How To Clean Crust Off Belly Button Piercing

Do you know what happens when a piercing gets infected? It turns into an ugly, red-hot mass of pus and pain. Yikes!

So how do you keep your piercing clean? With a bit of help from us, of course. You can stay infection-free and beautiful with our tips and care guide.

How

A navel piercing is a way to make a statement. It refers to piercing through the skin around your belly button to wear an ornament.

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Once upon a time, belly button piercings were only for people who wanted to appear edgy, dangerous or “not like the other girls or boys, ” but now it’s becoming more and more common.

Piercings in that area have long been a symbol of self-expression, and with good reason: The navel is one of the most visible areas of the body, so why not make it your own?

Whether you’re rocking a two-piece bathing suit or want to show off a midriff-baring top, having your belly button pierced gives you an air of confidence and style.

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From Miley Cyrus to Jessica Alba to Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé, belly button piercings are all the rage for stylish, fashion-forward people.

Each individual has their unique way of rocking the belly button piercing look, whether with a feminine charm or a more hard-edged approach.

You first need to know that the metal has to be safe for the skin just after piercing. In other words, no nickel allowed! It’s best to choose surgical-grade stainless steel or titanium jewelry at first.

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Mix things up and do experiments with colors and patterns. But it’s good to keep the ornament simple most of the time.

It is important not to go with an amateur piercer. Piercers should be trained professionals who are completely dedicated to their craft:

A yellowish fluid may come out of the pierced spots and form a crusty material, which is normal. It may feel itchy, but you should not pick it.

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It may take four weeks to 1 year to heal the piercing completely. It is essential to maintain this cleaning routine to avoid infection during this period.

After recovery, you can clean your piercing whenever you clean your belly button (which could be every time you take a shower).

Rub the area with a cotton ball soaked in a saline solution. Then, dry it with a paper towel or something soft.

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Before applying soap, soak your navel area for a few minutes (do it during your shower for convenience). Lather your hand and gently rub the pierced area.

Then, rinse it with warm water until all traces of soap are gone. Take the water off with a paper towel or soft cloth (making sure to pat dry instead of rubbing).

Always use a mild soap with no scent because a strong antibacterial soap can be too harsh on the sensitive tissue around your piercing.

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A saline solution is the most effective remedy. Make it at home by combining 1 cup (or half a cup) of distilled water (or cold, boiled water) with two (one) teaspoons of sea salt.

Once the solution is ready, pour it into a bowl and dip a cotton swab. Gently rub the cotton swab around your piercing until the area is clean.

You can also soak the navel area with saline water and wait for 10 minutes before washing with fresh water. Then, dry out the navel with a soft tissue.

Infected Belly Button Piercing: Cleaning Tips & More

A saline solution is the safest option to clean the navel area. There is no harm in it unless you use it repeatedly (more than two times a day). However, it does not remove dirt, cream residue or skin oils.

How

Soak the crusty area with a cotton bud that has been soaked in warm water. Wait a minute or two to allow the crust to turn soft.

The best time to apply this oil is after washing the navel area. Put a few drops of lavender oil on a cotton bud and dab on your piercing hole.

Picture Of My Navel Piercing Normally. The Skin Is Red But Not Burning. I Haven't Had Puss Just Some Crust. I Believe It's Irritation Just Want To Be Safe. It's Only 9

Using a Q-tip or swab, gently wipe away any excess ointment or liquid from around your piercing hole. You mustn’t apply too much pressure when cleaning this area because it can irritate your piercing or cause infection.

Regular cleaning of the wound is necessary for preventing infection and quickening recovery. However, over-cleaning can create a reverse effect and slow down the healing.

Washing the pierced hole and surrounding areas more than twice a day can dry up the skin oil. It will cause flaky skin, making the pierced holes smell very sour.

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For example, you should completely avoid rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. These chemical compounds kill healthy new cells, extending the healing time.

If the piercing is too itchy or dry, apply a piercing aftercare mist spray or wash the navel area with saline water.

Infection in a belly button piercing is not uncommon. Don’t panic. Here’s how to tell if it’s infected and what to do next:

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If it’s a pus infection, draw it out from the affected area and clean it with a wet cotton washcloth. Then, rinse with clean water and dry out the area.

Your next step is to apply an antibacterial cream three or four times a day. If it does not improve after 24/48 hours, seek medical attention.

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Do not remove jewelry until the infection has cleared up. Its removal may close up the hole, keeping the untreated infection inside.

How To Treat An Infected Belly Button Piercing

A belly button piercing is beautiful, and it can be a great addition to your style. But some health issues can cause adverse effects and slow down the healing.

A. Of course you do. Daily cleaning is necessary from the beginning until the piercing has healed completely. Do it once or twice every day. Also, don’t forget to clean it every time you sweat.

A. Washing the pierced area with a saline mixture (half of a teaspoon of sea salt in one cup of water) will help it heal faster. If the doctor suggests, apply an antibacterial cream or take antibiotic pills.

Tips To Clean Your Belly Button Piercing

A. An infected belly button will be swollen with redness, and it will cause pain and produce smelly discharges—just like earrings. Other symptoms include feeling feverish, nauseous or dizzy. Consult a doctor if any of these symptoms occur.

A. Mild liquid or antibacterial soap works well if you don’t have sea salt at home. Remove the crusts gently with a wet cotton ball, and then use the liquid soap to wash the piercing area and navel ring.

Tags: how to clean your belly button piercing, belly button ring, infected belly button piercing, tight fitting clothes, sensitive skin, wear loose clothing, body piercings, belly button piercing aftercare and healingYou 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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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.

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.

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How To Clean A Belly Button Piercing

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.”

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.

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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.”

(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.)

Causes Of A Smelly Belly Button And What You Can Do About It

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.

An

Is This Amount Of Crusties Okay? I Clean Twice A Day, No Soap In The Shower. But There Seems To Be Build Up.