How to Clean a Pierced Navel

Just like any other part of your body, the belly button requires regular cleaning, otherwise, it might get an unpleasant smell or even infections that go along with redness and itching. Pierced navels require even more thorough care.

5-Minute Crafts explains how to clean a pierced navel correctly and what consequences one might face if you don’t pay necessary attention to it.

Cleaning a freshly-pierced navel

One should pay necessary attention to a pierced navel as it takes quite a lot of time for the piercing on this part of the body to heal. The healing process can last for about a year.

If your piercing has not healed, it should be regularly wiped with a saline solution. The piercing should be wiped with a paper towel soaked in this solution once a day. You can use not only a ready-made solution but also one made at home. In order to make the solution, you need to dissolve 1/8 tsp in 1 glass of water.

Keep in mind that too often or too intensive cleaning will only bring more harm. Also, don’t wipe piercing with special cosmetic products like lotions or creams. Remember that even hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial cream can delay the healing process.

If the navel piercing heals well and without infections, it should be continued to be cleaned regularly for 4 weeks. In the event of an infection, the healing process will take longer, while care for the piercing will also become more difficult.

Sometimes the navel rejects the piercing, then you will have to continue regular cleaning for a longer time.

Cleaning the piercing

The piercing jewelry should also be cleaned with the help of a saline solution. It is best if the piece of jewelry stays in a saline solution for 10-15 minutes. After that, the piercing should be cleaned from the solution with a paper towel and rinsed with warm water.

Don’t use fabric towels for cleaning as bacteria might stay on them.

Never let another person wear your piercing jewelry even if you thoroughly clean it. In any case, tiny scratches and notches, not visible to our eye and where bacteria are accumulated, stay on it.

Signs of infection

Signs of infection on a pierced navel include:

• redness
• rash
• edema
• abnormal or bad-smelling discharge
• the skin around the piercing is hot by touch
• burning sensation

Remember that one shouldn’t treat the infection themselves. If these symptoms appear, you should consult your doctor before taking any action.