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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Anyone who's sat down in a Claire's piercing booth when they were young knows that you'll have to use a saline spray to clean the piercing. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. (As always, this is only a minimum time, and you should have a piercer take a look to confirm that it has fully healed before stopping aftercare practices.) These will go a long way in preventing infections. Wash your hands before handling the piercing, Using disposable products to clean the area. In case you have none. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. You should avoid swimming for at least 24 hoursafter havinga piercing, and ideally until it hashealed properly. Belly Button Piercings. DOI: health.clevelandclinic.org/are-your-earrings-or-body-piercings-causing-a-nickel-allergy, safepiercing.org/docs/APP_Initial_Web.pdf, youngwomenshealth.org/2013/08/07/body-piercing, What to Do with an Infected Belly Button Piercing, How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Piercing Aftercare, Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC, What's Really in Tattoo Ink? (Unless, of course, you plan to go on a winter vacation.) Take a look. Avoid handling the area unless you are cleaning it. My belly bottom stays with a infection, like it will come and go come and go. When I bend over or lean downward it start to hurt bad. Taking aftercare measures and precautions suggested by your piercing professional are the best ways to care for a recently done belly button piercing. https://ironbrush.com/about/piercing-aftercare/, https://almostfamouspiercing.com/tea-tree-oil/, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/household-advice/a657043/bathroom-cleaning-tips-sparkling-bathroom/, https://www.byrdie.com/body-piercing-aftercare-new-piercing-care-to-common-piercing-problems-4077438, https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/can-i-go-swimming-after-a-piercing/, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-piercing/, . Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while your piercing is healing. During the healing process, you should do the following: Its normal to see an off-white fluid coming out of the area in the first few days after your piercing. Get enough rest to avoid straining the area. Many medical professionals recommend not swimming for a minimum of three weeks after getting a belly piercing. This allows the jewelry to hang slightly over the belly button to essentially highlight itself. This means that it will take time before swimming after you have had a belly button piercing. Your piercer should also wear disposable gloves at all times. Every body is different, but you need to give yourself at least two to three months to let your previous belly ring heal completely. Required fields are marked with *. While it's still healing, it's important to keep the piercing dry as there's a risk of infection. Considering the piercing is fairly painless due to a fleshy placement and easy to take care of since you dont have to look in a mirror to see it, theyre a great choice that has endured the test of time. Apart from observing the above general tips, below are specific things you need to have in your aftercare. Wait and be wise. According to Figueroa, clients should consider the long term effects working out has on a new tattoo and says its best to continue, avoiding any possible complication that may arise from having an open wound that is not properly taken care of.. Sweat [carries bacteria from your skin] and so does exercise equipment at the gym, so I would say take a few days off the gym and exercising [for] a better healing process, she says. As tempting as it would be, crusts should not be picked with our hands. It is recommended to avoid swimming with a new belly button piercing, and hence, three weeks is the duration that you need to consider as the time to strictly stay away from the pool. Hi! While it may be tempting to relax in the bath for a long time, limit your piercings exposure to soap and chemicals from shampoos or conditioners by only bathing as long as you need to. Brooks says nipple piercings, in particular, dont do well in a sports bra, as it rests in a way that is equivalent to sleeping on the piercing, which is never good. The initial jewelry should not be changed until such a time that the piercing is deemed healed. Safe piercing: FAQ. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. He also loves hiking and camping and is spirited toward all outdoor activities. According to Outland, the top of the jewelry usually comes unscrewed, allowing for the jewelry to be slipped out and easily replaced in the same manner. Aftercare: Wash the piercing two times a day with a sterile saline solution and pat dry with a paper towel. Brooks says nipple and navel piercings, need a few months of healing time before resuming the types of workouts that will irritate the piercing area because of the constant stretching and bending that is involved.Though cardio workouts are okay and are less likely to result in direct rubbing of the piercing area, Brooks recommends this exercise to, those people with recent nipple and navel piercings who dont want that break from the gym. she says. If the piercing needle wasn't sterile, there . According to our experts, its best to adhere to the recommended healing time for tattoos and piercings before submerging in either chlorine or seawater, with natural bodies of water actually carrying the higher risk of infection. Neosporin is an antibiotic product that is used to prevent infections and speed up the healing of wounds. Were all for embracing our individuality, but something weve been wondering lately is, can this modification affect our daily workout routine? It may have a lot to [Read More] about Do Nose Piercings Leave Scars? With time, there could be bleeding. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. You shouldn't need anything else to clean your piercing. Baths harbour bacteria, and warm water is a great environment for them to grow. Better to wait until fall or miss a dip in the ocean rather than suffering with an infection. Make sure you visit the shop ahead of time so you can get a feel for the place. This is the same kind of infection you are likely to get if you accidentally scratch the area. If youre still unsure and not willing to skip a gym day, don't be shy about asking your tattoo artist for guidance. But if you can't wait for that long, give it no more than 24 hours. Can I wash my hair in the tub after getting an ear piercing? At this phase the body normally seals the piercing channel. (Fun To Read!). If youre still interested in a belly button piercing, the best place to start is to find a licensed, experienced piercer who will work with your anatomy to give you the best piercing. In case you are changing jewelry, ensure that it is sterilize before putting it on. Cartilage piercings heal from the outside in, which means that they may look healed on the outside long before the process is truly done. Assuming that everything went smooth, wait 48 to 72 hours, contingent upon whether or not you experience irritation in the affected area. When you get a new piercing, youre welcoming a foreign object into your body. Have a good day! A surgical procedure called umbilicoplasty might be able to help. The piercer will clean up your navel and give you instructions for aftercare. Generally, persons with deep belly buttons are at a higher risk of getting infections. Page last reviewed: 8 October 2021 Do not allow any soap, shampoo, conditioner or any other chemicals to get on the piercing. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. What Is This Bump on My Cartilage Piercing and What Should I Do? Answer (1 of 9): It's all about risk. Then, its recommended to clean your piercing twice a day with a sterile saline solution. The first thing to note is that you should wash your hands before touching your piercing to ensure youre being as sterile as possible and to avoid passing any bacteria. You should avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after having a piercing, and ideally until it has healed properly. An autoclave is typically used to sterilize tools that are reusable, such as opening and closing pliers for body jewelry. How Long Does It Take a Tattoo to Fully Heal? Real PTFE does not come in colors and is white. 3. Word of mouth is often the best way to find a reliable and reputable shop. (2018). We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. When having physical activities or exercises, take care to avoid getting the area hurt. These are: This is the first stage of the healing process. Manage Settings Later on, you can follow the tips so as prevent an infection and enjoy your splash in the pool. While youre at the shop, ask the piercer about their process and the sterilization methods they use. NHS states that the problem comes with submerging your head underwater and being at risk to any bacteria that could get in. For more advice, like how to shower with a new piercing, read on. Are your earrings or body piercings causing a nickel allergy? Michael is heavily inclined towards traveling to natural places and documenting cultures/people from different parts of the world. Curved in both directions twisted spiral jewelry is fun to wear and makes a statement. Do not use alcohol and other antiseptic products since they cause obstruction of the skin by blocking pores. It's normal for the area to feel sore for a few days after the piercing. [3] Disinfectant and a very good rinse. Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol. Its common practice to ask around for recommendations when looking for a piercer. Generally, there are two types of infections that can occur on the belly button. Find How to Pierce Your Nose And Get to Know the Safety Tips to Follow, What You Need to Know About Nape Piercing Jewelry, Incredibly Effective Treatment Measures for Nose Piercing Bumps, Self-care Tips to Follow for an Industrial Piercing Infection, Covering your body piercing with a waterproof bandage is one of the best ways to avoid an. Don't fiddle with your piercings. Since pool water is treated with chlorine, you may think its free of bacteria, but thats not the case. While it's not doctor-approved, there are precautions and aftercare tips that you can take if you can't avoid submerging your piercing in water. ", "The tip that showering was best, instead of bathing, helped.". Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Keeping the area as bacteria-free as possible is essential to healing. Answer #1. The piercer will disinfect the area around your navel. This normally is produced by the body, can be foul smelling as well but is not an indication of an infection. You can effectively change out a belly button piercing yourself, but you have to be completely sure that your piercing is fully healed before doing so. This involves observing cleanliness with the aim of keeping the piercing clean and avoiding passing microorganisms to the area. LEARN ABOUT BYRDIE'S EDITORIAL GUIDELINES. You could get an infection even when the piercing has healed. We include products we think are useful for our readers. Also, if youre sharing equipment with others, disinfect the equipment before and after you use it, so you aren't spreading your germs to others. When there are infections, pus which is a thick drainage that is yellow or green will be produced. Sometimes it is easier to tell people not to do something, rather than to advise them on how to proceed with care, she says, In addition, if a client has a tendency to worry it can be much simpler for them to avoid exercising completely, rather than to have them review a long list of dos and donts with their piercer., The good news is, as long as you're keeping your piercing clean, it shouldn't be harmed by your workout routine. How long will it take to heal? When this is observed, it is important for it to be followed up by proper belly button piercing aftercare for the healing to be seamless. Family Medicine 32 years experience. Well, were sure you are loving the hot piercing, but are you curious to know whether or when would you be able to step into the pool for a swim? He has good research skills, and thats why you can see why his articles are packed with info that is factual and not readily available. As you now know that proper healing of belly button piercing can take 6 to 12 months and these numbers look quite big for beach lovers so here are some tips that you should start to follow from the very first day of piercing to ensure that youre ready to rock in your bikini. Piercing is one of the oldest and most practiced forms of body modification. You can but you need to avoid swimming after ear piercing for at least 24 hours - but ideally, until the piercings have healed properly. Dont pick at the area, as it can cause further irritation or bleeding. This means they havent been used on anyone else. All piercing needles should come in sealed, sterile packages. Jason | April 16, 2022. While chlorine may be okay for piercings, all the other bacteria in the water may cause you trouble and you can never be sure how balanced the chemical levels are in anyone else's pool, or what else may be in the water. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Halloran L. Body Piercing: Avoiding Complications. Soak the piercing 2-3 times per day in a mixture of warm (not hot) water and non-iodized salt. Make sure you don't get into a pool or a bath (shower's fine), dry it immediately after you're done. The full breakdown, according to NHS, is that ear piercings take six to eight weeks, belly button piercings take six months to a year, and nose piercings take up to six months. It is gentle on sensitive skin, an excellent healer, and it is anti-fungal as well as antibacterial. Knowing what to expect and how to care for the piercing can help you avoid complications. Anything that is in the water is getting into your piercings, and even in the cleanest of pools chlorine is going to hurt your piercing as well, Brooks says. Getting a belly button piercing does not mean that you cannot swimming with it on. Plus, try to keep in mind that body fluids shouldn't be shared with others. This will help to prevent infections as piercings can quickly regress if mistreated or not well taken care of. That makes the cold-weather months a great time to be spontaneous. Choosing to get a piercing is a big decision that requires a lot of aftercare. Alcohol and peroxide are too drying. Simply keep your piercing clean and avoid tight clothing, so it doesn't irritate the piercing while it's healing. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Do not touch, pull, tug, brush against, wash over, scrub around or near the piercing whilst you are in the water. Avoid nickel alloys and brass. Next review due: 8 October 2024, belly button (navel) 6 months to 1 year, it's swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour), there's blood or pus coming from the piercing, which may be white, yellow or green and foul-smelling, Do not use contact lens saline, eye drops or other saline solutions on a body piercing, Do not use homemade salt water solution, as this will be too salty and strong and can affect the healing process, Do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine or any other harsh product, as these can damage cells. This jewelry has a small bead on each end, with one of them being adjustable/removable to allow you to change out the jewelry if you want. Later on, you can follow the tips so as prevent an infection and enjoy your splash in the pool. The long healing time is largely due to the fact that the abdomen sees a lot of movement. Bearing this in mind, it is important to keep it away from your piercing which is a puncture wound. If you're swimming in a lake or river, there's no chlorine. In regards to swimming after having a piercing the NHS states You should avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after having a piercing and ideally until it. How long does it take for your belly to heal after piercing? 2015 Jan; 11(1):142-43. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2014.10.004, What to Know Before Getting a Forward Helix Piercing, The Complete Guide to Industrial Bar Piercings, Dermal Piercings: Everything You Should Know Before You Commit, Hip Piercings: Everything You Need to Know, What to Know Before Getting Your First Snug Piercing, The Complete Guide to Getting a Septum Piercing, How to Treat Infected Ear Piercings, According to Derms, Considering a Daith Piercing? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We may earn a commission when you purchase via links on this page.