Laser Tattoo Removal Can Cause Blisters Here's Why and How to Treat Them. The placement is then marked; you should have agreed on location with your piercer beforehand, but now is the time to double-check that its marked in the correct spot. Opt for maternity jewelry as oppose to normal jewelry. Ask the 1 piercing u: Be sure to go to a licensed and highly qualified expert on piercing, and ask them how long to wait before swimming in the ocean. Its a super quick process which makes it very manageable.. To avoid this, take good care of the piercing. As far as intensive exercising goes, Figueroa says its not recommended because its not good to have bacteria sitting on top of an open wound. Try to follow all of the aftercare instructions directly from your artist in terms of keeping your new piece of body art clean, using a lotion to moisturize, and protecting it from the sun. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We may earn a commission when you purchase via links on this page. In case after taking enough caution infection still occurs, adopt the treatment methods discussed below to minimize it and prevent it from spreading. Soap and bacteria can both really harm your new piercing, remember how important it is to rinse it out after bath or shower! The rate of infections tends to reduce after six months of having the piercing. Very hot water will cause your piercing to swell and hurt. Plus, chlorinated pools are still a source of germs. Also ensure that the piercing is done by a professional. Some of these include: There are a lot of ways through which a navel piercing can get infected. Association of Professional Piercers. The discharge will at times produce a foul smell. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. What Is This Bump on My Cartilage Piercing and What Should I Do? When a piercing is performed outside of a specialized, sterile environment, your risk for contracting an infectious disease increases. For first time piercings, choose rings made of gold, stainless steel or titanium. Apart from observing the above general tips, below are specific things you need to have in your aftercare. Do not make a decision you will regret just because you want one bath or swim. Every body is different, but you need to give yourself at least two to three months to let your previous belly ring heal completely. Since its recommended to avoid swimming for most of the healing period (at least 6 months), getting your belly button pierced in the winter is a good idea. If you've got it done, you must have gotten a [Read More] about Swollen Tongue After Piercing. First and foremost, hide the navel from the direct hitting sun. Dont pick at the area, as it can cause further irritation or bleeding. Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water before you touch your piercing with your fingers. If you are wondering whether one can actually swim with a belly button ring, the answer is yes, you can! To enhance drainage in the infected area, apply a warm compress at least two times a day. Enjoy! Bumps are, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Cycling might be a better choice than running, because there's no jiggling in the chest area. Later on, you can follow the tips so as prevent an infection and enjoy your splash in the pool. In severe infections, you may experience nausea. Once the hole has been made, they may use forceps to hold the area of skin taut while they insert the jewelry. Make sure you keep the area clean and dry now until it is fully healed. When you get a new piercing, youre welcoming a foreign object into your body. 2-3 months before the piercing can be submerged. Piercings are relatively inexpensive, and they will eventually heal if you change your mind. Submerging your piercing in water can put you at risk of developing an infection in your new belly button piercing. Doing so increases your risk for bloodborne disease. If you're looking for a quick answer, then no, you should not swim after getting a piercing. % of people told us that this article helped them. 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. Do not wear tight-fitting clothes instead wear a relaxed fit clothes that sit loosely on the body. Opt for a belly button ring made of 14- or 18-karat gold, titanium, surgical steel, or niobium. If you must swim, we recommend covering your piercing with a waterproof Band-Aid. During this time, the piercing goes through three stages of healing. Plus, try to keep in mind that body fluids shouldn't be shared with others. In that case, pat your piercing dry to avoid retaining moisture (bacteria love moisture and need it to grow!) How Long Should You Wait To Swim After Getting A Piercing. For some, this may be as long as 12 months. Ear piercings among others can get you in trouble at school, with parents, or while [Read More] about Want to Know How to Hide Ear Piercings? Sabrina Crews is a copy editor and fact checker. Can I wash my hair in the tub after getting an ear piercing? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); It's cool, and a lot painful. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. These will go a long way in preventing infections. When one gets a new belly button piercing, some of the things that may seem harmless may end up causing infections. Be sure to wash your hands before cleaning, and dont rotate the piercing! Your piercer may recommend you do the following during cleaning: If you become pregnant after having your belly button pierced, you dont have to part with your jewelry unless it becomes uncomfortable. Remember, a piercing constitutes a wound and its healing during this time. Knowing what to expect and how to care for the piercing can help you avoid complications. What do I do? Here are the piercings its safe for, how to use it, side effects to, New research highlights the lack of oversight and regulation regarding the production of tattoo ink in the US and suggests some ingredients may carry, After getting a new tattoo, the outer layer of skin will typically appear healed within 2 to 3 weeks. Next review due: 8 October 2024, belly button (navel) 6 months to 1 year, it's swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour), there's blood or pus coming from the piercing, which may be white, yellow or green and foul-smelling, Do not use contact lens saline, eye drops or other saline solutions on a body piercing, Do not use homemade salt water solution, as this will be too salty and strong and can affect the healing process, Do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine or any other harsh product, as these can damage cells. Make sure you clean the area very slowly and thoroughly including the piercing jewelry. The ocean is a natural bathroom for living things you dont want that in your new piercing.. Eat healthy and ensure your meals are balanced. Your piercer should also wear disposable gloves at all times. If you're wondering what effects exercise could have on a new tattoo or piercing, you're not alone. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. A piercing on your belly button is more likely to get infected than other body parts because of its shape. Anything that is in the water is getting into your piercings, and even in the cleanest of pools chlorine is going to hurt your piercing as well, Brooks says. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Some infection-causing bacteria can still linger in pools even after treatment, so its not wise to swim in a pool after piercing, either. A belly button piercing looks wonderful, and is one most common piercings in the world. We Have 8 Smart Ways! An autoclave is typically used to sterilize tools that are reusable, such as opening and closing pliers for body jewelry. The typical and most popular jewelry choice for belly button piercings is a curved barbell, which slightly curves outward to pop against your belly button and generally fits better with the natural shape of your body. The right initial jewelry also has to be used. She has been an amateur artist as a hobby since grade school, and served a 12 month tattoo apprenticeship in a tattoo studio. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This is because piercings can be susceptible to infection, and hot tubs and baths can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. Now put a few drops of antibacterial liquid soap on the belly button. The symptoms of an infection can include: If you develop an infection or other irritation, be sure to speak with your piercer or doctor before applying any ointment or other topical treatment to the area. This article has been viewed 159,697 times. Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our, How to Change Out a Belly Button Piercing. Swimming lasts a couple hours, infections last weeks of pain, a misshapen piercing scar lasts a lifetime. Brooks says nipple and navel piercings, need a few months of healing time before resuming the types of workouts that will irritate the piercing area because of the constant stretching and bending that is involved.Though cardio workouts are okay and are less likely to result in direct rubbing of the piercing area, Brooks recommends this exercise to, those people with recent nipple and navel piercings who dont want that break from the gym. she says. You can go swimming now as long as the piercing doesnt get wet. Also, if youre sharing equipment with others, disinfect the equipment before and after you use it, so you aren't spreading your germs to others. Do it in your own, clean bath. So just avoid chlorine, right? Page last reviewed: 8 October 2021 Simply keep your piercing clean and avoid tight clothing, so it doesn't irritate the piercing while it's healing. The piercing forms scar tissue. Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while your piercing is healing. Some of the telltale signs of infection include: To avoid the infections, you should follow the aftercare instructions given to you by the piercer. I would say around a 4 or 5 with my clients based on their feedback; I would rate my own at a 4 or so, says Kristina Outland, a body piercer at Deep Roots Tattoo & Piercing. Be sure to dry the area with a paper towel after, as a typical hand or bath towel could harbor bacteria. Piercing is one of the oldest and most practiced forms of body modification. The fact that the area is warm and dark ad can easily retain moisture makes it vulnerable to infections as these conditions are favorable for the growth of micro-organisms. This removes the risk of picking up an infection from the water in swimming pools, lakes and rivers, and the sea. To ensure that the area heals properly avoid things that may pull or push the piercing and the jewelry. Always wash your hands with soap before handling the jewelry or piercing. That makes the cold-weather months a great time to be spontaneous. Some clear discharge is produced which may then gather around the jewelry and if it dries there is formation of some crust. If you're going to show off your belly button piercing, dangle jewelry is the way to do it. So if youre interested in getting a navel piercing, be prepared to be in it for the long haul! You shouldn't even be taking baths in this early stage of healing. Most people know that they should avoid swimming after getting a tattoo, but it's the same for a piercing. Other placements of belly button piercings include the lower rim, upper rim, and sides of the navel. Your belly button piercing must heal entirely before being exposed to chemically treated water, which is of utmost importance. 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. Soak the piercing 2-3 times per day in a mixture of warm (not hot) water and non-iodized salt. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. It could produce a bad odor as well and is an indication of an infection. Unlike pierced ears, which take 4-6 weeks to heal, your belly button may not fully heal for up to 1 year. As you now know that proper healing of belly button piercing can take 6 to 12 months and these numbers look quite big for beach lovers so here are some tips that you should start to follow from the very first day of piercing to ensure that youre ready to rock in your bikini. To ensure that the piercing heals faster and you get to enjoy swimming much sooner, you can follow these tips to accelerate the healing process. When it comes to new piercings and working out, the location of said piercing is the main issue to contend with. While it's still healing, it's important to keep the piercing dry as there's a risk of infection. That way, its healed and ready to be shown off at the beach, the lake, or by the pool! Heres What You Need to Know About Pain and Healing Time, All Your Helix Piercing Questions, Answered, Considering a Conch Piercing? For more advice, like how to shower with a new piercing, read on. A new body piercing may be red and tender for a few weeks. Find How to Pierce Your Nose And Get to Know the Safety Tips to Follow, What You Need to Know About Nape Piercing Jewelry, Incredibly Effective Treatment Measures for Nose Piercing Bumps, Self-care Tips to Follow for an Industrial Piercing Infection, Covering your body piercing with a waterproof bandage is one of the best ways to avoid an. You could also settle for jewelry made from PTFE material. The full breakdown, according to NHS, is that ear piercings take six to eight weeks, belly button piercings take six months to a year, and nose piercings take up to six months. 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. A lot of caution has to be taken especially in matters regarding what comes into contact with the area. "This was super helpful as I recently got a piercing and I am so lucky I stumbled upon this website! When there are infections, pus which is a thick drainage that is yellow or green will be produced. You can consult your piercing professional for knowing the right quantity and frequency of application of these essential oils or any other healing ointment. Think of this as your body coming to terms with the new object in your navel. The piercer will disinfect the area around your navel. This includes avoiding swimming before you are completely healed. Some people will take up to a whole year to heal. Thoroughly rinse afterward. Unless you have an impeccable sports bra, breast bounce when you're running or doing aerobic forms of exercise is kind of inevitable, and can be very irritating. Brooks says, The same is true if your clothing rubs against piercings anywhere on your body. Have you recently got a belly button piercing? These cookies do not store any personal information. Aftercare: Wash the piercing two times a day with a sterile saline solution and pat dry with a paper towel. At times, there may be movement from stage three to stage two for a number of times before it heals. Alternatively, soak a clean cloth in the solution and apply to the area. It can take as long as 2 years for a belly button piercing to heal completely. This ThoughtfulTattoos article tells you how to swim with a belly button ring. Only get rid of them when cleaning the area as at this time they will have soaked and softened up to get off the area when wiped off. We hope you enjoy this website. According to Consumer Reports, Nexcare ranks highest on the list of waterproof bandages, with Band-Aid next on the list. Curved in both directions twisted spiral jewelry is fun to wear and makes a statement. Once you get out of the bath, lightly pat your piercing dry and immediately rinse the area out with sea salt water. about Want to Know How to Hide Ear Piercings? This normally is produced by the body, can be foul smelling as well but is not an indication of an infection. If you decide you want to get a better or different piece of jewelry, youre most likely going to have to pay more. It is therefore necessary to know how to take care of the piercing. Is it okay to apply it to new piercings to avoid infections? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Change the towels and bedding at least once every week. These are very important things because its not like buying jeans in a shop, its a process that you need to be aware of. How long will it take to heal? It's best to avoid hot tubs, baths, and other forms of water immersion for at least two weeks after getting a belly button piercing. She has worked in digital media for over five years and is an expert on a range of topics, including tattoos, piercings, and culture. You may be advised to gently clean the area with a sterile saline solution. With any fresh piercing we generally recommend you avoid swimming for the first month, though the risk to your piercing depends on where you're swimming. You can but you need to avoid swimming after ear piercing for at least 24 hours - but ideally, until the piercings have healed properly. The belly button piercing gives you a chance to don magnificent jewelry. Later on, you can enter the pool but need to follow certain precautions to avoid an infection. I use to clean it with salt water but I stopped because it was healing so i left it alone. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. I got very little aftercare advice/tips after I got my piercing today. Dont pick at the area, as it can cause further irritation or bleeding. The long healing time is largely due to the fact that the abdomen sees a lot of movement. Pus is not to be confused with sebum which is a normal secretion. It can take anywhere from nine months to a year for a belly button piercing to fully heal. Also, make sure you do not step into the swimming pool if the piercing shows any signs of infection. Skimping on the material can lead to undue irritation or infection. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How long does it take for ear piercings to heal? First, the area will be cleaned, and if you have some hair there, your piercer will most likely shave the area with a disposable razor to allow for a smooth and clean piercing site. Isabelle has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020. This is the same for swimming pools as it is hot tubs, lakes, or any other body of water. As the infection advances, the infected area will become swollen. I suggest coming to the studio for the first change, says Valentini. It's easy for bacteria to hole up inside it. Here's a breakdown so you can plan your piercing accordingly. We try to partake in some form of exercise on a daily basis (to varying degrees of success, admittedly) but have been cautioned against doing so, as it can impact the healing process of any new body modification. If you've got a new piercing, you know how important it is to keep it clean and healthy. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Pain level: 4/5. After waiting for a month, or at least for three weeks, you can get ready to step into the pool. If you have to take a bath, clean your tub thoroughly to help keep your piercing from getting infected. Association of Professional Piercers. It is also used as retainer jewelry for belly button piercings in pregnancy. Not quite. 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. I wouldn't recommend it, but if you have to, try to avoid getting soap in the piercing. This is the same kind of infection you are likely to get if you accidentally scratch the area. Looking to change the shape and appearance of your bellybutton? For some, this may be as long as 12 months. It may have a lot to [Read More] about Do Nose Piercings Leave Scars?