Congratulations on your new belly button piercing. Belly button piercing care is one of the most important parts of the process. You don’t want any infection or other issues. It is not uncommon to see some swelling, bleeding, and have tenderness as it can take 6-12 months for it to heal completely.
Why So Many Use A Naval Guard For Protection
Many people use a naval guard to help shield the area. Because the navel is covered by clothing, it’s quite possible for it to be rubbed and become infected. These little devices keep the clothes out of the belly button and make sure that it doesn’t get pulled or irritated. They are important to use during physical activities as there are many chances for ripping and tearing during contact sports.
You probably take for granted many things that you do during the day. However, with your new piercing, all of these activities will make you well aware of your tender belly. It is recommended that you wear loose clothing for at least the first couple of months.
There are many things that you can do other than putting a guard on the area. If you want to have a positive experience and keep infection at bay, your hygiene means everything.
How To Avoid Germs and Infection With Your New Piercing?
Like with any wound, you want to keep the area clean. Before you touch the piercing or surrounding skin, make sure that you wash your hands. It doesn’t count if you washed them 15 minutes ago. You want to have fresh, clean hands before touching an open area on the skin.
Resist the urge to play with the ring. The popular belief is that you need to rotate the jewelry to help it heal. While this may be true with regards to the ears, when it comes to the belly button, leave the piercing alone.
How You Can Clean The Area Properly To Promote Healing
First, you have probably been told to use all kinds of solutions to clean the area. Never use betadine, peroxide, care solutions that have benzalkonium chloride in them, or alcohol. Don’t be duped into putting an ointment on the area either. An ointment will not allow the air to circulate, which can hinder the healing process.
Avoid harsh and perfumed soaps. Dial, Coast, Dove, and other soaps with lotions and chemicals can aggravate the area. Try Ivory, which is 99 percent pure. MD-Health recommends using an antibacterial soap. Fragrance-free soap is the key. Lather up in the shower and allow the soap to penetrate the area for about 30 seconds. Make sure to rinse away all the soap leaving no residue behind.
Though you can shower, you want to make sure that you avoid swimming for a while. Submerging the piercing in water for extended periods of time can thwart the healing process. Showering is a better option during the healing process. Avoid the bathtub that can redistribute germs into this area.
To properly clean the area, other than in the shower, a saline soak will help. This should be done two to three times per day. Use a small paper cup to pour the saline solution in the piercing. Allow the solution to soak for about 10 minutes. Have a towel handy so that you can quickly absorb any solution that may leak or drip everywhere.
Some prefer to soak with gauze pads. It helps to remove any residue that may build up in the area, and it also prevents dripping. A pre-mixed solution can be purchased that doesn’t have any additives, or it is easy to make the solution. All you need is one-fourth a teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt mixed with eight ounces of warm, distilled water. Bottled water will also suffice.
How To Keep Trauma At Bay?
It is very easy to cause trauma to this area. Be very selective in the clothes you wear and the jewelry you choose. These factors can prolong your healing process. Never use any lotion, perfumes, or body sprays around the piercing. These scented fragrances are just asking for trouble to an open hole.
Sure, you want to hang charms and use other cute jewelry in the piercing, but you must wait until it is completely healed. The body heals from the outside in. Even if it appears to be completely healed on the outside, it doesn’t mean that it has finished healing on the inside. The inside may still be tender and changing the jewelry too soon can be a recipe for disaster.
Though your piercing will be healed enough to change the jewelry in six weeks, you need to make sure that you never leave the jewelry out for long periods of time. No matter how old the piercing is, a well-healed piercing has the potential to close in a matter of minutes.
If you choose to use a piercing that has balls on the end, make sure that you check to make sure the ball is good and tight. These little “screws” have a tendency to become loose and fall off. Carry an extra ball with you in case this should happen. You want to be able to replace it quickly and avoid the entire piece coming out. They can come out without you knowing, and the hole can close.
What Are The Common Signs Of Healing and Infection?
You want to make sure that your belly button is healing. Rena Goldman from Health Line says that it is normal to see some transparent, whitish or yellowish discharge that doesn’t have an odor. If you notice a foul odor or an abundance of puss, you could have an infection. If you see crusting forming, it is also normal. Don’t disrupt the crust as it is the body’s natural reaction to the healing process.
By following a few steps, your piercing will heal, and you will be wearing cute belly shirts and jewelry very soon. No one wants to repeat this process, so the rule is to keep it clean and dry.
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