Getting a belly button piercing is an exciting way to express yourself, but proper aftercare is crucial for healing and preventing infections. While the piercing process itself is quick, the healing journey requires commitment and diligent care for up to a year. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to ensure your belly button piercing heals smoothly and beautifully.
Essential Aftercare Steps for Your New Belly Button Piercing
Taking care of your new piercing involves a consistent cleaning routine and avoiding irritants. Here’s a step-by-step guide to follow:
Cleaning Your Piercing
Cleaning your belly button piercing is vital to prevent infection and promote healing. You should clean your piercing twice a day, ideally in the morning and before bed.
- Wash your hands: Always start with clean hands before touching your piercing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water and dry with a clean paper towel.
- Prepare a saline solution: The best solution for cleaning your piercing is a sterile saline solution. You can purchase a pre-made saline solution at most pharmacies or piercing studios. Alternatively, you can make your own by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into one cup (8 oz) of warm distilled or bottled water. Ensure the salt is fully dissolved.
- Clean the piercing: Soak a clean gauze pad or cotton swab in the saline solution. Gently clean around the piercing site, removing any crust or discharge. Be sure to clean both the top and bottom openings of the piercing. You can also soak the piercing by filling a clean cup with saline solution, leaning over, and pressing the cup tightly against your belly to create a vacuum and immerse the piercing for a few minutes.
- Rinse (optional but recommended): After cleaning with saline, you can rinse the area with clean water to remove any salt residue.
- Pat dry: Gently pat the area dry with a clean paper towel or allow it to air dry. Avoid using cloth towels as they can harbor bacteria.
What to Clean With
- Sterile Saline Solution: This is the gold standard for piercing aftercare. It’s gentle, effective, and mimics your body’s natural fluids, promoting healing.
- Avoid Harsh Products: Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, or ointments. These products can be too harsh, irritating, and can hinder the healing process.
Things to Avoid
To ensure proper healing, avoid these common mistakes:
- Touching your piercing unnecessarily: Hands carry germs. Only touch your piercing when cleaning it.
- Rotating or twisting the jewelry: This can irritate the piercing and introduce bacteria into the piercing channel.
- Wearing tight clothing: Tight clothes can rub against the piercing, causing irritation and prolonging healing. Opt for loose-fitting clothing that allows the piercing to breathe.
- Swimming in pools, hot tubs, lakes, or oceans: These bodies of water can harbor bacteria that can lead to infection. Avoid swimming until your piercing is fully healed. If you must swim, use a waterproof bandage to protect your piercing and clean it immediately afterward.
- Using fragranced lotions or soaps near the piercing: These can irritate the piercing.
- Removing the jewelry prematurely: Do not remove your jewelry before the piercing is fully healed, as the hole can close up quickly. Healing can take several months to a year.
Signs of Infection and When to Seek Help
While diligent aftercare minimizes the risk of infection, it’s important to recognize the signs of infection and know when to seek professional help. Signs of an infected belly button piercing include:
- Increased pain, swelling, redness, or heat around the piercing site.
- Yellow or green discharge that is thick and foul-smelling. (Clear or whitish discharge is normal during healing).
- Fever.
- Red streaks radiating from the piercing site.
If you experience any of these symptoms, consult a doctor or dermatologist immediately. Early treatment can prevent the infection from worsening.
Taking care of your belly button piercing requires patience and consistency. By following these aftercare instructions, you can help ensure a smooth healing process and enjoy your new piercing for years to come.
