Belly button ring infection

An infected piercing can be serious. The area around your piercing may be painful, swollen, red, and hot. You may see red streaks or pus at the piercing site.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Belly button or naval piercings can take longer to heal. Knowing what to expect can help you avoid complications. Piercing is one of the oldest and most practiced forms of body modification. This practice has expanded to many different areas of the body, including the belly button.

Belly button ring infection

Bacteria can infect a belly button piercing before healing is complete. Symptoms can include pain, discoloration, and swelling. Improving hygiene and using antibiotic ointment can help. Complete healing can take 9—12 months. In the meantime, a piercing is technically a healing wound, and it may be sore, red, or irritated. Intense pain, swelling, or a fever , however, can indicate a severe infection. It can be challenging to keep a belly button piercing clean and irritation-free, especially when there tends to be friction from clothing. This makes belly button piercings more prone to infection than piercings in other areas. Distinguishing between signs of infection and regular healing can be difficult. Pain and swelling right after a piercing are common. It is important to monitor how symptoms change. If symptoms, such as pain, steadily improve, the piercing is probably healing normally.

Apply an antibacterial cream.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Belly button piercings are popular and generally safe with proper precautions. However, incorrect aftercare or unsanitary conditions can lead to bacterial infections.

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Belly button piercings are popular and generally safe with proper precautions. However, incorrect aftercare or unsanitary conditions can lead to bacterial infections. It can take from 9 months to 1 year for a belly button piercing to heal completely. Even an injury to an old piercing may lead to infection.

Belly button ring infection

Belly button piercings are a popular way to modify your body and show off your personal style, but they come with the risk of infection. Infected belly button piercings can be painful, unsightly, and dangerous if left untreated. That's why it's best to take good care of your piercing to prevent infection in the first place. If your belly button is freshly pierced, it's normal to experience some redness and swelling around the piercing, says Howard Sobel MD , board-certified dermatologist at Sobel Skin and Clinical Attending Dermatologic Surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital. However, if the swelling becomes severe and is accompanied by pain that feels like soreness, this may be a sign of infection, Sobel says. Other symptoms that signal you may have an infection include:. To treat an infected belly button piercing, it's important to keep the piercing in.

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The symptoms of an infection can include:. What are the signs? Belly button piercings take months to heal completely, and your piercing could close up quickly if you remove the jewelry. Amongst all piercings, the belly takes the longest to heal. Get the details on stick poke tattoos, including why you may want to skip the DIY versions. Clean the piercing. Related Coverage. Apply an antibacterial cream. Follow with a mild antibacterial soap and water cleansing. About MyHealth. Share this article. We avoid using tertiary references. How to prevent a tragus piercing becoming infected.

Last Updated: June 7, Fact Checked.

It is not advisable to bend or squat when your piercing is brand new. We include products we think are useful for our readers. A rash, redness, peeling, or irritation could stem from a preexisting skin disorder. Cleaning your piercing is important, both to prevent and treat an infection. Metal can cause other problems, too, including complications with specific medical procedures, such as magnetic resonance imaging MRI and surgery. Remember not to rub or scrub at your piercing since this can dislodge new skin and slow healing. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Read preview. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Epidemiol Infect. To avoid an infected piercing, clean it twice a day, avoid tight-fitting clothes, and soak the area daily. Skin disorders like sensitivities, allergies, scarring disorders , and eczema can complicate healing with piercings. How we vet brands and products Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Your bellybutton may bleed because of infection or other conditions. Ear piercings are prone to infection, especially when they are new.