Navel piercings are a type of body art, or adornment, similar to ear piercings, nose piercings, tongue piercings and tattoos. Most people get navel piercings for purely aesthetic reasons. Like all body art or adornment, it is important to have the procedure done at a safe and sanitary location. Before you choose to have your navel pierced, research the facility to make certain that the piercer you choose is a licensed professional.
Risks
Before you undergo a naval piercing, acquaint yourself with the health risks involved. Common health risks include bacterial or yeast infections, damage to nerves, unusual scarring and allergic reactions. The use of sterilized equipment by a professional will lower these risks, but you should be aware that they still pose a threat. Serious infections include HIV and hepatitis, especially if the piercing equipment has not been sanitized.
Considerations
According to the Association of Professional Piercers, you should avoid getting a piercing if you have any of the following conditions:
1) Any health condition that might slow down the healing process, such as hemophilia, an autoimmune disorder, diabetes or a specific heart condition like prosthetic cardiac valve or a previous case of endocarditis. In such a case, you may want to consult your personal physician before undergoing a piercing procedure.
2) Lesions, lumps, rashes, moles, freckles or any type of skin irritation on and around the navel area.
3) You are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant.
4) If a licensed professional piercer advises against it during the consultation.
Prevention
The best way to prevent infection or complications arising from having your navel pierced is to research and choose your piercer carefully. First, you should check to see if the piercer is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers. If he is, a membership certificate should be mounted on the wall. Second, you should check to see if the studio has a license that allows it to pierce specific body parts. Third, you should ask to look at the studio's portfolio of piercings to determine if you like its work. Fourth, you should ask to watch workers set up the studio's equipment, then make sure you check that the piercer washes his hands, sterilizes the equipment and puts on brand new gloves. You should also ask to see the studio's autoclave, which is the sterilizer. Note that a proper sterilizer will use steam and pressure to eliminate bacteria and spores that lead to infection.
Proper Care
After you get your navel piercing, you will have to take necessary precautions to keep the area clean and prevent infections and other complications. The Association of Professional Piercers suggests using two different solutions to heal the pierced area: One is a saline solution that doesn't contain any additives and the other is a fragrance-free antimicrobial liquid soap. You can ask your piercer for information on where to obtain both of these cleansing products. You also can purchase a vented eyepath from your local pharmacy to place over the navel piercing to protect it from coming in contact with tight clothes and hard impact.
Cleaning Instructions
Always wash your hands with warm water and soap before touching the jewelry or the pierced area. Do a saline soak at least once a day. Place the saline solution in a cup and flip it over your navel and hold it there for five to 10 minutes. Afterward, rinse the area with water.
Use the antimicrobial soap about once or twice a day. Take a dime-sized amount of the soap and work into a lather over the pierced area. Allow the soap to stay on your piercing for no more than 30 seconds before rinsing off. Use a clean paper towel to dry the area after the cleansing. Clean your piercing in the shower rather than in a bath because bathtubs often contain microbes and bacteria.
Always wear clean clothing and sleep in clean bedding to prevent bacteria from entering the piercing.
Warning
Never get your navel pierced at a facility that uses a piercing gun. Piercing guns cannot be properly sterilized, which makes it highly likely that you may get a major infection, including HIV or hepatitis.
Avoid touching your piercing with unclean hands. Avoid using ear piercing cleaning solution to clean your navel. Avoid rubbing lotions or ointments on the area. Avoid coming into contact with other people's bodily fluids such as saliva until your piercing has fully healed. Avoid using cosmetics around the area until the piercing is completely healed. Do not remove or rotate your navel piercing when cleaning the area. Avoid cleaning your piercing with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Bactine, Betadine, Hicibiens, harsh soaps, and any products containing benzalkonium chloride and benzethonium chloride.
If you suspect an infection, contact a medical professional immediately. Do not remove the jewelry unless instructed to do so by your doctor.
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