3 years ago

umm i got mine done about 5 months ago and its still like buggin me..and the peircest told me 2 change it after 8 weeks soo i did but its not red but it does have like this red bubble thing on the top ..idk what it is..can you help me out??

ashey 3 years ago

it's most likely a keliod scar. that's what it sounds like. some people get them and some don't. it's just a way that your body heals.

shamika 3 years ago

how do u take the crust from around the piercing

aubrey 3 years ago

you just need to peel it off.

jenny 3 years ago

why does my belly buttom look like it bruised?

candice 3 years ago

I just got mines pierced and it is still sensitive how long am I suppose to keep my belly button ring in before I can really take it out and clean it?????????

sandie456 3 years ago

u can take it out ina week and calen duh stick bt put it bak in right after.

anonymous(: 2 years ago

I wear a back brace for my scoliosis, and i've been wanting to get my belly button peirced..what do you think about the idea? would my brace really bother the peircing??

Ruby Bby 2 years ago

I am going to seventh grade &+ 12 yearss oldd turning 13 . I really want to get my belly button piercedd. Iht looks madd' beast ( lolss ]* My mom sayss yess why nott. I want too but i want to know if it is not recommandable for my age. HELP ME ! ! !

Katie 2 years ago

Ruby

Im your age and ive got mine done last week and its fine you just need to keep it clean use anti bacterial soap or salt water twice a day to keep it clean and help the healing porcess

Alicia 2 years ago

I just got my belly button pierced& i clean it with alcohol. I'm not sure what to clean it with so i just clean it with alcohol. I don't want to take the chance of it getting infected.

india 2 years ago

i got my belly button pierced on january 7th of 2010and it still hurts its been 4 months and i still dnt kno how to keep it from drying out

Nigeria 2 years ago

I just got my belly pierced yesterday.,and i dont use saltwater or alcohol. the only thing i use is Bactine spray. cause thats what the person who did mine, told me to use. i wanna know should i be using more than that and when can i change my belly ring.

kalkav36 23 months ago

I'm getting mine done today and people have told me 3 months is long enough to wait before swimming some even say before that ?

becca 22 months ago

The tattoo artist who did mine said just wait three weeks before swimming not months

Lauren 21 months ago

I realy want to get mine done but my mom says that it could get infected and im scared incase it does im 12 years old and im supposed to be getting it done this monday what should i do or should i get my eyebrow pierced HELP HELP HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CARLISA 21 months ago

I NEED TO NO HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT CUZ THA MAN TLD ME JUST TO USE ANTI BACTERIA SOAP I MEAN I NEED TO NO HOW TO CLEAN IT && EVERYTHING ELES TP

katie 21 months ago

ive had my done for like 4 weeks i dont kno what to clean it with....... i use the antibacterial soap and alcohol. when can i change it ?

makayla 20 months ago

ya'll need to chill. it's just a piercing. clean it like your supposed to and you'll be fine. if you don't like it then you can always take it out.

Kristina 19 months ago

Don't use alcohol to clean it! It dries it out and doesn't help the healing process. My piercer gave me iodine pads to use to clean it, but she also said to get a saline wound wash or sea salt spray. Don't clean it more than twice a day either as that will dry it out too!

Kayla 18 months ago

The best thing to clean it with is H2Ocean spray.

jessica 18 months ago

Me and my friend want to get our belly botton periced but we are tooo scared it will get infected what is the best way to avoid infectin. and also is it bad to perice your belly botton durring the winter ??? HELP US :/

Shannon 17 months ago

Im getting my belly done soon and i'v know what to clean it with, but need to know how to clean it?

Dee_va 16 months ago

I got mine pierced about 2 or 3 months ago. The piercer did say not to change it for 4 months and to use the salt water spray to clean it. I personally feel in being 40 you have to do what your body feels. If you're heeling well then change the ring if you want. If you are having a tougher time healing then wait. A piercing especially the belly can take 6 months to a year. Your daily activity (any twisting & turning) can prevent healing quickly. It will heal it just takes time. I say keep it clean with antibacterial soap, keep all the crud away from it and don't change it until it is truly healed. Mine happens to be sore and still gets the yucky stuff around it so I know I'm not changing it forva loooooong time and will continue to clean it.

Polly 16 months ago

I got mine pierced almost a year ago.. This month on thee 19th it'll be nine months.. && I didn't even get it professionally done.. It does NOT hurt at all.. Just a 2 second pinch is all.. You will get a white looking pus coming out of it.. That's completely normal.. The healing time is DIFFERENT for everyone.. Mine was only 4 months.. But the average time it gets to be healed is 6 months to a year.. Sometimes even more.

But all I cleaned it with is anti-bacterial soap.. && only once with sea salt.. In myy opinion do NOT use anything else besides that.. Thee sea salt actually helps speed thee healing time a lot faster.. But I scar pretty well.. So I wasn't worried about piercings much.. But I changed myy ring after 2 months.. && I went into thee pool, got it done in March first time in thee pool was June so, I got in after 3 months.. But as long as you clean it twice a day and once in the shower nothing will go wrong.. But if you are doing all that && you still realize your having green or yellow pus coming out your body just declining thee piercing..

Gabbie 15 months ago

I just got mine!! Feb 19 2011.. And it is a ring not a barbell but it didnt hurt at all but i was wonderin why when i move the jewelery it sticks to mah skin.?? .... Somebody help... But yeah it dosnt hurt when i move it in the shower buut it hurts sometimes and it has a little crust

anonymous 15 months ago

i also wear a back brace for scoliosis, however i got my belly button pierced a few months ago. When i first got it pierced it didn't seem to affect my piercing, however now i'm starting to notice skin loss on the top part. does anyone know how to prevent this? maybe by putting something there so less pressure is on it? please help!

Madison 13 months ago

I got mine about a month ago. It is starting to dig in my skin alittle and is alittle red with crust. I clean is with anti-bacteria soap 2 times a day and I don't know what to do cause it isn't healing right. What should I do?

cyndi 12 months ago

when does the pain and tenderness go away.....is taking antibiotics to help healing ok?

Kristen 11 months ago

I got my belly button done in Febuary of 2011. I had to take it out cuz it was bleeding so last night I put the belly button ring. Its been about maybe a month or 2 since I took it out, Can I swim or do I still need to wait?

Kayleigh 9 months ago

I Got mine Pierced last week. And the skin is like starting to peel . Help?

bubblegum123 8 months ago

I got my belly button done yesterday and i do athletics every friday will i be able to run and jump on friday? or do i have to wait 6 weeks ?

michelle 8 months ago

i got my bell botton pearced 6 weeks ago and its still red i was woundering how can i tell if it is rejecting???

me 6 months ago

im 13 and i got mine done like 3 weeks ago and im aloud to change mine but not too much andthey have to be pure titanium

Me!! 5 months ago

I was wondering does only salt water have to be sea saltbor it's doesn't matter what kind of salt???

Kelly 5 months ago

I was wondering I do gymnastics and I got my belly pearced I got it on November 27and it's been a week so today is Saturday I have gym this week what do I do should I take it out for my work out or what some one helP me!!!

Ashleey 5 months ago

im 13 & i got mine peirced yesterday , &my pericist told me that i can change the jewlery after 3 - 4 weeks after . is that okay ? or not ? :o

help me please ?

brandi 5 months ago

I've had my belly button pierced for a month, I was wondering when should I be able to to take bubble bath and when should i be able to go swimming? The person who did mine said I should wait 6 months before swimming and bath's.

Claire 5 months ago

I did mine last week and he said to clean it with antibacterial soap and non-iodized salt dissolved in water. Make sure you don't use rubbing alcohol because that will dry it out and cause the skin to peel. Cleaning your piercing too often can also cause the skin to be sensitive around the area. Three months should be fine for swimming, but it's recommended that you wait 6-9 months before changing the piercing. I clean mine once a day and soak a cotton ball in the salt water and put it on the piercing for a couple of minutes and it seems to be healing well with minimal redness and swelling. Good luck everyone :D

Stacey 4 months ago

I have had my naval pierced for four months and the top hole is red/ purple. I do recall getting the ring caught on something. Could it be bruised?? Or is it beginning to get infected?

@Brandi, you only have to wait 2weeks to swim or take baths.

Also, I clean my piercing with listerine 2 times a day, it works really REALLY well on infections. Naval rings can be red for quite sometime, but often times, its red because it is becoming infected and the pus is your bodys way of getting rid of the bacteria and healing itself. Before you change your belly ring, go to your piercer and have them check to make sure it is safe to change it. I changed mine after 3 months, but be sure to sterilize the new ring in listerine or wash it with antibacerial soap or saline solution and ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE TOUCHING YOUR PIERCING.

hannah 4 months ago

If the skin over it is getting noticeably thinner u need to wear an eyepatch beneath ur clothes. Im trying to change my beads but I cant twist the bottom one?!!

Rachel 3 months ago

I got mine done Sunday, which is 2 days ago. I'm 17 so i had to get a consent form for me and my mom to sign and than had to go to target copy to get it notarized. Walking into your tattoo/piercing shop IT SHOULD SMELL LIKE A DOCTORS OFFICE (or like rubbing alcohol). That's how you know it's sterile. Your piercer will take you back into a room stand you up and mark your belly button. Then, you lay down and the clamps go on. I have a low pain tolerance so YES IT HURT!!! Only for the split second he pierced it. Once the needle was out and the top ball was on and he was done cleaning i couldn't feel it at all, it wasn't even red or swollen and i don't think i bled. So far i've been using H2Ocean 4-6 times daily and letting the warm water run over it in the shower. I've been too afraid to touch it. I have really dry skin so i don't use any kind if soap to clean it. Today it started to get just A LITTLE BIT red which is normal. WHITE pussing and crusting is normal. Just MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS.

Hopes this helps,

Rachel.

Kelsey 3 months ago

Hey I'm 17 and this friday I'm getting my belly button pierced. I'm super nervous and excited but reading all the comments here i begin to wonder... is it really worth it? I don't want it to get infected. And if it does i'll be in deep shit because I'm getting it pierced by an underground piercer and my parents won't know about it... I plan on telling them when I turn 18 which is 9 months from now.

But yeah.. The crust part sounds gross does that happen everyday? And if that does happen to me should i remove it right away and put the piercing back in? Or should i take the piercing out completely by not putting it back in? Helpppppp!

lindsay 3 months ago

it's really really dry, can i put lotion on it?

Bethany 3 months ago

I just got mine done today. The place I went was awesome. They told me everything. Problems I will have and how to care for it. It stung a lil when getting it done but no more than a bee sting, then it was over. It doesnt hurt at all now. And I love it. :D

3 months ago

i love the look that they give you. i want a piercing but my parents say know so my friend has done other epoples and i want to do mine should i?

Alexis 3 months ago

I just got mine done yesterday and I don't have any salt for the salt water. And I have no clue how to. Clean it?!...HELP!!!

Rainere 3 months ago

Hi i got my percied on feb 6 in its now feb 20 in there no pain but its gets dry in puss comes out of it i have been cleaning it with perioxide in shea butter to help it heal

marie' 3 months ago

Okay, i wnt my belly button pierced or whatever. I just turned 15 on today. But what are the top 5 things that i need to know before getting my naval piercing.? Your help is surely needed.!!

:)

Yulia 3 months ago

I got my piercing done about 1 week ago. I am a nurse, and can tell u the following:

1) piercing channel will be formed in 6 month - 1 year, so, belly ring is not recommended to change prior that period. Choose the one, which u like from the beginning

2) procedure is not much painful and takes about 2 minutes, but u have to be really very careful after

3) first 24 hours it should be covered with sterile plaster

4) after u can remove it and from that point u will clean it with saline solution (normal saline 0'9% any pharmacy has it) two times a day. Use cotton buds with solution to remove dead skin around the piercing, but DO NOT FORCE IT! In the end of ur cleaning procedure the area should be clean and dry

5) be sure, that ur hands are clean before u will start cleaning!

6) healing period is different for each and relating with some individual parameters, such as age, immunity, activity, etc

7) NO ALCOHOL WIPING! THAT WILL IRRITATE UR SKIN AND IT'S GONNA PEEL AND STAY RED FOREVER!

Let ur body do what is suppose to do with some effort from ur side. Take care, be healthy, and remember, hygiene first of all! Chiao.

3

kishawn 3 months ago

I got my piercing yesterday it don't hurt at all I used sea salt spray

Traviesa 2 months ago

I got mines like a 1mouth age

it still red but it dnot hurt no more.

Hannah 8 weeks ago

I got my piercing yesterday and they told me i had to wait 6 weeks to change it and 24hours till I can go swimming...Is this wrong? and what should i clean it with?

lexy 8 weeks ago

i got my a week ago and it has little scabs around it what should i do and what should i use to clean it also should i be concern about water infecting it when i bathe?

monique 7 weeks ago

your piercer should have given you clean instructions on how to care for it, but like everyone else mentioned, every person's body heals differently. Don't worry about crusts or scab, just clean it out with mild antibacterial soap. Saline solution (essentially just water and sea salt) would work best to speed things up. Be careful about using other things like alcohol or ointments cause they can actually promote scarring. My piercer was an avid believer in non-iodine sea salt, it only costs $1.50 at the supermarket.

brittnae 5 weeks ago

I got my belly done last week I want to take it out to clean I but it feels nasty. I clean it with saline but I add water cause it makes my it a little sensitive but should I take it out and start cleaning it with something different??

Makayla 3 weeks ago

I am a gymnast. i work out 4 days a week 4 hours a practice. And i'm competitive so i wouldn't be able to take time off. If i get it done would i be able to do gymnastics with it in? Could i take it out before practice and just put it back in as soon as i'm done?

Daniella 2 days ago

I got my belly pierced 2 weeks ago && I wanted to know if it's okay to change it && what's the chances of it getting infected ?

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