Bacterial infection: as already mentioned, bacteria are the most common culprit.. All kinds of substances (sweat, lint, residues of cosmetic products) give the bacteria “food” for growth.Brown or yellow belly button discharge is a common symptom of a bacterial problem. The initial piercing can lead to scarring, bruising, and…. Injuries. How do they work and are they effective? Caring for the piercing as if it were any other sort of wound can significantly lower the risk of infection. 5. While itching can be caused by foreign irritants such as belly button lint, contact dermatitis and bruising, if the piercing is still not healed yet it starts to itch, an infection is likely to have occurred. This usually involves washing the piercing regularly and touching it only with clean hands. Belly button piercings are one of the most popular forms of body art. Although many people don't have any problems after they get a body piercing, you could have:. Doctors from the National Health Service in the United Kingdom say that you should keep the belly button piercing germ-free by gently cleaning it with a salt water solution 2-3 times a day. An entry from 2011 in BMJ Case Reports describes damage to the intestines that had been caused by a belly button piercing and resulted in death. A warm saline solution is also the recommended treatment to prevent a belly button piercing infection. © 2004-2020 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. It may not be advisable to get a piercing: It may be a good idea to go to a member of the Association of Professional Piercers, an organization that requires members to practice safe piercing and provides related education. Belly Button Infection Symptoms. The Association of Professional Piercers recommend using metals, such as surgical steel, titanium, or nickel-free gold, that are less likely to cause reactions. These cysts are easily infected upon scratching. Then use a cotton swab and your cleaning solution to gently wipe the area around your belly button and the ring. The piercer is registered with the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). If the belly button becomes infected, a person should see a doctor for advice and prescribe medication if needed. An infected navel piercing can easily be determined via the following signs and symptoms: Redness or tenderness is common after piercing your belly button, if this persists for longer than a couple of weeks, then it may be an infection. If you have a belly button piercing, your belly button needs extra attention. But, some individuals also claim that the navel piercing nor… Piercing. Belly button piercing is beautiful, but unfortunately it requires good piercing techniques, high standards of hygiene and best aftercare for effective healing. For example, if the piercing gets caught on pants or belt buckles. The piercing process itself can transmit blood-borne infections, such as HIV and hepatitis B and C. The risk is greater when piercing equipment and jewelry are not sterile, especially when the piercing needles have been shared. Allergies to the metal in body jewelry are common. Botox is often used to reduce the appearance. Piercing is one of the oldest and most practiced forms of body modification. Clay face masks have been used for hundreds of years to improve skin health. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any significant signs of infection, especially a fever or nausea. What's normal for a new piercing. Infected navel piercing can become chronic if not properly addressed. What to Do with an Infected Belly Button Piercing 1. The use of sea salt solution is the cheapest and most convenient way of ensuring a clean belly button piercing. An infection may need medical treatment, and antibiotics are usually effective. Continued Belly Button Piercing Risks. Here’s what to expect during the healing process. How to prevent a tragus piercing becoming infected, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT. These injuries increase the chance of infection. Fortunately, there are several ways to add more shine and natural luster to your hair. Avoid using alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or harsh soaps. Remember, piercings are open wounds that need to be kept clean. Allergies to the metal in body jewelry are common. Follow the piercer’s instructions about keeping the piercing clean. Sebaceous Cysts: The formation of a sebaceous cyst in your belly button may also lead to an infection. When clothing or other objects catch on navel jewelry, it can injure and tear the skin. It can take as long as six weeks to two years for a belly button piercing to heal completely. Allowing the hole to close may trap the infection inside of your body, causing an abscess to form. This makes belly button piercings more prone to infection than piercings in other areas. When a piercing is new, it’s normal to see some swelling, redness, or discoloration around the site. They’re generally safe if a professional does the piercing with the right needle in a clean environment. What Does the Microblading Healing Process Look and Feel Like? You may also have some clear discharge that dries and forms a crystal-like crust around the piercing. Woke up with a golf ball sized swollen belly button piercing infection!! Diluted raw unprocessed apple cider vinegar can be used as an antibacterial rinse to help reduce signs of infection around the belly button piercing. The two types of belly button infections are bacterial infections, caused by a piercing or a scratch during cleaning, and yeast infections. Belly button infections usually … All rights reserved. Allergic reactions usually begin as soon as a person inserts the jewelry into the piercing. Do not allow anyone to touch or kiss the piercing until it heals completely. How to treat and prevent an infected ear piercing, intense pain or a burning sensation at the site, bright red skin around the piercing, or red streaks coming from it, discharge, which may smell bad, from the piercing, they have a disease that weakens the immune system, the piercing site has sustained an injury, the piercing site shows signs of redness and warmth, or there are red streaks on the skin, an allergic reaction did not resolve after taking out the piercing, symptoms of infection are getting worse, or there are new symptoms, wash the hands before touching the piercing, cleanse the area with a piercing cleaning solution, avoid removing the piercing unless a doctor suggests doing so. This makes the belly button piercing more prone to the infection than piercings in other areas. Using an antibacterial cream — not an ointment — often clears up minor infections. As a matter of fact, the belly button is the most perfect for microbial growth due to its features of being dark, warm and moist. This is key for achieving optimal results. This can help the pus drain and cause the swelling to go down. For the first few weeks a new piercing might: be tender, itchy, and the surrounding area may look slightly red on white skin, or a little darker than usual on dark skin A piercing is an injury to the skin that takes time to heal. However, the person had pierced themselves, and the authors described the piercing as very unusual. They also suggest using smooth jewelry, free from bumps or nicks that might irritate the skin. if a person has a condition that weakens the immune system, if a person has a history of infected piercings. Allergies to the metal in body jewelry are common. Jewelry containing nickel is especially likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Some people report that a…, A look at infected tragus piercings, a condition where a small part of the ear develops an infection. Cleaning your piercing is important, both to prevent and treat an infection. The symptoms of an infection are redness, itching, and swelling. Doctors achieve facial contouring by targeting the masseter muscles…, Dull hair can be caused by many factors. For example, piercing jewelry made of nickel is known to cause allergic reactions in susceptible people. Keep the piercing hole open. Two of the most common complications are bacterial infections and allergic reactions. Get immediate medical help if you think your piercing is infected. While your belly button piercing heals, it’s important to avoid physically irritating the area.Additionally, preventing infection is vital to minimizing the amount of irritation associated with your piercing. Constant or regular touching on the belly button also causes infection. A yeast infection in the belly button occurs as a result of overgrowth of yeasts that leads to symptoms like redness, swelling and discharge. See a doctor about the injury and consult a professional piercer to see if the piercing requires redoing. If our hands are dirty, then it might increase the risk of bacteria or fungi to develop in our belly button and that causes infection. Navel piercing rejection and scaring can easily follow. Do not remove the jewelry, especially if … Usually, the red skin around the piercing could indicate an infection. A rash, redness, peeling, or irritation could stem from a preexisting skin disorder. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. The tongue, lips, nose, eyebrows, nipples, navel, … This practice has expanded to many different areas of the body, including the belly button.. Symptoms can include pain, redness, and swelling, and improving hygiene can help. Even minor infections can get worse without treatment. A belly button discharge can mean so many things. If you don’t have an allergy with over-the-counter antibiotic cream, you can carefully clean the piercing site, and then follow the directions on the container. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Choose a licensed piercer who sterilizes equipment and never reuses needles. a pierced hole that looks larger than before. Keeping the piercing hole open allows pus to drain. Here’s our process. After your initial microblading session, your skin should heal in 25 to 30 days. A doctor can usually diagnose an infection by looking at the piercing. How to tell if you’re allergic to the metal, Undereye Tear Trough Filler: What You Should Know, All About Buccal Fat Removal for Thinner Cheeks. Sebaceous cysts: a sebaceous cyst forming in the belly button region could also contribute to infection, pain or swelling. An infected belly button piercing can be treated through the following interventions: If the piercing manifests only minor signs of infection, cleansing using alcohol is usually done. Anyone who is unsure whether their piercing conditions were sterile should consider being tested for these infections. Pain and swelling right after a piercing are common. An infection can spread from a piercing throughout the body. Bacterial Infection: Sweat, lint, or residues of cosmetic products can lead to bacterial growth and infection in the belly button.If you notice a brown or yellow discharge from your belly button, it is an indication of a bacterial infection. Use only high-quality, piercing-grade jewelry. In this article, learn how to recognize an infection, as well as how to treat it. The Risks of Getting a Belly Button Piercing. Infection can be very harmful to the entire health, instead of merely the belly button area. Learn more about the procedure, potential side…. If a person suddenly experiences new symptoms, especially after a period of few or no symptoms, this can signal an infection. Wash your belly button regularly, and you’ll reduce your odds of infection. Sometimes, pain and irritation close to a piercing result from a skin condition, such as eczema or psoriasis. Signs and symptoms of infection. A lot of people forget to do this, which can cause an infection. Last medically reviewed on October 31, 2018, Even with the best aftercare, a bump may form around a nose piercing. A doctor may recommend removing the jewelry and allowing the piercing to close, or replacing low-quality jewelry with some made from a metal less likely to irritate the skin. If your belly button remains swollen, and the swelling does not subside, it may indicate an infection. Causes of belly button piercing irritation Allergic reactions. Belly button Piercing Infection Causes. The overgrowth of these micro-organisms can cause belly button infections having symptoms like swelling, redness, itching and pain. Cleaning your piercing is important, both to prevent and treat … Alcohol is a disinfectant that kills microorganisms that may cause infection; it also induces drying to prevent bacterial growth. If symptoms, such as pain, steadily improve, the piercing is probably healing normally. An infected piercing can be serious if it's not treated quickly. Last medically reviewed on August 14, 2017, A tracheal shave is a facial feminization surgery that's used to reduce the size of the Adam’s apple. To prevent and treat an infection, you should clean your belly-button piercing with warm water and soap twice daily. When clothing or other objects catch on navel jewelry, it can injure and tear the skin. A serious piercing infection can spread to other areas of the body. Issues other than infection can cause pain or discomfort around a belly button piercing. The reaction may be intense, involving a painful rash or swelling, or it may be minor but grow steadily worse. Tear trough fillers may be an option if you’re looking to reduce the deep creases under your eyes. How Clay Masks May Benefit the Health of Your Skin and Hair, How Botox Can Help Get Rid of Bunny Lines, red lines that radiate from the piercing site. Unsanitary conditions and poor aftercare are the leading causes of bacterial infections after piercings. Clean the piercing. Always choose a safe piercer. Do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as these can dry out your skin and irritate the area around the piercing. All rights reserved. Infection. You could also use either one of these cleansing methods alone. If a piercing becomes infected, see a doctor as soon as possible for quick relief. The most important aspect of preventing and treating infection in a belly button piercing is thorough cleaning. Allergic reactions. The trend of body piercing at sites other than the earlobe has grown in popularity in the past decade. If you get Botox injections, you’ll need to follow the best practices for Botox aftercare. Consider asking a doctor for a referral to a reliable piercer. As of April 2013, 83% of the Americans had their earlobes pierced, while 14% have body piercings done on parts other than the ear lobes. You can buy over-the-counter antibacterial cream, such as Neosporin, but there is a risk for allergic irritation of the skin with this type of product. A person’s immune system may be weak if they have, diabetes, HIV, AIDS, another chronic illness, or if they are taking chemotherapy. Use a saltwater mixture (1/2 teaspoon sea salt per 1 cup of water) to help remove any dried healing secretions followed by a gentle, mild antibacterial soap and water cleansing. While urachal cysts are the main cause of drainage from navels, causes relating to your piercing may include thrush, yeast infections and bacterial infections. Body Piercing as A Source of Belly Button Infections One of the most common reasons for belly button infections is body, particularly navel, piercing. However, the doctor may also need to take blood tests or a sample of the skin. It is normally the case that the clamps are a bit more painful than use of the actual needle penetration. Causes of belly button piercing irritation. non-life-threatening). They can also change the shape of the piercing or cause it to heal incorrectly. What Does Paraben-Free Mean in Beauty Products? Ointments are greasy and may block oxygen from getting to the wound, complicating the healing process. Excellent piercing care can help prevent infection. In some cases, the infection can cause life-threatening complications. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. A person should see a doctor within 24 hours if: A person may be able to treat a minor infection at home. During that time, you’re at risk for infection. 2. See a doctor about any new or unusual symptoms, as the cause can be difficult to identify. Experts recommend cleaning a piercing no more than twice each day. Wet a compress, such as a warm washcloth, with your cleaning solution. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Wet a washcloth with a saltwater solution and gently dab it on the piercing. The doctor can usually diagnose the cause of irritation after performing an examination and taking a complete medical history. My belly button is infected and here I'm giving tips on how to take care of and clean it. Pat the area dry with a clean towel. Issues other than infection can cause pain or discomfort around a belly button piercing. Belly button … Place a warm compress on the infected piercing. The piercing, which creates an open wound, allows all types of bacteria to make their way inside the body. Before you touch the piercing or piercing site, wash your hands thoroughly. It can be challenging to keep a belly button piercing clean and irritation-free, especially when there tends to be friction from clothing. Allergic reactions happen if you’re allergic to the type of metal being used. Regardless of the type of infection, the treatment is quite similar. But there are instances in which they can be lethal. Learn more about the procedure…. Most infections of the belly button are minor (a.k.a. Factors that can make you susceptible to belly button infection include; diabetes, navel piercing, obesity, excessive exposure to harmful UV rays, and sebaceous cyst. Some signs of an infected belly button piercing include: Distinguishing between signs of infection and regular healing can be difficult. But in general, discharge is a symptom of belly button piercing infection. The Belly button is a favorable environment for the growth of several microbes. USE HEADPHONES. Gently dry the area with a clean towel after using the wet cloth. Hey guys. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional, Causes of belly button piercing irritation, COVID-19 vaccine: Low-income countries lose out to wealthy countries, COVID-19 live updates: Total number of cases passes 74.9 million, Immune cells in the brain may help prevent seizures. How to Treat an Infected Belly Button Piercing. 8. Even an injury to an old piercing may lead to infection. They may carry some harmful health effects. Trying basic home…. The piercer should take their time and wear gloves while placing the piercing. Ear piercings are prone to infection, especially when they are new. The dark, warm environment in your belly button is a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria, which can occasionally lead to infections. Receiving prompt treatment can increase the likelihood that the piercing heals properly and does not require removal. In the meantime, a piercing is technically a healing wound, and it may be sore, red, or irritated. Bunny lines are the diagonal wrinkles that appear on either side of your nose. Paraben-free beauty products are ones free of certain chemicals that act as preservatives. Metals that are safe for body piercings include: If you suspect an infection, don’t remove the jewelry on your own, unless your doctor tells you to do so. Most piercings don’t need to be removed to treat infections. Itchy belly button piercing; Itching is one sign of either a fungal infection or an allergic reaction. Anyone with a weakened immune system should talk to a doctor before getting a piercing and immediately seek medical care for any signs of infection. Getting a belly button piercing … In addition to smoothing wrinkles, Botox can be used to slim and contour the face. Bacterial infections arise when bacteria from dirt or foreign objects get into the open piercing while it’s still healing. What is the risk of infection with a nipple piercing? Switch to a milder soap if you notice red bumps around the navel area and experience tenderness. If you suspect an infection, don’t remove the jewelry on your own, unless your doctor... 2. Knowing how to clean a navel piercing is the best way to prevent and treat any belly button piercing infection. The procedure involves injecting hyaluronic acid…, Buccal fat removal is a procedure that removes the buccal fat pads in your cheeks. Common symptoms of belly button infections include; pain, pus-like discharge, and redness. These symptoms should get better over time, not worse. See a doctor about any new or unusual symptoms, as the cause can be difficult to identify. But in general, discharge is a symptom of belly button piercing infection. Healing Belly Button Piercing While urachal cysts are the main cause of drainage from navels, causes relating to your piercing may include thrush, yeast infections and bacterial infections. Your doctor may need to prescribe an antibiotic cream such as mupirocin (Bactroban) or an oral antibiotic. We include products we think are useful for our readers. You can develop an infection no matter how long you’ve had that extra hole. Apple cider vinegar has shown to have antibacterial properties against Pseudomonas strains of bacteria and its low pH level can help to reduce itchiness and redness around the navel piercing wound. Especially likely to trigger an allergic reaction or nicks that might irritate the area around your belly button piercing itching... In addition to smoothing wrinkles, Botox can be challenging to keep a belly button piercing is probably normally! 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