Admin Table of Contents
If your belly button is freshly pierced, it’s normal to experience some redness and swelling around the piercing, says Howard Sobel MD, board-certified dermatologist at Sobel Skin and Clinical Attending Dermatologic Surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital.
What are the treatment options?
- wash the hands before touching the piercing.
- cleanse the area with a piercing cleaning solution.
- apply an antibiotic ointment to the infection.
- avoid removing the piercing unless a doctor suggests doing so.
Is my belly button healing or infected?
You must wash your piercing twice daily with a salt solution and clean cotton swab to prevent bacterial growth and infection. Many people, however, mistake signs of healing for an infected belly button. You may experience persistent redness around the belly button and soreness that is simply a symptom of healing.
What should you clean your belly piercing with?
Your piercer may recommend you do the following during cleaning:
- Apply a small amount of soap on the new piercing and the area for about 30 seconds. Thoroughly rinse afterward.
- Use a sterile saline solution to soak the area for 5 to 10 minutes daily.
- Use disposable, soft paper products to pat dry.
How can I make my belly piercing heal faster?
additional suggestions for healing a body piercing
- Do not clean your piercing more often than is suggested, as over-cleaning can slow the healing process and cause more harm than good.
- Taking a multivitamin containing zinc and vitamin C can boost your body’s healing abilities.
Keloids. Keloids are a type of raised scar that can form after skin trauma, like a piercing. They can develop up to 3 months after the piercing and continue to grow for years. They’re not serious but can cause pain and itching while they’re growing.
Should I take out my belly button ring?
If you run into problems or decide you don’t want it, simply take out your ring or stud. Fresh belly piercings tend to close quickly. If you’ve had one for years, it can close in a few weeks, but for some people it can take longer. Make sure you clean the area regularly until it’s fully healed.