Piercing Bump Belly

You finally got your belly button pierced after months of thinking about adding some body bling. That cute little ring decorating your tummy looks fantastic, too.

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How

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the skin around your piercing. Infections or some other icky complication can affect nearly 1 of 4 body piercings away from the earlobe, research shows.

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So, how can you tell if your belly button piercing is infected? And how should you treat that festering hole? For answers, we turn to family physician Simon Hodes, MB ChB.

Let’s start with the basics: Even when a belly button piercing goes well, you can expect some tenderness, redness and even crusting at the spot for 12 to 18 months. After all, you did just put a hole through your skin and into your body.

“While earlobe piercing is very common and usually straightforward, your belly button is probably an area of your body that doesn’t really want to be pierced, ” says Dr. Hodes. “So, if you’re going to do it, make sure you’re in it for the long haul.”

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It can take up to a year or longer for the “wound” from a belly button piercing to fully heal, explains Dr. Hodes. That’s a lengthy timeframe that extends your risk of eventually getting some sort of infection.

Why does it take so long? Think of all the bending, twisting and stretching your midsection does during the day. All of that movement doesn’t exactly help speed along your body’s repair process.

“The healing process is not quick, ” notes Dr. Hodes. “An infection can flare up a long time after the initial piercing is done. So, good hygiene and belly ring care are essential from Day 1 to reduce the risks of problems.”

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(On that note, think carefully about getting a belly button piercing if you’re considering a pregnancy in the next 18 months, says Dr. Hodes. New piercings can be problematic and often need to be removed as your stomach stretches.)

So, how do you know when trouble arrives? Here are four telltale signs that dirt or bacteria may have entered your pierced navel and caused an infection.

Swelling from an infected piercing can range from an annoying irritation to an abscess (or pocket of pus). The spot may feel warm to the touch, too. “There’s a whole spectrum of infection seen, from minor local skin infection to more severe infections that may require drainage, ” says Dr. Hodes.

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An infection can lead to bright red marks or discoloration on your skin. “It’s the sort of change that will be noticeable.”

It’s generally not a good sign when a wound leaks pus. The discharge from an infected piercing could be yellow, green, gray, brown, white or bloody red. “If the ooze is smelly, then it’s more suggestive of an infection, ” says Dr. Hodes.

Although rare from a piercing, an infection that takes root and rages could leave you with a fever and chills. In extreme cases, your body’s response to the infection could lead to sepsis and a need for urgent medical attention.

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Red and itchy skin around a piercing also could signal an allergic reaction to whatever jewelry is now dangling from your midsection. “The symptoms can seem very similar to an infection, ” says Dr. Hodes.

In general, an allergic reaction to jewelry metal will more closely resemble hives or dry, itchy eczema patches. It’s also less likely to ooze.

“If you suspect an allergic reaction, you may want to try oral antihistamine or a topical hydrocortisone cream from your local pharmacy, ” advises Dr. Hodes. “If that doesn’t calm it down, consult a care professional.”

Infected

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Metals regarded as safe for body piercings include stainless steel, titanium or gold (14- or 18-karat). Jewelry made from lower-grade metals such as nickel, cobalt and chromates is more likely to cause issues. “However, people can react to any foreign material, ” he adds.

If you suspect an infection in your belly button piercing, it’s time to up your cleaning game. Your piercing should be cleaned twice a day. (That rule holds true whether it’s to prevent an infection or to treat one, too.)

“You need to commit to keeping your piercing clean from Day 1, ” Dr. Hodes reiterates. “If you don’t, it’s far more likely you could run into problems.”

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Don’t remove the jewelry if you suspect an infection, either — except on medical advice. “You want to leave it in place to keep the hole open if possible, ” directs Dr. Hodes.

Check in with a care provider if you really start to feel unwell or the swelling and redness refuse to go away (or get worse) even after you’ve tried a few home treatment options

“If you feel like the infection is spreading and progressing, it’s time to see someone, ” states Dr. Hodes. “Follow the golden rule of worry: If in doubt, check it out.”

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Infections can take root in your belly button piercing even with the best of care. Again, anytime there’s an open wound on your body there’s a risk of something funky getting in and creating an issue.

Go into it with the understanding that a typical recovery period can be six months to a year, but that it may take as long as 18 months. Commit to cleaning the piercing at least twice a day, too.

Piercing

“Just be careful about where you go to get your piercing and your long-term aftercare, ” cautions Dr. Hodes. “If you keep the piercing clean, odds are you’ll have no issues and will just be able to enjoy your new bling.”A belly button piercing is technically an injury to the skin, although we rarely think of it in that terms. But because you are damaging the skin, a belly piercing can scar. On rare occasions, that scarring will turn to keloids.

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Keloids are overgrown scar tissue that might not be dangerous but can be uncomfortable and even painful (Want to know more about the possible dangers of getting a piercing? Read about them here). A keloid scar can develop at a belly button piercing as the area is hard to care for, and often rubs against clothing.

Once a keloid scar has formed, it can only be removed by a dermatologist, and the treatment options are limited. Learn more about how to get rid of keloid scars on belly piercings with this guide.

Keloids aren’t common on belly piercings, but they do happen from time to time. A keloid is a skin condition that resembles a raised scar. They occur at the site of an injury to the skin and can extend beyond the injury. 

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When a skin injury heals, new granulation tissue grows over the site of the injury. A keloid forms when there’s an overgrowth of granulation tissue, otherwise known as collagen type 3, which is then replaced by collagen type 1.

Keloids can happen anywhere on the body, but they’re more likely to result from an ear piercing than a belly button piercing. However, the tricky aftercare of a belly piercing can encourage keloid growth.

A belly button piercing can be prone to keloid scarring because the area rubs repeatedly against clothing. This slows down the healing process, increasing the risk that the damage won’t heal properly.

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There are a few defining features of a keloid that can help you tell it apart from other types of scarring. These symptoms of keloids include:

Piercing

There is no way to completely get rid of a keloid scar caused by a belly button piercing. There are methods for reducing the appearance of the keloid, but even if it’s surgically removed, the scar will often grow back.

Massaging a moisturizing oil, such as avocado oil, into the keloid scar is a low-impact treatment method. An oil treatment can be used to soften the keloid and can help reduce its appearance. 

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A dermatologist might be able to provide you with a compression garment, which can be used to prevent a keloid from forming. This option is sometimes combined with a silicone gel that can help flatten the scar.

Corticosteroid injections into the afflicted area can help treat keloid scars. This therapy will often be in conjunction with another form of treatment, to increase effectiveness.

Other medications, such as interferon and verapamil, have also been experimented with as potential keloid treatments. However, most of the research focuses on corticosteroids.

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Cryotherapy treatments freeze the scar from the inside. The freezing method can help to soften and lighten the scar, reducing its appearance. Cryotherapy will often be used in conjunction with corticosteroids.

Surgical treatment can be used to remove the keloid scar completely, but there is a risk that a new keloid will develop after the surgery. It’s important to follow the aftercare instructions closely, to prevent the scar from returning.

Radiation therapy is sometimes used after a surgical procedure to prevent the keloid from coming back. This is considered a last resort, as radiation therapy comes with some risks. A dermatologist might recommend radiation therapy if no other treatment method has proved effective.

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