How to Care for a Belly Button Ring / Body Piercing

Take proper care of your belly button ring.

If you get your belly button or other body part pierced, proper after care is essential. If you don’t take care of the piercing it can get infected. Luckily, caring for your piercing is simple; you only need to do a few simple things.

Things You'll Need

• Antibacterial soap
• Cotton ball or cotton swab
• Natural salt

Instructions

1. Keep your piercing clean. Clean it twice daily with antibacterial soap after you get the piercing. Use a cotton ball or cotton swab. Never use rag or cloth to clean it.

2. Use salt water to help the piercing heal faster. Add a little bit of natural salt to your bath water while bathing.

3. Avoid picking, pulling or scratching your piercing. While your piercing is healing, it's going to start itching. This is a good sign because it means it is trying to heal itself. Leave it alone. Don't turn or scratch at it. If you have crust forming on the ring, it's just a scab and it will come off when you clean it.

4. Wash your hands before you touch your piercing. Try to avoid belts and pants that will rub it and let it heal on its own. It should take anywhere from four to six months before it completely heals. Make sure to keep the original belly ring in until it's completely healed.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't buy cheap rings. Your navel is sensitive and cheaper rings will only lead to irritation and infection.

• Don't ignore a problem. If your piercing becomes red, icky and starting to develop puss, see a doctor. This is a sign of infection and it could lead to deadly side effects.

• You should also make your that your body jewelry is in fact real, and nickel free. Most body jewelry that contains nickel will give you an infection because it irritates your skin.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Piercings: How to prevent complications