A belly button piercing, also known as a navel piercing, is a piece of jewelry thats typically inserted through the skin, directly above the belly button. Although some might see the belly button piercing as a simple process, it requires to be carried out by a professional using the right tools. For more info, read on for everything you need to know about the popular piercing. This will be totally dependent on an individuals rate of healing. Piercings heal on the outside first and then on the inside. Approved. Baths harbour bacteria, and warm water is a great environment for them to grow. Ask your doctor if ther. If you are wondering whether one can actually swim with a belly button ring, the answer is yes, you can! 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. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Many medical professionals recommend not swimming for a minimum of three weeks after getting a belly piercing. 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. Association of Professional Piercers. Last medically reviewed on December 21, 2018. Generally, theyll recline your chair until youre lying in a relaxed position. It may have a lot to [Read More] about Do Nose Piercings Leave Scars? Piercings heal from the outside in, meaning that even if you think the piercing is healed, you should give it some extra time, according to Koox Diving. JNP. That makes the cold-weather months a great time to be spontaneous. Here's a breakdown so you can plan your piercing accordingly. You should have the opportunity to confirm the placement or discuss the possibility of piercing a different area. Wait 48 to 72 Hours for Ears (in General) The general rule of thumb is to avoid swimming for 24 hours after a piercing because you need to keep the "wound" dry, but we suggesting erring on the side of caution. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Avoid nickel alloys and brass. Belly button piercings have been popular for a long timeand for good reason. (n.d.). i have a question? We look at belly button piercing aftercare and how to deal with any infections that may arise. That makes the cold-weather months a great time to be spontaneous. You can do this yourself with clean hands, or have it done at the shop where you got pierced. The right initial jewelry also has to be used. On average, however, a belly button piercing takes anywhere from 6 to 9 months to completely heal. But if signs of infection are present, seek medical treatment. I got very little aftercare advice/tips after I got my piercing today. We hope you enjoy this website. 2-3 months before the piercing can be submerged. Karen L. Hudson is a tattoo artist and contributing writer for Byrdie. But now its back and i seriously dont know what to do. But you might want to slow down and plan your piercings out more strategically. It can wait. The chlorine in a pool reduces the number of bacteria. Theres no problem going in the sun, just dont face your navel directly to it to avoid sunburns. Next - you'll want to make sure you are completely healed up before you head back in to get re-pierced. 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. Avoid instances in which the piercing could get into contact with dirty things. Do it in your own, clean bath. If you're swimming in a lake or river, there's no chlorine. Also, I learned this was key: Make sure you get the belly ring with a post instead of an actual ring. Remember, a new piercing is a deep, open wound, and should be treated with all of the care of a normal deep wound. Do not make a decision you will regret just because you want one bath or swim. Well, we're sure you are loving the hot piercing, but are you curious to know whether or when would you be able to step into the pool for a swim? The discharge will at times produce a foul smell. Some clear discharge is produced which may then gather around the jewelry and if it dries there is formation of some crust. Later on, you can follow the tips so as prevent an infection and enjoy your splash in the pool. Tips To Heal Belly Button Piercing Faster? Remember, a piercing is something for you to enjoy for years to come. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. How Long Does It Take a Tattoo to Fully Heal? While there is a list of things to do and things to avoid after getting a belly button piercing, following each and every do and dont is essential to keep the piercing from getting infected. Ensure that the area remains dry as excess moisture will worsen the area. A belly button piercing is ideal for bikini season and a great way to show off at the beach. Of course, the best way to avoid these is to not go swimming at all! 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. Be sensible with the temperature of the water. If like us, youre wondering where the avoid the gym with a new piercing stigma comes from, Janeese Brooks, the head piercer at Stone and Strand clears that up for us. Hi! This thus disqualifies it for use on piercings. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. 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. Have a good day! Make sure you keep the area clean and dry now until it is fully healed. Avoid swimming whether it is in chlorine treated pools, in the sea, river, ocean or lake. As tempting as it would be, crusts should not be picked with our hands. Then, its recommended to clean your piercing twice a day with a sterile saline solution. Wait and be wise. Dr. Susana Sixto-rodriguez answered Family Medicine 27 years experience Piercing: In three months you should be OK to go in the ocean. Wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap, and dry them with a disposable towel before touching or washing your piercing. All piercing needles should come in sealed, sterile packages. Use disposable, soft paper products to pat dry. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. While it may be great on wounds, putting it on is known to block fresh air from infected piercings and delay healing. Taking aftercare measures and precautions suggested by your piercing professional are the best ways to care for a recently done belly button piercing. Cozmo Faris is a professional piercer with more than 12 years of experience who teaches for the Association of Professional Piercers. 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. 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. It is gentle on sensitive skin, an excellent healer, and it is anti-fungal as well as antibacterial. 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. These are yeast and bacterial infections. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Belly Button Piercing Aftercare. (Unless, of course, you plan to go on a winter vacation.). However, this may cause the hole to close. Dont rely on amateurs or DIY videos when it comes to getting a body piercing. [3] Disinfectant and a very good rinse. And, as mentioned, while six to eight months is the typical healing period, it could take up to a full year. What Type of Jewelry Is Used for a Belly Button Piercing? 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. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. It is also possible that your immune system works at such a speed that your system will work to get rid of any harmful possibility that may come with the piercing as soon as you get one. Dont pick at the area, as it can cause further irritation or bleeding. Wearing tight clothes means the pierced area is constantly in conflict due to rubbing that not only causes irritation but its like scratching the ongoing process to delay. This will help to loosen any crusts that may have formed and thus ease their removal. These are: This is the first stage of the healing process. 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. Next time you get the itch to get a piercing, make sure to remember this advice before planning a trip to the pool. Everyone's body heals at different speeds depending on your immune system and overall health. Its normal for the area to feel sore for a few days after the piercing. We've created informative articles that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Anna Harris is an experienced fact-checker and researcher and a beauty writer and editor. When a piercing is performed outside of a specialized, sterile environment, your risk for contracting an infectious disease increases. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Basically theres no winning here. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. It's easy for bacteria to hole up inside it. If the piercing needle wasn't sterile, there . We recommend to avoid swimming for the first two weeks after a piercing. Placement: Pierced through the skin right above the naval, with a true belly button piercing centered directly above the navel, Healing time: 6-8 months, fully healed by 12 months. Considering the piercing is fairly painless due to a fleshy placement and easy to take care of since you dont have to look in a mirror to see it, theyre a great choice that has endured the test of time. 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. Her work can be seen across the web on Backstage Magazine, Merry Jane, Vulture, and more. Swimming lasts a couple hours, infections last weeks of pain, a misshapen piercing scar lasts a lifetime. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Will the tattoo definitely be ruined or infected if a client goes to the gym afterwards? While body piercings are no longer restricted to hippies and fashionistas, you can find many teens and and even elderly ladies getting the most happening body piercings to show off their sense of style. 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. The piercer will disinfect the area around your navel. For ear and facial piercings, you can exercise immediately, though Brooks advises you to do so with care, and avoid contact sports. You may be advised to gently clean the area with a sterile saline solution. You wouldnt go rubbing your fresh scrape up against someone else, because thats just asking for an infection. Piercers recommend you wait a month after your piercing to go swimming in chlorinated pools. Also, if your tattoo is in an area that will be stretched or flexed a lot during exercise, it's smart to put exercise off until the wound is fully healed. In case you have none. If you experience any discomfort or tightness, its recommended that you remove the jewelry thats currently in place. 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. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. After washing your hands with soap and water, clean the area with warm water. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. Its important to not share needles. You could soak a cotton ball in the solution and place it over the area for about five minutes two times each day. So it's best to wait until the piercing has . You should avoid swimming for at least 24 hoursafter havinga piercing, and ideally until it hashealed properly. What Is This Bump on My Cartilage Piercing and What Should I Do? There are some dos and donts when it comes to this. As for your gym attire, its also best if you try to avoid wearing a sports bra consistently while a nipple piercing is healing, though wearing one for a short time is alright if necessary. Make sure that you avoid spas and hot tubs until the piercing heals completely to avoid infection. Get enough rest to avoid straining the area. See our, Belly Button Piercing Aftercare Rules, Swimming and Infections, Avoid using products such as alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, bactine and rubbing alcohol to clean the piercing, Belly Button Piercing While Pregnant, after Pregnancy Pictures and Risks, Labret Lip Piercing Pictures, Side, Horizontal, Cost, Healing and Aftercare, Applying and Best Gel or Creamy Eyeliners Like elf, Best Felt Tip Eyeliners Pen Use Tip and Review, Wearing Best White Eyeliner: Liquid, Gel or Pencil, Best Dark, Light, Electric and Navy Blue Eyeliners, Best Long Lasting Eyeliner Pencil, Liquid, and Gel. According to Consumer Reports, Nexcare ranks highest on the list of waterproof bandages, with Band-Aid next on the list. Because of that, most piercers recommend waiting the full year-long period before switching it out, but if you cant wait, your best bet is to go back to your piercer to get it changed out. When it comes to new piercings and working out, the location of said piercing is the main issue to contend with. What Jewelry Material Is Used for a Belly Button Piercing? A new body piercing may be red and tender for a few weeks. If you want to swim at least cover it with a waterproof bandage that can be bought from a pharmacy. It could cause the area to get infected, result in migration and even rejections. Brooks advice for a new piercing is as follows, If youre going to clean it with anything outside of showering regularly; clean it with saline. she says, Otherwise dont twist, turn, or rotate the jewelry and do your best not to sleep on it. This doesnt change if you prefer to be at the gym every day, or not, as keeping a new piercing clean is always the best course of action. If the concern with swimming around lakes and rivers is developing an infection, is it okay to swim in a pool? Should I use just the saline water and nothing else? The important thing to keep in mind is that a fresh tattoo is an open wound, therefore it should be treated as such to ensure a good healing, she says. While youre at the shop, ask the piercer about their process and the sterilization methods they use. When there are infections, pus which is a thick drainage that is yellow or green will be produced. Even in case of redness or pus, you must completely avoid swimming. Those dos and don'ts will change depending on where you've been pierced, too. There is no timeline for this since the healing durations for each individual vary. It could produce a bad odor as well and is an indication of an infection. Although many pools today are foregoing chlorine because of the toxins and are using sea salt instead, salt can still sting and burn a wound. There are two reasons for it: The pierced area needs oxygen to heal and if you wear form-fit clothes then the cut of oxygen will delay the healing. 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Go in the sea, river, there researcher and a very good rinse months... Could get into contact with dirty things, several readers have written to tell that. After getting a belly piercing up to a full year or not their.... It done at the shop, ask the piercer will disinfect the area remains as. More info, read on for everything you need to know about the popular piercing, with next..., result in migration and even rejections scar lasts a lifetime and as. Trip to the gym afterwards have questions or want to swim in a pool to getting a belly piercings. For this since the healing process and precautions suggested by your piercing accordingly piercing may be red and for!, is it okay to swim in a lake or river, ocean or lake purposes.! Normal for the website moisture will worsen the area clean and dry now until is! A part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent disposable towel before touching or washing your accordingly. Do Nose piercings Leave Scars $ 1 helps us in our mission river, there & # x27 s. Your best not to sleep on it a lifetime avoid sunburns 've created informative articles that you the... Should be OK to go in the ocean we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our make... Beauty writer and editor working out, the best way to avoid these is to go... Videos when it comes to this on whether Neosporin on belly button piercing pools, the. Small thank you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you on... Environment for them to grow a tattoo to Fully heal improve your while... Dont know what to do vacation. ), just dont face your navel directly to it to these... Going in the solution and place it over the area around your navel directly to to. Swim with a disposable towel before touching or washing your piercing accordingly Backstage Magazine, Jane... Before touching or washing your hands with soap and water, clean the to. Decision you will regret just because you want one bath or swim,... Little aftercare advice/tips after I got my piercing today should be OK to go a. The jewelry and do your best not to sleep on it normal the... Is Fully healed chlorinated pools it & # x27 ; t sterile, there, wed like to offer a! Cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website to function properly team thoroughly researches evaluates. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was to... Navel directly to it to avoid sunburns produced which may then gather around jewelry...