Q&A for How to Clean Navel Piercings

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Question

Is it normal for a navel piercing to be red and sore after the first week, even if it is washed daily?

Community Answer

Yes. At one week, your piercing is still a fresh piercing. The redness is just your body reacting to an open wound. The piercing will be red and sore for about two weeks at most. If it extends past two weeks, see your doctor.

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Question

Is there an herbal remedy for keeping the piercing clean?

Community Answer

Try using chamomile. Prepare one teabag of chamomile and 100ml of water. Let it turn golden in color, then wash your navel with it. It's relaxing and it doesn't dry out the area.

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Question

How can I tell if my belly button piercing is infected or just healing?

Community Answer

A healing piercing will come with a small amount crust, while an infected one will come with a lot more. Also, a healing piercing may secrete a white or off-white fluid. An infected piercing may secrete yellow, green, or red fluid.

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Question

Can I remove my ring for a few minutes to clean it and then put it back?

Community Answer

If the piercing is new (one to six weeks), then no. There is still a chance that it could close over.

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Question

Is it normal for it to bleed after a month of having it?

Community Answer

If your navel is bleeding after a month, check for signs of infection and make an appointment to see your doctor.

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Question

How long before I can change my belly piercing?

Community Answer

You can change your piercing 7-8 weeks after, but if its infected keep it in.

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Question

In the middle of the piercing it hurts so I want to know what is the cause of it.

Community Answer

If it's new, it may be still healing. If it is an older piercing, then you may have re-inserted the piercing incorrectly and irritated it. Just keep it clean and don't touch it to much. Avoid removing the piercing as well.

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Question

If I clean my piercing with only water and nothing else will that be effective in the healing process?

Community Answer

No, you have an open wound that needs to be kept free of bacteria. Water is not enough. Follow the instructions given to you by your piercer.

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Question

Is it bad to strenuously exercise within the first week of getting it pierced?

Community Answer

Make sure that you do not do very harsh or strenuous core exercises, as this might be painful and will delay the healing process.

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Question

I'm allergic to Dial soap. What else could I use that would be safe and not give me a rash?

Community Answer

Use a soap that touts itself as a gentle cleanser, one suitable for those with sensitive skin, to clean the piercing.

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Question

Is it normal to feel a pain like a stomachache after the first few days of getting the piercing?

Community Answer

I felt this as well, I believe its the abdominal muscles adjusting to the new object placed above them. This went away when I took Tylenol, though I've heard ibuprofen is better as it reduces the swelling around the area as well.

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Question

Can I use dial soap? It's an orange color and I wouldn't want to get my piercing infected.

Community Answer

Yes, just be very careful to keep it away from the piercing to lower the risk of infection.

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Question

What kind of antibacterial cream should I use?

Community Answer

None, as you should wash it with salt water and not put any creams on it. The cream keeps the area too moist, and it will not allow the piercing to heal properly.

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Question

Is it normal for my entire lower stomach to hurt after getting a piercing?

Community Answer

No, you should get that checked out by a doctor or other medical professional to determine what is going on.

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Question

How can I get rid of the inflammation surrounding my piercing?

Community Answer

It depends how long you've had it. If it is new, it's normal to have a bit of red inflammation. If it's not new, try a sea salt solution and consult a doctor to rule out infection.

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Question

Can a piecing become infected after 4 months? When I was cleaning my piecing I saw white discharge, but it has no pain or redness. What can that be?

Community Answer

White pus is normal for healing. Yellow, green, or red is a sign infection requiring treatment

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Question

My piercing has a blood pimple. Should I pop it?

Community Answer

No, that’s a risk for infection. Let it heal on its own and don’t irritate it.

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Question

After a few days of having my belly button pierced, I can feel the metal beneath my skin. Is this normal?

Community Answer

Yes, it is normal to feel the piercing under your skin.

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Question

My navel piercing is red at the top and has whitish-yellowish stuff coming out of it. I bought dry sea salt. Is that just like regular sea salt? Will that help it?

Sonia

Community Answer

After you have a body piercing, you may have some odorless, whitish-yellow fluid that crusts around the jewelry. This is normal and not usually a sign of infection. Any crust that forms can help protect against infection. Do not move, twist, or turn the piercing, as this may cause any hardened discharge to tear the piercing, allowing bacteria into the wound. If the piercing site is red and swollen, feeling warm or painful, or if you have a fever, it could be an infection and you should see your GP. Use non-iodized, fine-grain sea salt for your soaks.

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Question

Can you use table salt and water to clean it?

Community Answer

Yes.

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Question

Can I use Dove bar soap to clean the area?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as it is a gentle soap suitable for sensitive skin. Just make sure to rinse the area thoroughly, and be careful to not irritate the piercing by moving it around too much.

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Question

My piercing seems dry, what should I do? And I'm not really sure if it's an off-white fluid or yellow fluid coming out, but it's a very small amount and only appears when I first wake up. Is that okay?

Community Answer

If your piercing is dry, apply moisturizer. If your piercing is still in the healing phase (about 6-9 months after it was pierced), the fluid is completely normal. But if it's been longer than that, I would consider talking to a doctor, just to be on the safe side.

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Question

Is there a way to keep your piercing from embedding? I had too small a ring in and it embedded, so I changed it to a bigger one but the top ball sank into the hole.

Community Answer

Allow the piercing to seal back by not using any accessories for a night. When there's nothing inside, it closes a bit. Once you see the ring fit in well, you can use whichever ring you like: the skin stretches and the hole expands.

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Question

I know it says not to move your piercing, but it talks mostly about twisting motions. It it okay to push it back and forth just enough so you can clean beneath the bell?

Community Answer

Clean it the way your skin stretches. Stop pulling/pushing when it hurts. You know your piercing and your body hygiene best. So, do as you know you should.

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Question

If I go in the shower 1 week after getting the piercing when the body soap touches the piercing will it go infected?

Community Answer

Infections are prevented when a cut or pierced area is washed with soap and water. So, bathe it after the piercing, as needed. See the steps above for advice.

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Question

I am using liquid dial anti bacterial soap. Is this good?

Community Answer

An antibacterial product is good. It should be washed off so it doesn't stay on and make the skin dry.

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Question

How long do I have to wait after getting my piercing before I can get in the pool?

Community Answer

It should not be too soon. You should also make sure that while swimming, your bathing/swimming suit, or other equipment doesn't tug accidentally on your accessory.

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Question

How long should I wait before changing the navel ring?

Community Answer

If it is an authentic material like pure silver or gold, it can remain on until it turns dark. It should be cleaned daily.

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Question

How long should I wait before changing the navel ring?

Community Answer

Wait for it to change its color. Original silver turns black with use. So, wash your accessory daily and change when it looks dull.

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Question

Is it bad if your piercing doesn’t bleed at all after just getting it pierced?

Community Answer

No, its perfectly alright. Sometimes the layer of the skin does not eject blood.

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