Have you recently got a belly button piercing? When you get a new piercing, youre welcoming a foreign object into your body. Last medically reviewed on December 21, 2018. Use H2ocean healing ocean to expidite healing, and a little sea salt (natu. It is therefore necessary to know how to take care of the piercing. The chlorine in a pool reduces the number of bacteria. Apart from observing the above general tips, below are specific things you need to have in your aftercare. Wet the area using plain warm water. We include products we think are useful for our readers. Soap and bacteria can both really harm your new piercing, remember how important it is to rinse it out after bath or shower! After having a piercing, it's important to keep the area clean and dry. As a general guide, healing times for the most common body piercings can be: It's possible to pick up an infection from any body of water, so while your piercing heals you should avoid swimming in: If you have any signs of infection, see a GP. 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. Association of Professional Piercers. This normally is produced by the body, can be foul smelling as well but is not an indication of an infection. Generally, piercers use an autoclave to kill any possible bacteria or other pathogens on the equipment. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. Belly Button Piercing Aftercare. If you must hit the gym, keep your tattoo covered with a gauze bandage and try to choose exercises that won't result in working the muscles close to the tattoo, or flexing a joint that has a new tattoo. Later on, you can follow the tips so as prevent an infection and enjoy your splash in the pool. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Belly button piercing is one of the most popular types of body piercings. This article has been viewed 159,697 times. Plus, chlorinated pools are still a source of germs. This is not to be confused with flexible plastic jewelry. How long do you have to wait to go swimming after getting a monroe piercing? You can go swimming now as long as the piercing doesnt get wet. Make sure that you avoid spas and hot tubs until the piercing heals completely to avoid infection. Ensure any clothing and bedding that may come into contact with the area around the piercing is clean. (For Beach Lovers). A new body piercing may be red and tender for a few weeks. Is it okay to apply it to new piercings to avoid infections? Can you use it on infected piercings? By the time this phase comes to an end, the piercing is considered almost healed. Keep scrolling to find out more, and remember, its your choice whether you hit the gym, but the facts dont lie. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Heres our process. Bumps are, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. In severe infections, you may experience nausea. Piercing is one of the oldest and most practiced forms of body modification. Last Updated: January 29, 2023 I have had my belly piercing for about 4-5 months now. How much a piercing costs is entirely dependent on the studio you go to, your geographic location, your piercers experience, and how complicated your piercing is. If you are wondering whether one can actually swim with a belly button ring, the answer is yes, you can! Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Here's What You Need to Know, The Complete Guide to Industrial Bar Piercings, Rook Piercing 101: Everything You Need to Know, This Is How to Clean a Nose Piercing the Right Way, Tattoo Aftercare Is CrucialHere's How to Do it Right, Why You Should Soak Your New Body Piercing in Sea Salt, Michele Farber, MD, FAAD is a New York-based board-certified dermatologist practicing at. Take the cotton bud and rub it lightly to form a lather. Her work can be seen across the web on Backstage Magazine, Merry Jane, Vulture, and more. See our, Belly Button Piercing Aftercare Rules, Swimming and Infections, Avoid using products such as alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, bactine and rubbing alcohol to clean the piercing, Belly Button Piercing While Pregnant, after Pregnancy Pictures and Risks, Labret Lip Piercing Pictures, Side, Horizontal, Cost, Healing and Aftercare, Applying and Best Gel or Creamy Eyeliners Like elf, Best Felt Tip Eyeliners Pen Use Tip and Review, Wearing Best White Eyeliner: Liquid, Gel or Pencil, Best Dark, Light, Electric and Navy Blue Eyeliners, Best Long Lasting Eyeliner Pencil, Liquid, and Gel. So now that you know that swimming isnt recommended until your piercing is fully healed, you may want to take a deeper dive into why that is. But you might want to slow down and plan your piercings out more strategically. Neosporin also comes with instructions not to be used on puncture wounds. Wow! If you're going to show off your belly button piercing, dangle jewelry is the way to do it. Now put a few drops of antibacterial liquid soap on the belly button. Looking to change the shape and appearance of your bellybutton? Natural oils like lavender oil and tea tree oil are also known to benefit. Of course, the best way to avoid these is to not go swimming at all! When cleaning it, handle the area gently. Plus, try to keep in mind that body fluids shouldn't be shared with others. Along with making sure to wash your piercing and wait for it to heal, there are a ton of dos and don'ts when it comes to making sure your piercing heals probably (via NHS). This is because of the constant movement associated with the location. During the healing process, Lauren Dozier, MD,a dermatologist and medical director at Brickell Cosmetic Center in Miami, FLsuggests staying away from antibiotic ointment, as this can suffocate the piercing site and cause more problems. Read our, How to Change Out a Belly Button Piercing. 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. Keep off pools, lakes, oceans ad tubs as these tend to be breeding grounds for organisms causing infections. We Have 8 Smart Ways! There is no timeline for this since the healing durations for each individual vary. If the customer chooses another option, we charge [for] the jewelry.. Well Help. "Your ear piercing after swimming needs to be rinsed under running water to rinse off any germs that could cause infection." Many medical professionals recommend not swimming for a minimum of three weeks after getting a belly piercing. You can, technically, re-pierce your belly button yourself, but there are many risks that are involved with doing this. You may also want to choose exercises that won't result in a repetitive motion, as rubbing the area of the piercing isnt advised. These normally form around the jewelry. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. How Long Does It Take For A Belly Button Piercing To Heal Before Swimming? 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. This can be in the form of gray or green discharge. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Other placements of belly button piercings include the lower rim, upper rim, and sides of the navel. Infections are pretty easy to treat (u. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. This fluid may form a crusty material. These are: The Inflammatory Stage This is the first stage of the healing process. When a piercing is performed outside of a specialized, sterile environment, your risk for contracting an infectious disease increases. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. He also loves hiking and camping and is spirited toward all outdoor activities. Typically featuring a curved barbell, this style has a plethora of options and adornments like stones, jewels, or charms hanging off the end of the ring. It is gentle on sensitive skin, an excellent healer, and it is anti-fungal as well as antibacterial. Although some might see the belly button piercing as a simple process, it requires to be carried out by a professional using the right tools. You should try to avoid swimming too often during this timeframe, as it really just increases your chance of bacteria exposure that might lead to an infection. Any initial itchiness and localized tenderness is normal. The placement is then marked; you should have agreed on location with your piercer beforehand, but now is the time to double-check that its marked in the correct spot. These are as listed. Unless you have an impeccable sports bra, breast bounce when you're running or doing aerobic forms of exercise is kind of inevitable, and can be very irritating. Brooks says, The same is true if your clothing rubs against piercings anywhere on your body. To keep the piercing tract open, you can replace this jewelry with a piece of safe, inert plastic known as a piercing retainer. 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? [3] Disinfectant and a very good rinse. That makes the cold-weather months a great time to be spontaneous. 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/, . The piercer will clean up your navel and give you instructions for aftercare. Not necessarily. Jason | April 16, 2022. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'outdoorfavor_com-leader-1','ezslot_0',670,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorfavor_com-leader-1-0'); Bodies of water, especially stagnant ones like lakes, harbor tons of microorganisms that can cause infection in your new piercing. Ideally, you shouldnt swim for the entire healing period. This includes avoiding swimming before you are completely healed. You could soak a cotton ball in the solution and place it over the area for about five minutes two times each day. When you get a piercing, youre at risk for catching a bloodborne disease, such as hepatitis C. The degree of risk depends on where you go to get the piercing and the standards of the place and person performing the piercing. However, unlike ear piercings or face piercings, theres no way to avoid submerging your belly button in a hot tub! By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. We Have 8 Smart Ways! Piercings heal on the outside first and then on the inside. So it's best to wait until the piercing has . Wash your hands before handling the piercing, Using disposable products to clean the area. Consider the kind of clothing you wearif you normally wear yoga pants, it might be time for sweats.. I use to clean it with salt water but I stopped because it was healing so i left it alone. Apply a small amount of soap on the new piercing and the area for about 30 seconds. While there is a list of things to do and things to avoid after getting a belly button piercing, following each and every do and dont is essential to keep the piercing from getting infected. Do not allow any soap, shampoo, conditioner or any other chemicals to get on the piercing. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Next, theyll mark the spot on your navel they wish to pierce. Wait and be wise. It can wait. 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? No one is ever prepared for the nastier side of it. Though sweat doesnt irritate a new piercing, it can still introduce germs and bacteria. Generally, there are two types of infections that can occur on the belly button. When Is The Best Time To Get My Belly Button Pierced? While youre at the shop, ask the piercer about their process and the sterilization methods they use. Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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. Assuming that everything went smooth, wait 48 to 72 hours, contingent upon whether or not you experience irritation in the affected area. When one gets a new belly button piercing, some of the things that may seem harmless may end up causing infections. She also recommends wearing loose-fitting clothing and pants that have low-rise waistbands to ensure you dont irritate the piercing site or cause further complications. Cycling might be a better choice than running, because there's no jiggling in the chest area. In case you are changing jewelry, ensure that it is sterilize before putting it on. That means that summertime and vacation might not be the best time to add another hole to your body. After the procedure has been carried out, the piercing will take at least six months to heal. We look at various ways on how to take care of abelly button piercingproperly. Your piercer should also wear disposable gloves at all times. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. There will also be production of pus in the initial phase of infection. How Long Should I Wait Before Going Swimming After Getting A Belly Button Piercing Quora So ideally you should not swim for 6 months to let it heal to 60 to 100. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. (2018). Watch what you wear as clothes may rub against the new piercing. You can also leave the piercing empty. Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject. We hope you enjoy this website. He also has the vision to travel the whole world and share it with all readers of Outdoor Favor. 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. To put it simply, you want to keep it dry until the piercing has healed, which takes anywhere from eight weeks to a year, depending on what you've had pierced (via Healthline). To keep your new piercing clean, try taking showers instead of baths while the piercing heals. What Is This Bump on My Cartilage Piercing and What Should I Do? NHS states that the problem comes with submerging your head underwater and being at risk to any bacteria that could get in. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. How Long Does It Take a Tattoo to Fully Heal? (Unless, of course, you plan to go on a winter vacation.). These tend to delay the healing process. You should ideally not have a soaking bath until the piercing is through the initial healing stages, and oozing, bleeding and scabbing have all stopped. At this phase the body normally seals the piercing channel. Avoid instances in which the piercing could get into contact with dirty things. Because of that, most piercers recommend waiting the full year-long period before switching it out, but if you cant wait, your best bet is to go back to your piercer to get it changed out. Only get rid of them when cleaning the area as at this time they will have soaked and softened up to get off the area when wiped off. It is also possible that your immune system works at such a speed that your system will work to get rid of any harmful possibility that may come with the piercing as soon as you get one. It can take as long as 2 years for a belly button piercing to heal completely. This means six to eight weeks for a simple ear piercing, and up to 6 months for nipple/navel piercings and at least two weeks for a tattoo. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg\/aid7373968-v4-728px-Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"