Navel Piercing – Risks, Aftercare, and Dealing with Infections and Pain

Photo credit: Bigstockphoto
Photo credit: Bigstockphoto

Body piercing has become a part of art these days. Piercings are not limited to the ears alone but in all parts of the body. Some have piercings in the tongue, eyebrows, lips and perhaps the most extreme, piercings on their private parts. Navel piercing on the other hand is popular among many teenagers. Of course like any other piercings, this is painful. Not everyone agrees on getting their belly buttons pierced but if you are interested about getting yours done then consider a few important things first.

The Risks Involved

Of course there are risks involved in getting your belly button pierced. One of the many things you should watch out for is the risk for getting infection. Infection can happen if the needle used in piercing is not sterilized well. Rubbing the piercing against your clothes can also cause pain and infection. If you don’t know how to clean your piercing, infection will also set in.

It is also important that the piercer is careful enough to place the ring where there are no nerves. He or she should know which part of your navel can be pierced and hold the ring in place.

Keep in mind that not everyone can rock the belly button ring. If you don’t have a flat belly or if your belly button pushes outward (although nothing is wrong with that) then you might have to consider how it will look on you. If you are still in school and aren’t allowed to show of skin just yet then this might be a bad idea. So make sure that you are very positive about getting your belly buttons pierced before making this decision.

The Aftercare, Dealing with Pain and Infection

Caring for your pierced navel is a routine you should not miss. Since this is a painful procedure, you need to consider the after effect of it. Yes, it will be much more painful after a day or two so you should be careful about it. In order to avoid pain and infection, wash it twice a day with warm water and soap that has antibacterial properties. Wash it enough to remove the dirt but don’t over wash as you are interfering with your body’s way of fighting off infection.

Pat the pierced area dry with a clean tissue or gauze. Never use any cloth towel as this can be potential home to bacteria. Diluted salt can work in soaking off dried materials in your piercing. If you have antibacterial creams or ointment, applying them can also help heal the piercing faster.

Don’t touch your belly ring with dirty hands. It can leave bacteria and may cause infection. So sanitize first if you want to see how your piercing is doing.

Keep in mind that this kind of piercing might take a while to heal. In fact, it’s one of the areas that takes a lot of time to completely dry up and heal so be patient. If you are experiencing pain more than the usual and if it is infected, make sure to seek your doctor immediately. Doing so can help avoid further complications.