best time to get a belly piercing

Belly Button Piercing Healing: Everything You Need to Know

Belly button piercing has been gaining popularity over the years. It’s a trendy fashion statement that adds an edgy touch to your style and personality. However, like any other type of piercing, belly button piercing requires proper care and healing to avoid infections and complications. 

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the belly button piercing healing process and everything you need to know about it.

What is Belly Button Piercing and Why Do People Get It?

Belly button piercing is the practice of puncturing the skin on or around the navel area and inserting jewelry, such as rings or studs, into the opening. While some people get it for aesthetic purposes, others do it for cultural or spiritual reasons. Belly button piercing has been around for centuries and is considered a form of self-expression and body art. It’s popular among both men and women and can be done in various styles and designs.

When is the Best Time to Get a Belly Button Piercing?

The best time to get a belly button piercing is during the summer or warmer months when you’re less likely to wear tight clothing that may irritate the piercing. It’s also essential to consider your lifestyle and activities before getting a belly button piercing. If you swim regularly, play sports, or engage in physical activities that involve contact, it’s best to wait until you can take a break from them to avoid interfering with the healing process.

Belly Piercing Healing Process

The belly piercing healing process typically takes 6-12 months, depending on the individual’s body and how well they follow aftercare instructions. During this time, the piercing will go through several stages of healing.

Initial Healing Stage (Weeks 1-2)

During the first couple of weeks, you may experience swelling, tenderness, redness, and a clear or slightly yellowish discharge around the piercing. This is a natural part of the body’s response to healing. It’s crucial to maintain good hygiene by cleaning the piercing with saline solution and avoiding unnecessary touching.

Early Healing Stage (Weeks 3-6)

As the initial discomfort subsides, you’ll notice a reduction in swelling and redness. The discharge may also decrease. Continue with your cleaning routine and be cautious with clothing that might rub against the piercing.

Intermediate Healing Stage (Weeks 7-12)

By this time, the swelling should be minimal, and the discharge should be mostly clear. The piercing area may still be slightly tender, so continue to be gentle and patient with the healing process.

Advanced Healing Stage (Months 3-6)

Most of the initial signs of healing, such as redness and tenderness, should be resolved by this stage. The discharge should have ceased entirely. 

Full Healing Stage (Months 6-12+)

Complete healing varies from person to person but can take up to a year or more. At this point, the piercing should feel comfortable and look fully healed. You can consider changing the jewelry if desired, but continue to practice good aftercare to maintain the piercing’s health.

signs of infection

Belly button piercings can become infected due to various reasons. One common cause is improper aftercare, such as inadequate cleaning or using harsh substances on the piercing. Touching the piercing with dirty hands or rotating the jewelry can introduce bacteria. Additionally, using low-quality or non-hypoallergenic jewelry can irritate the piercing site and make it more susceptible to infection. Recognizing the signs of infection in a belly button piercing is essential for prompt treatment and preventing complications. Here are common signs to watch for:

  • Redness, swelling, and pain around the piercing.
  • Warmth to the touch.
  • Discharge from the piercing, which may be yellow, green, or brown.
  • A foul odor coming from the piercing.
  • Fever.
  • Chills.
  • Nausea and vomiting.

how to heal your belly button piercing faster

Clean your piercing regularly: Clean your piercing twice a day with a saline solution. You can make your own saline solution by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Rinse your piercing thoroughly with water after cleaning it.

Avoid touching your piercing: The more you touch your piercing, the more likely you are to introduce bacteria and cause an infection.

Wear loose-fitting clothing: Tight clothing can irritate your piercing and slow down the healing process.

Avoid swimming, bathing in hot tubs, or soaking in baths until your piercing is fully healed. Water can contain bacteria that can cause an infection.

Healthy Diet and Hydration: A balanced diet and staying well-hydrated can support the body’s healing process. Nutrients and hydration help tissues repair more efficiently.

Apply a warm compress to your piercing several times a day. This can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

Use a sea salt soak: Sea salt has antibacterial properties and can help to keep your piercing clean. To make a sea salt soak, mix 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Soak your piercing for 5-10 minutes.

Use a chamomile compress: Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. To make a chamomile compress, brew a cup of chamomile tea and let it cool. Soak a washcloth in the tea and apply it to your piercing for 5-10 minutes.

FAQs

  1. How long does it take for a belly button piercing to heal? The healing time for a belly button piercing varies from person to person, but it usually takes about 6 to 12 months.
  2. How long does a belly button piercing hurt? Typically, initial soreness and tenderness may last for a few days to a couple of weeks, and it gradually subsides as the piercing heals.
  3. Can I swim with a new belly button piercing? It’s best to avoid swimming or soaking in water for at least four weeks after getting a new belly button piercing to prevent infections.
  4. How often should I clean my belly button piercing? You should clean your belly button piercing twice a day using a saline solution or mild soap.
  5. Can I change the jewelry in my belly button piercing during the healing process? It’s recommended to wait until the piercing is fully healed before changing the jewelry to avoid complications and infections.

Final Takeaway

Belly button piercing can be a fun and exciting way to express yourself, but it requires proper care and healing to avoid infections and complications. By following the tips and advice presented in this article, you can ensure that your belly button piercing heals correctly and looks fabulous for years to come.

Piercing Bump vs Keloid: Understanding the Differences and How to Treat Them

Piercings are becoming increasingly popular as a form of self-expression, fashion. However, the healing process of a piercing can sometimes be complicated. One of the most common problems that people encounter during the healing process is the formation of a bump or a keloid around the piercing. Having a piercing bump or a keloid is inevitable when it comes to piercing. To avoid them, let’s look into the causes and how to get rid of them

What are Piercing Bump and Keloid?

What is a Piercing Bump?

A piercing bump is a small, raised, and sometimes painful bump that forms around a piercing site. These bumps can be caused by a variety of factors, such as trauma to the piercing surrounding, bacterial infections, allergic reactions, etc. Piercing bumps can occur on any part of the body that has been pierced, like earlobes, nose, tongue, lip, or belly button.

What is a Keloid?

A keloid is a hard and rubbery, overgrowth permanent scar that’s caused by abnormal wound healing. Keloids are caused by excess of collagen at a piercing site or a wound. Keloids can develop on any part of the body that has been injured, such as the site of a piercing. People with darker skin are more likely to get keloids as well as people with a personal or family history of keloid formation. Some keloids can give their owner itching, burning, or even pain.

Difference between piercing bump vs keloid

Causes of Piercing Bump and Keloid

So why are you having keloids and piercing bumps, are you wondering what have you done wrong to your unhealed wound or piercing? Keloid vs piercing bump are common issues that many people encounter after getting a piercing. Here are some of the possible causes of each:

Piercing bumps:

Infection: If bacteria enter the piercing surrounding, it can cause an infection, which leads to a bump.

Allergic reaction: Some people are allergic to the metal that the jewelry contain or the piercing aftercare methods that are used to clean the piercing, which can cause a bump.

Trauma: If the piercing is knocked, bumped, or irritated frequently, it can cause irritation bump piercing, and inflammation, leading to a bump.

Improper aftercare: If the piercing is not properly cleaned and cared for after it’s done, it can lead to a bump.

Keloids:

Genetics: Some people are more prone to developing keloids due to their genetics.

Injury or trauma: Any injury or trauma to the skin, including getting a piercing, can cause a keloid to form.

Irritation: If the piercing is constantly irritated or rubbed, it can lead to the formation of a keloid.

Improper aftercare: Similar to piercing bumps, if the piercing is not properly taken care of after getting it done, a keloid can be formed.

It’s crucial to note that not everyone will develop a bump or keloid after getting a piercing, and even with proper aftercare, there is still a risk. If there is a piercing bump or a keloid that appears on your skin, it’s best to ask a dermatologist or a piercer for proper piercing aftercare.

What to Do If You Detect a Bump or a Keloid on Your Body?

A bump on a piercing can be caused by various reasons, such as infection, irritation, or trauma. This is our recommended piercing bump treatment.

Clean the area: Piercing aftercare is extremely vital to everyone that has a piercing. Clean the area around the piercing with a saline solution, a Q-tip, or a cotton ball. A saline solution can be made at home by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt with one cup of warm water. Soak a clean cotton ball or Q-tip in the saline solution and apply it to the bump for around 5-10 minutes.

Avoid direct interaction with the piercing: Avoid touching the bump or the piercing with dirty hands, as this can introduce more bacteria and cause infection to the bumping piercing.

Use a warm compress: Apply a warm compress to the bump for 5-10 minutes several times a day to help reduce inflammation and increase blood flow to the area.

Do not remove the jewelry: Removing the jewelry from the piercing can cause the hole to close up and trap infection and bacteria inside, so leave the jewelry in place unless advised otherwise by a professional.

Seek professional help: If the bump doesn’t improve or gets worse, seek help from a professional piercer or a doctor. They can give you professional advice, healing methods, or medication, which may include antibiotics.

Cleaning the little blod after placing the piercing.

Remember that it can take time for a piercing bump to go away, so be patient and continue to care for the area until it has fully healed.

Keloids are a type of raised scar that forms when the body produces too much collagen during the healing process of a wound or an injury. They can be itchy, painful, and unsightly, and sometimes restrict movement if they are located over a joint. So how to make a piercing keloid go away?

Treatment for keloids can be challenging, and there is no single remedy that works for everyone. However, some solutions can help you with a keloid:

Corticosteroid injections: Injecting corticosteroids directly into the keloid can help to reduce inflammation and flatten the scar.

Cryotherapy: Freezing the keloid with liquid nitrogen can cause the scar tissue to die and fall off.

Surgical removal: Removing the keloid surgically can be effective, but this is a pretty risky method since there is a risk of the scar growing back even larger than before.

Removing the keloid at beauty studio salon

Laser therapy: Using a laser to treat the keloid can help to reduce its size and improve its appearance.

Silicone sheets or gels: Applying silicone sheets or gels to the keloid can help to soften and flatten the scar over time.

But you don’t have to be worried about your keloids since most of the cases, they are harmless.

Remember that keloids can be difficult to get rid of and may require multiple approaches. It is also important to work with a healthcare professional who is experienced in treating keloids to ensure the best possible outcome.