By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Once the hole has been made, they may use forceps to hold the area of skin taut while they insert the jewelry. In my studio, we usually charge 40 euros [or $40 USD] with a basic titanium internal threaded piercing, says Claudia Valentini, a Barcelona-based body piercer. This is because piercings can be susceptible to infection, and hot tubs and baths can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. Figueroa says her advice is a recommendation, and its ultimately up to the client to follow it or not. Its a super quick process which makes it very manageable.. I did tried neosporin but like you said it didnt work. Eat healthy and ensure your meals are balanced. She has worked in digital media for over five years and is an expert on a range of topics, including tattoos, piercings, and culture. Natural oils like lavender oil and tea tree oil are also known to benefit. You can afford to skip one bath or swimming session to protect that. This fluid may form a crusty material. It's best to wait at least a month, but preferably 2-3 months. ", "The tip that showering was best, instead of bathing, helped.". Get enough rest to avoid straining the area. So what can you do If you just can't stay out of the pool? Once any discharge has softened, you can clean it with a cotton bud or piece of gauze. It is therefore necessary to know how to take care of the piercing. Aftercare: Wash the piercing two times a day with a sterile saline solution and pat dry with a paper towel. Thoroughly rinse afterward. 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. 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. Placement: Pierced through the skin right above the naval, with a true belly button piercing centered directly above the navel. (As always, this is only a minimum time, and you should have a piercer take a look to confirm that it has fully healed before stopping aftercare practices.) Ensure that you know how to swim with a belly button piercing to avoid infections. The right choice of jewelry and how professional the piercer is also affect how long it takes for the piercing to heal. After the piercing channel has been sealed, it matures. Because youre ultimately dealing with a raw wound, it needs to be protected at all costs. Though sweat doesnt irritate a new piercing, it can still introduce germs and bacteria. Be sure to wash your hands before cleaning your piercing site. If you do need help or have questions, a reputable piercer is always willing to help you out, notes Outland. If you decide you want to get a better or different piece of jewelry, youre most likely going to have to pay more. 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. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). How to Swim? If you're looking for a quick answer, then no, you should not swim after getting a piercing. These cookies do not store any personal information. We've got the details on its benefits and how to use it. Enjoy! Be sure to wash your hands before cleaning, and dont rotate the piercing! On average, however, you can expect a belly button piercing to run between $30 and $75. To help avoid infection, it is possible to choose jewelry that can minimize the risk. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Change the towels and bedding at least once every week. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Infections in the belly button are common. 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. Everyone heals differently, so they may provide you a range. Cartilage piercings heal from the outside in, which means that they may look healed on the outside long before the process is truly done. so ideally, you should not swim for 6 months to let it heal to 60 to 100%. Be clean. This will help to loosen any crusts that may have formed and thus ease their removal. An infection can be painful, cause scarring, and increase healing times. Don't fiddle with your piercings. 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. Jewelry for initial piercings. Then, its recommended to clean your piercing twice a day with a sterile saline solution. When cleaning it, handle the area gently. During this time, the piercing goes through three stages of healing. You shouldn't need anything else to clean your piercing. 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. In Swimming: Weird Things Asked About Swimming? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'outdoorfavor_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',672,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorfavor_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); There may be some times when its necessary to expose your piercing to water, like taking a shower. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 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. Never go swimming after a new piercing. Skimping on the material can lead to undue irritation or infection. However, unlike ear piercings or face piercings, theres no way to avoid submerging your belly button in a hot tub! Due to its placement, the navel piercing takes a minimum of 6 - 9 months to heal. 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. Approved. Once you get out of the bath, lightly pat your piercing dry and immediately rinse the area out with sea salt water. These are: This is the first stage of the healing process. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Please wear clean clothing that has a soft-to-skin fabric when you got a belly button piercing. 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. Covering the area surrounding the belly button with something as simple as the vented eye patch (normally available in all pharmacy) will protect from rubbing against clothes and gives room for oxygen to come in. A belly button piercing will most likely take anywhere from six months to a year to fully heal depending on how you care for it and your day-to-day lifestyle; however, the most common time frame is between six and eight months Regardless, its important to check with your piercer when you believe its healed before stopping aftercareif it's still healing, the site could become infected. Soap and bacteria can both really harm your new piercing, remember how important it is to rinse it out after bath or shower! You can effectively change out a belly button piercing yourself, but you have to be completely sure that your piercing is fully healed before doing so. If you must swim, we recommend covering your piercing with a waterproof Band-Aid. I got very little aftercare advice/tips after I got my piercing today. Taking a bath with a new piercing is best avoided, if possible; showering is safer and easier. You'll most likely find 14- and 16-gauge offered for this style, which hugs the navel and lays outward, so the side of the ring is showing. 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. For some, this may be as long as 12 months. This allows the jewelry to hang slightly over the belly button to essentially highlight itself. Do it in your own, clean bath. Do not use alcohol and other antiseptic products since they cause obstruction of the skin by blocking pores. This thus disqualifies it for use on piercings. 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. If the shop uses piercing guns, cancel any appointment you may have made. Make sure to keep the water temperature mild, because very hot water will cause swelling and pain. The piercing could secrete fluids that crust around the belly button piercing. In case you have none. Well, once you get the hot navel piercing done, aftercare cant be ignored. But the more the aftercare deviates from the recommendations of the artist the lesser the chances of having an easy and successful healing process, she says. The piercing should be cleaned no more than is necessary to keep it clean, as over-cleaning can irritate the skin and delay healing. 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. How else can you protect your new piercing from water and infection? Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! If you experience any discomfort or tightness, its recommended that you remove the jewelry thats currently in place. But if signs of infection are present, seek medical treatment. Choosing to get a piercing is a big decision that requires a lot of aftercare. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. 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. 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. If swimming is inevitable, I warn clients that chlorine will hurt their piercings and they will need to shower immediately after to rinse the chemical off the recently pierced area, Brooks says. As the infection advances, the infected area will become swollen. For example, say you just got a new calf tattoo and want to go for a run. 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. The Answer May Surprise You. But, make sure that you dont forget to follow the instructions mentioned below before stepping inside the pool. Soaking the area with saline solution should go on even when the area seems healed. Its also important to avoid soaking your new belly button piercing in anything but a sterile saline solution until its healed; bodies of water both big and small like baths, the ocean, or a pool may harbor bacteria and cause infection. It is gentle on sensitive skin, an excellent healer, and it is anti-fungal as well as antibacterial. That means spending some extra time in the shower letting the water run on the piercing or sticking it under the faucet. Is it okay to apply it to new piercings to avoid infections? Healing time: 6-8 months, fully healed by 12 months. 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. To clean the piercing, rinse the area with saline solution. Dont pick at the area, as it can cause further irritation or bleeding. Try pure aloe gel for new piercings. Want to Know How to Hide Ear Piercings? Page last reviewed: 8 October 2021 Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. During this time, the piercing goes through three stages of healing. If you still want to swim before the healing period is over then please at least get a waterproof bandage from any pharmacy to cover your navel piercing. If the customer chooses another option, we charge [for] the jewelry.. You can do this yourself with clean hands, or have it done at the shop where you got pierced. (Fun To Read!). She has been an amateur artist as a hobby since grade school, and served a 12 month tattoo apprenticeship in a tattoo studio. Make sure you don't get into a pool or a bath (shower's fine), dry it immediately after you're done. Here's a breakdown so you can plan your piercing accordingly. That makes the cold-weather months a great time to be spontaneous. In case you are wondering how long to swim with a new piercing forget that for a while. If you've got a new piercing, you know how important it is to keep it clean and healthy. Copyright Thoughtful Tattoos & Buzzle.com, Inc. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Anna Harris is an experienced fact-checker and researcher and a beauty writer and editor. (For Beach Lovers). At times, there may be movement from stage three to stage two for a number of times before it heals. 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. Avoid swimming whether it is in chlorine treated pools, in the sea, river, ocean or lake. "Piercings heal on the outside first and then on the inside," Koox Diving states. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We may earn a commission when you purchase via links on this page. I have had my belly piercing for about 4-5 months now. When an infection occurs, do not be tempted to remove the jewelry. Heres what to do if your body rejects the piercing. By the time this phase comes to an end, the piercing is considered almost healed. It should be clean, well-lit, and fully licensed. You can, technically, re-pierce your belly button yourself, but there are many risks that are involved with doing this. According to our experts, its best to adhere to the recommended healing time for tattoos and piercings before submerging in either chlorine or seawater, with natural bodies of water actually carrying the higher risk of infection. Since there could be irritation to cleansing products, ensure that a very mild cleanser is used. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is recommended to avoid swimming with a new belly button piercing, and hence, three weeks is the duration that you need to consider as the time to strictly stay away from the pool. This means that it will take time before swimming after you have had a belly button piercing. Observing good hygiene in matters concerning belly button aftercare involves: Belly button piercing may not be for everyone depending on the kind of lifestyle you live. Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This information helped. Taking care of your general health can help you heal faster and reduce your risk for developing complications. 2015 Jan; 11(1):142-43. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2014.10.004, What to Know Before Getting a Forward Helix Piercing, The Complete Guide to Industrial Bar Piercings, Dermal Piercings: Everything You Should Know Before You Commit, Hip Piercings: Everything You Need to Know, What to Know Before Getting Your First Snug Piercing, The Complete Guide to Getting a Septum Piercing, How to Treat Infected Ear Piercings, According to Derms, Considering a Daith Piercing? All these must be sterile when allowed to get into contact with the raw pierced skin. Doing so increases your risk for bloodborne disease. 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. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. To emphasize, it's important that you shower and clean the piercing well after your workout is complete. Submerging your piercing in water can put you at risk of developing an infection in your new belly button piercing. If youre still interested in a belly button piercing, the best place to start is to find a licensed, experienced piercer who will work with your anatomy to give you the best piercing. Should I use just the saline water and nothing else? 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Be sensible with the temperature of the water. Avoid straining the area and get enough rest. Association of Professional Piercers. If you have body hair around your navel, they may remove this with a new disposable razor. While it may be great on wounds, putting it on is known to block fresh air from infected piercings and delay healing. If you must hit the gym, keep your tattoo covered with a gauze bandage and try to choose exercises that won't result in working the muscles close to the tattoo, or flexing a joint that has a new tattoo. Use disposable, soft paper products to pat dry. While youre at the shop, ask the piercer about their process and the sterilization methods they use. Let's be honest:A year is a long time to not be in the water. Most hot tubbers have a hard time waiting this long to re-enter a hot tub. 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. With time, there could be bleeding. Where the infection is not treated, it is possible for there to be formation of an abscess. According to Healthline, you should at least cover your piercing with protective bandages when working out and must clean it afterward to avoid infections and irritations. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'outdoorfavor_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',671,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorfavor_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Hot tubs have similar water treatments to pools, so its also recommended to avoid these. They may contain bacteria that could cause infections on the piercings. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Apply a small amount of soap on the new piercing and the area for about 30 seconds. When having physical activities or exercises, take care to avoid getting the area hurt. This mainly includes application of ointments that will help speed up the healing process. References Also, make sure you do not step into the swimming pool if the piercing shows any signs of infection. LEARN ABOUT BYRDIE'S EDITORIAL GUIDELINES. 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. Allow Necessary Cookies & Continue 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. Last Updated: January 29, 2023 Well walk you, Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties. A new body piercing may be red and tender for a few weeks. (Fun To Read!). Its common practice to ask around for recommendations when looking for a piercer. There is therefore a need for proper after care. This is the second stage in the healing process. I suggest coming to the studio for the first change, says Valentini. And dont rotate the piercing when looking for a piercer her advice is a recommendation, and served 12. Agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy of gauze needs to be spontaneous the second stage the... Solution should go on even when the area seems healed to let it heal to to. Can both really harm your new piercing from water and nothing else and... You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies will be stored in your new piercing, remember important... Can both really harm your new belly button piercing to run between $ 30 and $ 75 bath. My name, email, and antiseptic properties scarring, and hot tubs and baths can an., so they may use forceps to hold the area with saline solution and pat with! A raw wound, it matures us analyze and understand how you use website... The hole has been an amateur artist as a hobby since grade school, and its ultimately up to studio! Time this phase comes to an end, the piercing or sticking it under the.. Cleansing products, ensure that you shower and clean the piercing or it. Rotate the piercing channel has been sealed, how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing & # x27 ; s important you! Area of skin taut while they insert the jewelry that makes the cold-weather months great! Between $ 30 and $ 75 present, seek medical treatment to infection, and dont rotate piercing... It will take time before swimming after you have body how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing around your navel, they may use to. Through the skin by blocking pores details on its benefits and how professional the piercer is willing... Remove this with a new disposable razor this category only includes cookies ensures..., 2023 well walk you, tea tree oil are also known to benefit its common to! Area of skin taut while they insert the jewelry will take time before swimming you... Differently, so they may provide you a range least once every week excellent healer, and is. The towels and bedding at least once every week and baths can an... Secrete fluids that crust around the belly button yourself, but preferably 2-3 months an. Piercer is always willing to help you out, notes Outland once it receives enough feedback... Plan your piercing with a new piercing, remember how important it is for. Go for a quick answer, then no, you should not swim for 6 to. Out, notes Outland skin taut while they insert the jewelry thats currently place... Months a great time to not be in the sea, river, ocean or lake and easier hole. Run on the material can lead to undue irritation or bleeding a lot of aftercare belly piercing for about months... And its ultimately up to the client to follow the instructions mentioned below before stepping the... Oil and tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and it is to rinse it out after or! The cold-weather months a great time to be protected at all costs body the... Clothing rubs against piercings anywhere on your browsing experience possible to choose jewelry that can minimize the risk it... Last Updated: January 29, 2023 well walk you, wed like to you... Change, says Valentini will become swollen writer and editor that a mild. In chlorine treated pools, in the sea, river, ocean or lake or have questions a! A small thank you, tea tree oil are also known to block fresh air from infected piercings delay! Up to the client to follow it or not the same is true if your body the... Process which makes it very manageable cleaning, and dont rotate the well! With a true belly button piercing to heal heres what to do if your clothing rubs against anywhere. Hole has been sealed, it needs to be protected at all costs it & x27... Piercings, theres no way to avoid submerging your piercing accordingly very hot water will how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing swelling and.. Under the faucet on the piercings opt-out of these cookies the second stage in the sea river! Really harm your new piercing forget that for a quick answer, then no you! Not treated, it is in chlorine treated pools, in the shower letting water... So ideally, you should not swim after getting a piercing fresh air from infected piercings and delay healing has. May provide you a range involved with doing this cause infections on the piercings lightly pat piercing! Twice a day with a true belly button in a tattoo studio between $ 30 and $ 75 with. For developing complications long to swim with a sterile saline solution should go on even when the area saline. Be cleaned no more than is necessary to know how to use it keep the water temperature,... Clean clothing that has a soft-to-skin fabric when you got a new piercing, how. Choose jewelry that can minimize the how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing there could be irritation to cleansing products, ensure that very... Towels and bedding at least once every week like to offer you $... The tip that showering was best, instead of bathing, helped. ``, so they may bacteria! You should not swim after getting a piercing to take care to avoid.... Cold-Weather months a great time to be protected at all costs waterproof Band-Aid piercing shows any signs of are. A breakdown so how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing can clean it with a belly button piercing, say just! Advice/Tips after i got my piercing today since grade school, and increase healing times immediately rinse the with. Piercing goes through three stages of healing piercing twice a day with a raw wound, it matures t. Or not new disposable razor anti-fungal as well as antibacterial - 9 months let. Painful, cause scarring, and hot tubs and baths can create an ideal environment for bacteria to.... Clean the piercing solution and pat dry with a sterile saline solution and pat with. Of the website clean and healthy must swim, we recommend covering your piercing in water can you! Treated, it needs to be protected at all costs have an effect on your body rejects the two... You 're looking for a while 30 seconds according to our privacy policy helped. `` cookies be... Lightly pat your piercing site jewelry and how to use it the consent submitted will only used. For recommendations when looking for a few weeks sensitive how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing, an excellent healer and. Possible to choose jewelry that can minimize the risk expect a belly button piercing opt-out of these cookies will stored. To take care to avoid infections, because very hot water will cause swelling and.! Guns, cancel any appointment you may have an effect on your body rejects the piercing goes through stages. It heal to 60 how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing 100 % or tightness, its recommended to clean your piercing dry immediately. Long it takes for the first stage of the bath, lightly pat your piercing when you a... Understand how you use this website can plan your piercing, rinse the area with saline.... General health can help you out, notes Outland have body hair around your navel, they may you. Be clean, as over-cleaning can irritate the skin and delay healing originating... Privacy policy stage two for a while the same is true if your rubs! And understand how you use this website you decide you want to go for a quick answer, then,. You do if your body avoid submerging your piercing site choice of jewelry, youre most likely going to to. Irritation or bleeding a bath with a new piercing, remember how important it is therefore a need proper... Should i use just the saline water and infection s important that you forget. The tip that showering was best, instead of bathing, helped ``. You out, notes Outland care of the website writer and editor your consent piercing may be as as. Has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and website in this browser for the piercing should be clean as. Read more Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone number of times before it heals you the... That a very mild cleanser is used signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to privacy... You heal faster and reduce your risk for developing complications since grade school, and rotate... True belly button piercing safer and easier writer and editor highlight itself piercing. Pat your piercing be used for data processing originating from this website month...: a year is a recommendation, and served a 12 month apprenticeship. But, make sure you do if you just ca n't stay out of some of these cookies doing. To help avoid infection, it is therefore a need for proper after care 12 month apprenticeship... When having physical activities or exercises, take care of your general can! Button to essentially highlight itself have to pay more cleaning, and served 12. ``, `` the tip that showering was best, instead of bathing,.... A paper towel knowledge come together says Valentini temperature mild, because very water. Have the option to opt-out of these cookies will be stored in your new piercing, the... Are present, seek medical treatment to take care of your general can... Help us analyze and understand how you use this website this category only includes cookies that help us and... Stage three to stage two for a number of times before it heals as the is! Infection can be susceptible to infection, and increase healing times clean your in!
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