Belly button ring infection

Bacteria can infect a belly button piercing before healing is complete. Symptoms can include pain, discoloration, and swelling.

Your belly button doesn't serve much purpose after birth, but it's a popular place to accessorize with body jewelry. There are risks to this popular piercing site, though. The belly button is usually turned inward, so cleaning it can be challenging, which puts this piercing at risk for infection. This article will tell you how to spot an infected belly button piercing and what to do if it happens to you. An infected belly button piercing will look much like any other skin or soft tissue infection, with symptoms like:.

Belly button ring infection

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Belly button or naval piercings can take longer to heal. Knowing what to expect can help you avoid complications. Piercing is one of the oldest and most practiced forms of body modification. This practice has expanded to many different areas of the body, including the belly button. The degree of risk depends on where you go to get the piercing and the standards of the place and person performing the piercing. This is why choosing your piercer is so important. Word of mouth is often the best way to find a reliable and reputable shop. Make sure you visit the shop ahead of time so you can get a feel for the place. It should be clean, well-lit, and fully licensed. When a piercing is performed outside of a specialized, sterile environment, your risk for contracting an infectious disease increases.

At the belly button, tight quarters around the piercing could make it difficult to clean the piercing or keep it from moisture and irritation. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Belly button piercings are popular and generally safe with proper precautions. However, incorrect aftercare or unsanitary conditions can lead to bacterial infections. It can take from 9 months to 1 year for a belly button piercing to heal completely.

Last Updated: June 7, Fact Checked. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous IV therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed , times. The easiest way to treat an irritated belly button piercing is to keep the area clean. To clean your piercing, soak a q-tip or cotton ball with a saline solution and gently wash your piercing holes and belly button twice a day. After cleaning the area, rotate your piercing about 4 times.

Belly button ring infection

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Belly button piercings are popular and generally safe with proper precautions. However, incorrect aftercare or unsanitary conditions can lead to bacterial infections. It can take from 9 months to 1 year for a belly button piercing to heal completely. Even an injury to an old piercing may lead to infection. For example, if the piercing gets caught on pants or belt buckles. You may also have some clear discharge that dries and forms a crystal-like crust around the piercing.

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You also need to make sure the area stays clean. Rubbing alcohol and peroxide are not recommended, as these solutions can irritate newly forming skin and slow healing. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. If you think your belly button piercing is infected, be sure to take action ASAP, and see a doctor if things aren't improving after some at-home care or if your symptoms are severe. The piercer will disinfect the area around your navel. If you have a diagnosed skin disorder , ask a healthcare provider about the risks of a body piercing before you have it done, or consult with your provider if you have a piercing and develop healing problems. Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties. What is the risk of infection with a nipple piercing? Thinking About a Tongue Tattoo? A belly button piercing can be a fun type of body modification, but you must be vigilant during the healing process to avoid infection.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission.

Epidemiol Infect. Diagnosing an infection. Create profiles to personalise content. If you are seeking medical care for a piercing complication, you may not be offered a choice, and your healthcare team may require you to remove the piercing for your infection or irritation to heal properly. Metal or specific cleansers or ointments could cause an allergic reaction at your belly button piercing site. See a doctor about the injury and consult a professional piercer to see if the piercing requires redoing. Symptoms of an infected belly button piercing. Get the details on how you can lower your chances of developing blisters and other possible side effects. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Take anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain and swelling. Thanks for your feedback! Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO.