Navel piercings can easily become irritated as the body moves and clothing rubs against them. If your piercing is red and swollen, it may just be irritated and not infected. If it is hot to the touch and oozing green or yellow pus, these are signs of infection and should be treated right away.
Navel Piercing Procedure
A properly trained body piercer uses a hollow single-use needle called a cannula needle to pierce your navel. He marks a dot above and below the upper lip of your navel to indicate the entry and exit points of the needle, then pinches the dots between a pair of clamps called Pennington forceps. After piercing you, he leaves the needle in for a moment while he lines up the jewelry, usually a 14-gauge curved barbell. He pushes the needle out while pushing the jewelry in. Most people don't even feel the jewelry being inserted.
Body Piercing Aftercare
Proper aftercare for a navel piercing includes saline soaks and cleaning with antimicrobial soap. If you suspect your navel piercing has become infected, be diligent about keeping it clean. The Association of Professional Piercers recommends soaking the piercing daily with a solution of 1/4 tsp. of non-iodized sea salt mixed with 1 cup of warm bottled water. Lean forward and, using a disposable plastic cup like a medicine cup, cover your navel with the salt solution-filled cup to form a seal. Lean back and soak the piercing for five to 10 minutes. Wash the area immediately after soaking with an antimicrobial soap such as Provon, Technicare or Satin.
Causes of Infection
The most common cause of infection is touching your jewelry with dirty hands. Soaking in bathtubs, hot tubs or swimming pools can also cause your piercing to become infected. To prevent infection, always wash your hands with antimicrobial or antibacterial soap before you touch your jewelry and cover your healing piercing with a waterproof bandage before swimming. Look for a bandage that forms a seal around the entirety of the piercing.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics may be necessary to heal an infected piercing. If your piercing is secreting pus and feels warm more than 1/2 inch beyond the wound, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. If you have a fever or chills, go to the emergency room immediately. These could be a sign of a very serious infection called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a staph infection resistant to commonly used antibiotics.
Removal of Jewelry
Refrain from removing your navel jewelry, even though you may be tempted to do so. If your piercing is secreting pus, the jewelry functions as a drain. If you remove the jewelry and the holes close, the infection could be trapped inside the wound and form an abscess. If you think you may be wearing the wrong jewelry, particularly if you pierced yourself or an untrained friend pierced you, go to the nearest professional piercer to have the jewelry changed. Look for a piercer certified by the Association of Professional Piercers.
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