About Belly-Button Piercings

History

While body piercing has existed for over four thousand years in many cultures, its move to the Western Civilization truly began in 1967. Jim Ward, a man who made jewelry, was the first in this country to pierce his nipples after joining a gay motorcycle club. His experimentation did not stop there, however. After moving to a gay village in Los Angeles in 1967, he joined forces with two men in his community and together the three men invented equipment and techniques for the purpose of body piercing. Jim soon opened his own piercing studio in his home, and after developing a large clientele, he opened The Gauntlet in 1978, the first professional piercing shop among storefronts. Jim is also credited for genitalia piercing.

African boy demonstarting his manhood with piercings.
Before piercings became a phenomenon in the United States, it was a practice used by many cultures in history. While many in the U.S. pierce their bodies for erotic and cosmetic reasons, ancient cultures pierced their bodies because of deep seated beliefs and rituals. The Mayan culture used what is known as a temporary piercing to show their power or as a way of purifying themselves for their Gods. There were fourteenth century women in countries such as India who pierced their nipples to show prospective husbands that their breasts were still youthful. And Caesar's soldiers pierced their nipples to show how masculine they were. In today's society, there are still many in Africa and South America who will pierce their bodies to prove they have left childhood and entered adulthood. These piercings are never removed. While there are many in our country who pierce themselves for similar reasons, there are more who pierce for superficial reasons. Many teens will pierce their belly buttons or tongues in a demonstration of rebellion against their parents. Belly button piercings are also done to accentuate the costumes of belly dancing.

Belly buttons are pierced with a hollow needle which is used to create the hole. The piercer will pull the skin together right above the navel, push the needle through and then immediately replace it with the jewelry that has been chosen. They will generally use a larger gauge belly button ring initially to allow room for swelling. Once the site heals, a smaller gauge ring can be inserted.

There are a wide variety of belly jewelry to choose from; the most common shapes are the curved bar bell, the dangling ring, and the circular ring. The colors and designs available to choose from are as numerous as the amount of people who choose to have their navels pierced. The most important decision to be made is the type of metal the jewelry is made from. The American Society of Testing and Materials is an organization that sets the standards for products made in the United States. They recommend an implant grade stainless steel for belly piercings. This type decreases the risk of developing an infection at the site due to the quality of the metal. If gold jewelry is chosen, it is best to use eighteen karat gold for the initial piercing. Unlike it's nemesis, gold plated, it will not chip and cause infection. Real gold is thicker and a safer choice. There is also jewelry made of teflon and nylon, both of which can be used for someone who may have sensitive skin or a metal allergy.

It takes a mere five minutes maximum to pierce a belly button, but the healing process can take up to eighteen months. There are a number of factors that affect the healing time: proper care of the site, the type of clothing that is worn and even a person's diet. Eating foods that are high in vitamins and minerals will help the site heal quicker due to the fact that the body heals itself from the inside out.

It is important to remember that in many states, you must be eighteen years old to get a body piercing. You may be required to bring either a photo ID or your birth certificate to prove your age. In the event that you are not of age, a parent's consent will be needed. The laws do vary from state to state, so it is necessary to check with your own locality before heading off to the piercing parlor. You also need to keep in mind that if you are pregnant, you can safely wear the belly button ring into your fifth or sixth month, depending on how quickly and how much the skin stretches. Finally, consider the water you are jumping into before you jump into it. If it a local pool or recreation center, the chlorine may not be good for the site. Also, if you go to a public lake or river, think about the amount of bacteria that is in the water. Until your site heals, it may be best to avoid these spots.

A needle being placed in a sharps container after use to prevent the spread of infection.
The spread of possible infection starts the minute you walk through the door of the piercing shop. These infections can range from hepatitis to HIV. Always be sure that the piercer washes his hands thoroughly, puts on a pair of gloves and uses sterilized equipment. The needle he uses should be taken out of a sealed bag and then thrown away once the job is complete. There is an organization called the Association of Professional Piercers that sets the standards for piercings. The first thing you should look for when walking into a studio is a certificate hanging on the wall, issued by the APP. If a piercer has this certificate, you know he is experienced and takes safety precautions. Once the piercing is complete, it needs to be cleaned twice a day to prevent infection. Belly buttons in particular are susceptible to infection because of their location. They can become irritated and infected easily, so wearing loose clothes is highly recommended. This will also help air reach the site, aiding in the healing process. You need to wash your own hands before touching the piercing and then cleanse the piercing gently with warm water and liquid antibacterial soap. Be sure to rinse away all soap residue and then pat it dry with a paper towel. Hand towels made of cloth contain hidden bacterias.