How to Treat a Belly Button Infection
Infections of the belly button have for years been relatively uncommon; however, over the past two decades as the number of teens and young adults getting navel piercings explodes the incidence of belly button infections has dramatically increased. Body piercings should not be taken lightly. Do your research. Discuss the pros and cons with your family and doctor. If you decide that a navel piercing is right for you then make the proper choices to prevent belly button infections. If you do get a belly button infection what steps should you take to best treat it? Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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See your doctor immediately if you have a belly button piercing and develop any skin redness, pain or foul smelling drainage. It's not difficult to treat a belly button infection if appropriate antibiotics are initiated early.
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Keep your belly button clean. Use diluted hydrogen peroxide or an anti-bacterial soap to clean your belly button twice a day. Gently pat dry. Avoid being too aggressive with a q-tip.
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Remove your navel piercing to treat your belly button infection. The metallic ring or post will serve as a foreign body and prevent complete resolution of your infection.
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Allow the pierced hole to heal. You can get another belly button piercing some other time. For now the pierced hole allows bacteria easy access though the skin and into your body.
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Keep your belly button uncovered to treat a belly button infection. By providing your belly button with access to light and air it's more difficult for bacteria to multiply. Clothing also is more likely to irritate a belly button infection.
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Make sure you research the shop where you get your piercings. Do they practice sterile technique or adhere to state and industry guidelines to minimize the risk for infections?
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Tips & Warnings
Never pierce your own body. Never allow a friend or family member to either.
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Comments
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When you have an infected piercing anywhere the last thing you want to do is remove the piercing. This could cause the infection to continue after the holes close and cause an abscess under the skin which is more difficult to treat, usually involves very painful drainage by using a scalpel and packing and repacking the area. You may clean the ring with a q-tip while still inside the pierced area with a salt solution or while in the shower with anti-bacterial soap moving the ring side to side and up and down. Again if you feel you really need to remove the ring see a doctor first.
