Infected Belly Button Rings

Body piercing is all the rage in the fashion world and indeed the not-so-fashion world! The belly button is one of the hot favorites for a piercing especially with women. There’s nothing quite as sensuous as a bare belly with a hint of sparkle to catch your eye. But as with all good things there is a downside to piercings as well. You need to be very careful with the aftercare to ensure that the piercing does not get infected.

Symptoms of an infected belly button ring:

An infected belly button ring is difficult to ignore or miss. If your belly button ring is infected, you will feel pain, have redness and swelling, and the area around the navel may feel hot to the touch. There may even be a certain amount of bleeding. A yellowish or greenish discharge of pus may also be present.

Treatment for an infected belly button ring:

Even if after all your care, your belly button ring still gets infected then you should treat it immediately and very seriously.

- The first thing you might think of doing is removing the belly ring. But if the navel is discharging pus, DO NOT remove the belly button ring. If the ring is removed, the hole of the piercing will shut and the pus will not be able to drain out properly. This can result in a very painful abscess.

An abscess is a type of infection caught under the skin. Symptoms of an abscess include pain, swelling, and darkening and hardening of the tissue surrounding the piercing. An abscess can generally be treated by oral antibiotics, but in some cases it may need surgical removal.

Sometimes an abscess may form even if the infected belly button ring is not taken out, mainly if the piercing is very swollen or the belly ring is very tight around the piercing. In such a case it may be advisable to change your belly ring and use one with a thinner gauge.

- To increase blood circulation to the pierced navel and allow the infection to drain, a hot compress should be used. Soaking the piercing in hot salt water is also very beneficial. Use ¼ teaspoon table salt in 8 ounces of water. (Epsom salts cannot be used as they are not the same as sea or table salts). The container used for the soaking should be thoroughly disinfected. Hot compresses should be disposable and preferably made from clean disposable materials such as cotton balls and gauge bandages.

- Over-the-counter antiseptic creams can be used in treating mild infection. But these should not be used for an extensive period of time or for any puncture wound.

- Hydrogen peroxide can be used for draining pus and clearing the infection around the belly button ring. Not to be used for aftercare though.

- In case of a systemic infection (when bacteria and toxins spread throughout the body via the bloodstream) treatment should be immediate as this type of infection can be fatal. Standard treatment requires oral and intravenous antibiotics.

Any infection that does not clear within a few days, or an abscess should be shown to a certified medical practitioner. In some cases the infection can be cured and the piercing is just fine. In others, because of the infection the hole may close and you have to get another piercing done. This does not mean you can never have a belly ring. It just means that you need to let your belly button heal and then try again. In the end, it’s going to be worth the trouble!
 

Disclaimer: The materials on the AllPiercings.com web site are presented for informational purposes only, and are not intended as a substitute for professional dental / medical advice, and accordingly you should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.

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