While some people simply enjoy temporarily dressing up their wrists, necks and ears with fashion jewelry, others desire a more permanent option. Although body jewelry often is used to bedazzle the ears, facial features or belly button, the body bling also can be used in more private areas. Until your body piercing fully heals, swimming should be avoided. And even after your recovery, the activity still is a bit risky.
Potential Dangers
Wearing body jewelry involves deliberately putting a hole in your body and requiring it to heal around a foreign object. Until your piercing heals, the area is at an increased risk of infection. Bacteria, viruses, dirt, debris or microorganisms that enter the body through the body jewelry site could cause a nasty infection with swelling, redness and drainage. If the infection enters the bloodstream, an extremely dangerous condition known as septicemia might occur. Along with the risk of infection, moving the piercing around too much can cause excessive scarring or tearing of the skin near the piercing. Although swimming is not necessarily a rough activity, it could be dangerous for a fresh piercing.
Healing Time
According to the Center for Young Women's Health at the Children's Hospital of Boston, the healing time for a body piercing depends on the location of the piercing. A tongue piercing tends to heal the quickest, with an average healing time of four weeks. The eyebrow and ear lobe piercing follow, at roughly six to eight weeks each. The bridge of the nose takes about eight to 10 weeks, while the nostril can take up to three months and the nasal septum can take six to eight months to fully heal. A lip piercing can take up to three months, while a nipple piercing typically heals within six months. The sensitivity of the ear cartilage gives it a relatively long healing time of four to 12 months. The belly button often heals within four months, but can take up to 12 months for a full recovery. Male genitalia piercings can take up to six months for full healing, but female genitalia piercings generally heal within 10 weeks.
If You Must Swim
Until your body piercing has fully healed, avoid removing the jewelry unless absolutely necessary. Rather than removing your jewelry for a swim, try to keep it covered. Place a waterproof bandage over the piercing if possible, such as a piercing on the navel, nose, nipple, eyebrow or ear. Some piercings, such as those on the tongue or lip, will be difficult to cover while swimming. In this case, you really should try to avoid chlorinated pools, Jacuzzis, hot tubs, streams, lakes, oceans and rivers. If you absolutely must swim, try to keep the piercing out of the water. After swimming, clean the piercing with an fragrance-free antibacterial soap.
Other Tips
During the first few weeks or months after your piercing, the area is extremely sensitive to infection and injury. Along with swimming, try to avoid any activities that could cause friction or trauma to the area. This might include playing sports, vigorous exercise or wearing tight clothing. Avoid covering the piercing with lotion, cosmetics, hair products or body oils. Additionally, do not expose the area to direct sunlight, UV rays, alcohol, strong soap and bodily secretions.
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