When cleaning it, handle the area gently. Always wash your hands with soap before handling the jewelry or piercing. When the urge to get a piercing comes along, many people give right in. To avoid this, take good care of the piercing. Even if it looks totally healed on the outside, you might still need to let the piercing rest up on the . So just avoid chlorine, right? Be sure to wash your hands before cleaning your piercing site. Can you use it on infected piercings? During the healing process, Lauren Dozier, MD,a dermatologist and medical director at Brickell Cosmetic Center in Miami, FLsuggests staying away from antibiotic ointment, as this can suffocate the piercing site and cause more problems. Transmission of hepatitis C virus infection through tattooing and piercing: A critical review. Because the skin on your stomach is fleshy, its true that you can probably expect it to be less painful than some sort of cartilage piercing. Piercings heal on the outside first and then on the inside. These are labelled as solutions to wash and clean wounds. Isabelle has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020. If you must swim, we recommend covering your piercing with a waterproof Band-Aid. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). When an infection occurs, do not be tempted to remove the jewelry. Heres What You Need to Know About Pain and Healing Time, All Your Helix Piercing Questions, Answered, Considering a Conch Piercing? Generally, persons with deep belly buttons are at a higher risk of getting infections. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Wet the area using plain warm water. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should avoid swimming after getting a piercing. Anyone who's sat down in a Claire's piercing booth when they were young knows that you'll have to use a saline spray to clean the piercing. This normally is produced by the body, can be foul smelling as well but is not an indication of an infection. We Have 8 Smart Ways! if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'outdoorfavor_com-leader-1','ezslot_0',670,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorfavor_com-leader-1-0'); Bodies of water, especially stagnant ones like lakes, harbor tons of microorganisms that can cause infection in your new piercing. However, this is not always the case. Depending on what piercing you have and what kind of workout youre doing you may run the risk of getting snagged or bumped. What do I do? Take the cotton bud and rub it lightly to form a lather. Stages of a Piercing's Healing Process After the procedure has been carried out, the piercing will take at least six months to heal. To keep the piercing tract open, you can replace this jewelry with a piece of safe, inert plastic known as a piercing retainer. This mainly includes application of ointments that will help speed up the healing process. "Piercings heal on the outside first and then on the inside," Koox Diving states. In this stage, the body starts to react to the healing wound. 2. Clean skin piercings. Though sweat doesnt irritate a new piercing, it can still introduce germs and bacteria. 3. Sweat [carries bacteria from your skin] and so does exercise equipment at the gym, so I would say take a few days off the gym and exercising [for] a better healing process, she says. Remember, a piercing constitutes a wound and its healing during this time. He has good research skills, and thats why you can see why his articles are packed with info that is factual and not readily available. Later on, you can enter the pool but need to follow certain precautions to avoid an infection. They may contain bacteria that could cause infections on the piercings. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A belly button piercing looks wonderful, and is one most common piercings in the world. Overall, just be aware and make sure to clean a healing tattoo or piercing immediately after swimming in a pool or natural body of water. In Swimming: Weird Things Asked About Swimming? Always spray with Sterilear Step 1: Clean after swimming and removing the Band-Aid. If you're going to show off your belly button piercing, dangle jewelry is the way to do it. Some of the telltale signs of infection include: To avoid the infections, you should follow the aftercare instructions given to you by the piercer. While sweat is naturally produced by the body, and is just a sign of your body taking care of itself, "make sure to take a shower after exercising as a clean body tends to be a healthier body." Brooks says. Although you may think a belly button piercing wouldnt hurt that much due to being on your stomach, it will hurt slightlyjust like any other piercing. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Its a super quick process which makes it very manageable.. For a traditional belly button piercing, theyll mark the true center above your navel. It's best to wait at least a month, but preferably 2-3 months. This allows the jewelry to hang slightly over the belly button to essentially highlight itself. What Is This Bump on My Cartilage Piercing and What Should I Do? Very hot water will cause your piercing to swell and hurt. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 159,697 times. You wouldnt go rubbing your fresh scrape up against someone else, because thats just asking for an infection. Generally, piercers use an autoclave to kill any possible bacteria or other pathogens on the equipment. This jewelry has a small bead on each end, with one of them being adjustable/removable to allow you to change out the jewelry if you want. Other than taking the precautions mentioned above, the area must also be cleaned. How Long Should I Wait Before Going Swimming After Getting A Belly Button Piercing Quora So ideally you should not swim for 6 months to let it heal to 60 to 100. After the procedure has been carried out, the piercing will take at least six months to heal. Answer #1 Hi boredom410, Piercers recommend you wait a month after your piercing to go swimming in chlorinated pools. (2012). In case you have none. The piercing should be cleaned no more than is necessary to keep it clean, as over-cleaning can irritate the skin and delay healing. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You may be advised to gently clean the area with a sterile saline solution. But if you can't wait for that long, give it no more than 24 hours. While youre at the shop, ask the piercer about their process and the sterilization methods they use. Soak the piercing 2-3 times per day in a mixture of warm (not hot) water and non-iodized salt. Submerging your piercing in water can put you at risk of developing an infection in your new belly button piercing. Some of these include: There are a lot of ways through which a navel piercing can get infected. How else can you protect your new piercing from water and infection? Simply keep your piercing clean and avoid tight clothing, so it doesn't irritate the piercing while it's healing. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The design of this piercing is said to put less stress on the navel area. Everyone heals differently, so they may provide you a range. Typically featuring a curved barbell, this style has a plethora of options and adornments like stones, jewels, or charms hanging off the end of the ring. (Everything You Need To Know), Can You Swim After Getting Ears Pierced? You may experience a little bit of bleeding. Swimming is one activity that needs to be avoided for a certain duration of time. Following the correct aftercare during the healing process is super important, both because it will help the piercing heal properly and because not doing so could slow down the process. Have a good day! Answer (1 of 26): If you where pierced with a needle (best and only way) your pierced nose should have a spacing that is healing using fun stuff like white blood cells. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Be sure to dry the area with a paper towel after, as a typical hand or bath towel could harbor bacteria. Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. There will also be production of pus in the initial phase of infection. Always follow the instructions given by the piercer when taking care of the piercing. On average, however, a belly button piercing takes anywhere from 6 to 9 months to completely heal. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Unlike pierced ears, which take 4-6 weeks to heal, your belly button may not fully heal for up to 1 year. Getting a belly button piercing does not mean that you cannot swimming with it on. Heavier design elements will be featured up top, however, the great thing about this style is that you can wear the jewelry however you like, hence the name. Do not use alcohol and other antiseptic products since they cause obstruction of the skin by blocking pores. Can I wash my hair in the tub after getting an ear piercing? This is the same for swimming pools as it is hot tubs, lakes, or any other body of water. Plus, Figueroa says its not good to submerge an open wound in water, especially because the chemicals in a pool will irritate a healing tattoo. When well taken care of, the piercing heals off without issues. This being the case, how long before you can go swimming after belly button piercing? After having a piercing, it's important to keep the area clean and dry. This will help to prevent infections as piercings can quickly regress if mistreated or not well taken care of. Because they are very anatomy dependent, some piercers may deny you service or suggest a different type of belly button piercing (like a floating navel piercing) or location over the traditional style and placement. Dont rely on amateurs or DIY videos when it comes to getting a body piercing. Let's be honest:A year is a long time to not be in the water. Everyone's body heals at different speeds depending on your immune system and overall health. Some people will take up to a whole year to heal. If the shop uses piercing guns, cancel any appointment you may have made. An autoclave is typically used to sterilize tools that are reusable, such as opening and closing pliers for body jewelry. 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