Belly Button Ring Information
Belly-button, or navel piercing, is one of the most popular body piercings, especially among young women. Unlike facial and ear piercings, this type can be easily hidden unless the wearer decides to wear clothing that exposes the midriff. Before going out and getting your belly button pierced, you should take the time to learn about this specific kind of piercing, as this is a more serious commitment than you might think. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Bare midriffs were forbidden to be shown on-screen in the 1940's, so Hollywood found a loophole in this rule. The actresses' bellies were no longer bare when adorned with a jewel or piercing through the skin on the upper rim of their navels. Contrary to popular belief, this was not a tradition of the ancients or of belly dancers, but modern dancers have adopted it because the jewels and rings add to the dancers' costumes. In the 1990s the navel piercing quickly rose in popularity when famous super models and singers began wearing them. Super models Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell were the first, and in Aerosmith's video for the song "Crying" it shows Alicia Silverstone's character receiving a navel piercing. Later in the decade it became a mainstay for young women when Britney Spears was shown with one.
Innies and Outties
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The jewelry for navel piercings usually come in the curved barbell or the ring. For "innie" belly buttons, the part that is pierced is generally the piece of skin on the upper rim of the navel. If the bottom rim is pierced, this is referred to as an "inverse navel piercing". An "outtie" piercing is much more rare and is considered the "true navel piercing" because it travels through the actual navel instead of the piece of skin surrounding it. Some professionals may refuse to pierce an outtie belly button because of the complications that may occur later because of all the extra flesh, scar tissue and blood vessels the piercing would have to pass through.
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Precautions
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If you are under eighteen years of age and want to get your navel pierced, you will need your parent or legal guardian to sign a consent form. Only go to a reputable piercing shop that you have gotten several positive references for. Body piercings should never be done with a gun because guns cannot be sterilized properly. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) states in their "Piercee's Bill of Rights" "that the piercer must always wear disposable gloves during the procedure" and "use a one-time-use needle". Most people say that the pain when getting your navel pierced is minimal.
Risks
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You need to be aware of the risks involved before going out and getting your belly button pierced. The navel is more prone to irritation and infection because it rubs up against clothing and comes in contact with a lot of sweat. This piercing also takes longer to heal than regular facial and ear piercings, so if you go swimming in a lake or a pool that has not been properly chlorinated as long as a year after you get your piercing, you are putting yourself at high risk for an infection. Also if you are in poor health or your immune system is weak you should not get this piercing at all, because besides the risk of infection your body can reject the piercing altogether. If the body cannot properly form a fistula, or scar-tissue tunnel around the piercing, it will begin to push it out.
Aftercare
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Follow the advice given to you by the piercer on how to care for your new piercing. Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or any kind of ointment to clean your piercing because they slow the healing process. Always wash your hands and keep the surrounding area of your piercing as clean as possible. For the first three to four days you will want to keep anything from touching your new piercing--not only to prevent infection but because it will be very tender--so avoid wearing jeans that snap at the top or keep the top button undone. Rotating the jewelry isn't necessary, but you need to wash the outside well and often with unscented antibacterial soap. Avoid using fabric towels or washcloths because they can hold germs--instead use cotton swabs and paper towels. It can take anywhere from four months to a year for a navel piercing to heal completely.
Jewelry
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The best kinds of metal to use for a new piercing are 14k to18k gold and implant-grade stainless steel. Any kind of gold or silver plated jewelry should not be used because it can flake off and have base metals such as nickle inside them. Silver isn't a good choice because it tarnishes. Sterling silver is okay for navel piercings that are completely healed but not for new piercings. Always ask your piercing professional for advice when choosing your jewelry. There are so many cute belly button rings to choose from that it will make the wait for it to heal completely worth it.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit cherrygrl3: Photobucket.com
