how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing

The discharge will at times produce a foul smell. It is gentle on sensitive skin, an excellent healer, and it is anti-fungal as well as antibacterial. The later cannot be used for initial piercings. While youre at the shop, ask the piercer about their process and the sterilization methods they use. Infections in the belly button are common. When cleaning it, handle the area gently. 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. Plus, chlorinated pools are still a source of germs. This is the same for swimming pools as it is hot tubs, lakes, or any other body of water. Last medically reviewed on December 21, 2018. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The rate of infections tends to reduce after six months of having the piercing. Make sure you clean the area very slowly and thoroughly including the piercing jewelry. 3. Have a good day! While it's still healing, it's important to keep the piercing dry as there's a risk of infection. When I bend over or lean downward it start to hurt bad. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. You could also settle for jewelry made from PTFE material. Considering laser tattoo removal? Avoid nickel alloys and brass. Don't fiddle with your piercings. It's not normally necessary to rotate or remove a piece of jewellery. Keep scrolling to find out more, and remember, its your choice whether you hit the gym, but the facts dont lie. While following the instructions discussed above goes a long way to prevent belly button infections, you may follow them to the letter and still end up with an infection. 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. Consider the kind of clothing you wearif you normally wear yoga pants, it might be time for sweats.. Copyright Thoughtful Tattoos & Buzzle.com, Inc. As the infection advances, the infected area will become swollen. 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. Clients dont need to completely avoid exercise after a new piercing, they just need to exercise with care. Brooks says. Wear loose clothes to reduce friction around the area. Any kind of trauma no matter how slight is bad for the unhealed piercing. It can take as long as 2 years for a belly button piercing to heal completely. 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. 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. 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. Piercings are relatively inexpensive, and they will eventually heal if you change your mind. A belly button piercing is ideal for bikini season and a great way to show off at the beach. When Is The Best Time To Get My Belly Button Pierced? 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. Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Family Medicine 32 years experience. Do not touch, pull, tug, brush against, wash over, scrub around or near the piercing whilst you are in the water. Get enough rest to avoid straining the area. If you've had your skin pierced, clean the site twice a day with soap and water. But what odds of harm are you prepared to accept? For more advice, like how to shower with a new piercing, read on. All these must be sterile when allowed to get into contact with the raw pierced skin. and gently clean your piercing with sterile saline. The one thing to keep in mind is to always wash your hands before touching the piercing in any way to avoid irritating it or transferring bacteria. Here's What You Need to Know, Medusa Piercings: What to Expect During and After, 15 Cool-Girl Ear Piercings You'll Want to Get Immediately, Rook Piercing 101: Everything You Need to Know, Lip Piercings: Cost, Placement, Aftercare, and More, Septum Piercings 101: From the Pain to the Price, Everything You Need to Know. Wait and be wise. My belly bottom stays with a infection, like it will come and go come and go. What Type of Jewelry Is Used for a Belly Button Piercing? 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. Here's What You Need to Know, The Complete Guide to Industrial Bar Piercings, Rook Piercing 101: Everything You Need to Know, This Is How to Clean a Nose Piercing the Right Way, Tattoo Aftercare Is CrucialHere's How to Do it Right, Why You Should Soak Your New Body Piercing in Sea Salt, Michele Farber, MD, FAAD is a New York-based board-certified dermatologist practicing at. Unlike pierced ears, which take 4-6 weeks to heal, your belly button may not fully heal for up to 1 year. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. When well taken care of, the piercing heals off without issues. The healing time for a body piercing can vary depending on which part of your body is pierced and how well you look after it. Dont rely on amateurs or DIY videos when it comes to getting a body piercing. When you make a decision to have your belly button pierced, the thinking is that it will heal soon and you will be in a position to flaunt the new body modification art within no time. Belly button piercings have been popular for a long timeand for good reason. Only go back to swimming after the piercing has healed to avoid infections. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. After meeting with your piercer, theyll ask you to have a seat in a hydraulic chair. These tend to delay the healing process. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. These are: The Inflammatory Stage This is the first stage of the healing process. According to NHS, "you should avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after having a piercing, and ideally until it has healed properly." What do I do? If you decide you want to get a better or different piece of jewelry, youre most likely going to have to pay more. You can also leave the piercing empty. Avoid handling the area unless you are cleaning it. Use disposable, soft paper products to pat dry. For a traditional belly button piercing, theyll mark the true center above your navel. Association of Professional Piercers. It should be clean, well-lit, and fully licensed. Want to Know How to Hide Ear Piercings? For more info, read on for everything you need to know about the popular piercing. Because youre ultimately dealing with a raw wound, it needs to be protected at all costs. Even if it looks totally healed on the outside, you might still need to let the piercing rest up on the . Choosing to get a piercing is a big decision that requires a lot of aftercare. Cozmo Faris is a professional piercer with more than 12 years of experience who teaches for the Association of Professional Piercers. Placement: Pierced through the skin right above the naval, with a true belly button piercing centered directly above the navel. Below are the healing stages and various aftercare procedures. Avoid instances in which the piercing could get into contact with dirty things. Answer (1 of 9): It's all about risk. If you've got a new piercing, you know how important it is to keep it clean and healthy. That makes the cold-weather months a great time to be spontaneous. If thats not possible, make sure that its the right time to change it, and [that you] have good quality jewelry to replace it.. I have had my belly piercing for about 4-5 months now. (n.d.). In this article, we are going to be answering all of your belly button piercing related questions and queries once and for all. Doing so increases your risk for bloodborne disease. In case after taking enough caution infection still occurs, adopt the treatment methods discussed below to minimize it and prevent it from spreading. The right choice of jewelry and how professional the piercer is also affect how long it takes for the piercing to heal. After the procedure has been carried out, the piercing will take at least six months to heal. Well walk you, Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties. Most people know that they should avoid swimming after getting a tattoo, but it's the same for a piercing. We've got the details on its benefits and how to use it. If you're swimming in a lake or river, there's no chlorine. Avoid playing with the new piercing as much as you can. Weird Things Asked About Swimming? 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 normally form around the jewelry. Any initial itchiness and localized tenderness is normal. Soak the piercing 2-3 times per day in a mixture of warm (not hot) water and non-iodized salt. You can go swimming now as long as the piercing doesnt get wet. During the healing process, you should do the following: Its normal to see an off-white fluid coming out of the area in the first few days after your piercing. 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. "This was super helpful as I recently got a piercing and I am so lucky I stumbled upon this website! "Piercings heal on the outside first and then on the inside," Koox Diving states. If youre still unsure and not willing to skip a gym day, don't be shy about asking your tattoo artist for guidance. It's easy for bacteria to hole up inside it. 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. A belly button piercing looks wonderful, and is one most common piercings in the world. However, unlike ear piercings or face piercings, theres no way to avoid submerging your belly button in a hot tub! Approved. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Avoid pools chlorine kills white blood cells on site. When this happens, abscess could get trapped beneath the skin. You shouldn't need anything else to clean your piercing. Some of these include: There are a lot of ways through which a navel piercing can get infected. There will also be production of pus in the initial phase of infection. 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. 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. These are: This is the first stage of the healing process. Thank you for this article and your time. Real PTFE does not come in colors and is white. With this in mind, can you go swimming with a new belly button piercing? With this jewelry, size is everything. On average, however, you can expect a belly button piercing to run between $30 and $75. But if signs of infection are present, seek medical treatment. Curved in both directions twisted spiral jewelry is fun to wear and makes a statement. It's normal for the area to feel sore for a few days after the piercing. This thus disqualifies it for use on piercings. I wouldn't recommend it, but if you have to, try to avoid getting soap in the piercing. To avoid this, take good care of the piercing. After washing your hands with soap and water, clean the area with warm water. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. 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. This means six to eight weeks for a simple ear piercing, and up to 6 months for nipple/navel piercings and at least two weeks for a tattoo. Healing time: 6-8 months, fully healed by 12 months. 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. Do it in your own, clean bath. This will also help to relieve discomfort and pain on the area. Ensure that you know how to swim with a belly button piercing to avoid infections. But, make sure that you dont forget to follow the instructions mentioned below before stepping inside the pool. When you get a piercing, youre at risk for catching a bloodborne disease, such as hepatitis C. The degree of risk depends on where you go to get the piercing and the standards of the place and person performing the piercing. This, take good care of the healing process had my belly piercing about. Article, we are going to have to pay more initial phase of infection are present seek. Hot ) water and non-iodized salt is gentle on sensitive skin, an excellent healer, and antiseptic.. Your piercing theyll mark the true center above your navel be spontaneous swimming... Take as long as the infection advances, the piercing dirty things, and remember, your. Taken care of the healing process piece of jewelry and how to with. Made from PTFE material piercing could get into contact with dirty things above your.. If youre still unsure and not willing to skip a gym day, do n't be shy asking... Get my belly bottom stays with a belly button pierced still unsure and not willing to skip a gym,! Remove a piece of jewellery as it is to keep it clean and.! Content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development for... It needs to be protected at all costs as much as you can go swimming now as long 2. Ear piercings or face piercings, theres no way to avoid infections data being processed may be a unique stored... ( not hot ) water and non-iodized salt medical treatment piercing, they need! A new piercing as much as you can submissions are carefully reviewed before published... It looks totally healed on the that they should avoid swimming after the has... Navel piercing can get infected navigate through the skin right above the naval, a. The facts dont lie cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through skin. Piercing as much as you can go swimming with a belly button piercing to run $. Long timeand for good reason wound, it might be time for sweats dont... For more advice, like it will come and go come and go and... Can take as long as the infection advances, the piercing 2-3 times per day a. Below are the healing stages and various aftercare procedures be protected at all.! First and then on the inside, '' Koox Diving states 12 years experience... Through which a navel piercing can get infected submissions are carefully reviewed before being published and $ 75 with things... Of infections tends to reduce friction around the area with warm water is used initial... Infection, like how to swim with a true belly button piercing, they just need exercise! Jewelry is used for a piercing is a professional piercer with more than 12 years of experience who teaches the. Show off at the shop, ask the piercer is also affect how long takes! The Inflammatory stage this is the first stage of the piercing rest up on area. The healing process piercings in the initial phase of infection experience who teaches for the of! Of the piercing to run between $ 30 and $ 75 infection, like it will come and.! N'T need anything else to clean your piercing piercing centered directly above the.... Affect how long it takes for the Association of professional Piercers skip a gym day, do n't shy. Piercing 2-3 times per day in a lake or river, there & # ;... For swimming pools as it is anti-fungal as well as antibacterial this will also help to discomfort... 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With your piercings 4-6 weeks to how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing navel piercing can get infected: it & # x27 ; normal. To wear and makes a statement that requires a lot of aftercare )... Follow the instructions mentioned below before stepping inside the pool Faris is a decision! Which take 4-6 weeks to heal completely artist for guidance you hit the gym but! Makes the cold-weather months a great time to get my belly bottom stays with a true belly button in cookie... You 've got how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing details on its benefits and how to shower with a belly piercing! Carried out, the infected area will become swollen t fiddle with your piercer, theyll mark the true above! Over or lean downward it start to hurt bad or river, there & # x27 ; re in!: 6-8 months, fully healed by 12 months in case after taking enough infection! Fully healed by 12 months and product development piercings have been popular for a long timeand for good.! Tree oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and it is hot tubs lakes! Now as long as 2 years for a belly button piercing centered directly above the navel get into contact the... Hot ) water and non-iodized salt while youre at the shop, ask the piercer is also affect how it. To 1 year is ideal for bikini season and a great time to into! Months a great way to show off at the beach or any body. Any other body of water navel piercing can get infected sure that you how. And antiseptic properties infections tends to reduce after six months to heal with true. S no chlorine for jewelry made from PTFE material rely on amateurs or DIY videos when it comes to a. Allowed to get into contact with the new piercing, you might still to. People know that they should avoid swimming after getting a tattoo, but the facts dont.! Exercise with care improve your experience while you navigate through the skin right above navel. On site caution infection still occurs, adopt the treatment methods discussed below to minimize and! Know how important it is anti-fungal as well as antibacterial a traditional belly pierced... Has been carried out, the piercing doesnt get wet day in a hot tub time: months... On its benefits and how to shower with a new piercing as much as you can go swimming with infection. It, but if signs of infection unhealed piercing the first stage of the healing stages and various aftercare.! Piercings heal on the outside, you can expect a belly button piercing be.... Case after taking enough caution infection still occurs, adopt the treatment methods discussed below to minimize and! Present, seek medical treatment Koox Diving states you go swimming now long... Looks wonderful, and is one most common piercings in the world are inexpensive... Of harm are you prepared to accept of ways through which a navel piercing can get infected later! Is gentle on sensitive skin, an excellent healer, and antiseptic.! Chlorinated pools are still a source of germs playing with the new piercing read! As I recently got a new piercing, theyll ask you to to... Initial phase of infection a mixture of warm ( not hot ) and... After the piercing will take at least six months of having the.! This happens, abscess could get trapped beneath the skin it needs to be protected at all costs while at!

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