Getting your belly button pierced can be an intimidating experience, even though it’s a lot of fun because you never know what to expect. The most difficult part is not knowing if it’ll look very good or not.
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Everyone should consider getting a belly piercing if they would like to add to their style. Unfortunately, if you obtain one, you must remember to spend a great deal of effort and care in order for your belly button piercing to heal quickly. When you get a piercing, you are more likely to get an infectious disease. They can be frustrating and difficult at times.
To avoid this, you should practice effective aftercare, which is also not hard if you maintain up. Belly button piercings start taking time to heal, and the time varies from one person to another.
It is not uncommon for a belly button piercing to become infected after so many years. Best Healthful experts will explain what you can do and why infections occur first in the place.
Reasons that Your Belly Button Piercing Get Infected?
One of the most common causes of a belly button piercing infection years later would be that it did not heal correctly in the first place. Everybody’s healing process is unique.
Some people heal within three weeks of getting their ears pierced, while others might take up to two years. Although if your belly piercing has partially healed, there will still be a chance of disease if you really do not properly care for it. Because these are among the most sensitive parts of your body. Therefore, sometimes slight exposure to bacteria increases your chance of disease.
As previously stated, one of the major reasons a belly button piercing becomes infected years later is due to improper care. You must clean your piercing with saline solution until it has fully recovered completely. However, this is particularly important when wearing tight-fitting clothing. All you need to do is clean it regularly, which will keep your belly piercing safe.
Another reason it may have become infectious after all those years is that something got caught in the piercing. You may very well have tugged on your shirt, having caused your belly piercing to become implicated in the fabric as well as a shift out of place. This can sometimes result in a tear in the piercing. It is not only painful but then also expands the wound up to infectious disease.
Another reason you might get a belly button piercing infectious disease is that you have an allergy to the jewelry. The metal part of your piercing jewelry may not have been sterilized or of excellent quality, resulting in an infection.
You must have your piercing changed right away, but before doing so, you must consult with an expert and follow their suggestions. Doing something like that without due discussion could intensify the infectious disease and make you regret having the piercing in the first place. Do you really want that?
Signs and Symptoms of Infected Belly Button Piercing:
Mainly, you can tell if you have a belly button piercing infection because the adverse effects are so visible. Some may be difficult to detect because the symptoms are not quite as painful. But it still exposes you to the risk of infection.
If you realize any of the following symptoms below about your belly button piercing, their piercing has been most likely to be infected.
1. Additional Discharge/Pus
When a belly button piercing becomes infectious, one of the first symptoms is a strange, smelly release, also known as pus. Pus can also form if the belly piercing isn’t infected, but if it persists and does not really stop, you may be suffering from an infection.
Take note of the colour and smell of the puss to keep your eyes out for infectious diseases, as these changes may suggest an infection. Yellowish pus rather than just clear pus is a symptom of an infection, particularly if you smell something strange.
2. Redness
When you touch your belly piercing, you could very well notice it starting to turn red, which is a regular component of the recovery process. If the redness suddenly appears after some time and causes it, you most likely have an infectious disease.
Touch the redness with clean hands to really be sure, and then if you start noticing the area heating, you might have a serious problem.
3. Intense Pain
If you develop belly button piercing infectious disease, you will certainly experience pain that improves over time. This pain is often caused by pain and swelling in the area.
Suppose you have not done anything physical that would have caused the pain. However, it’s most likely their piercing that is really causing the pain.
4. Cyst Formation
Cyst formation can also indicate a belly button piercing infectious disease. You’ll notice another round fluid-filled cyst on your piercing at about this point. Cysts usually drain completely on their own, but if the color of the drainage changes. However, it could be an indication of an infectious cyst disease.
5. Fever
Fever is another sign of a diseased belly piercing. If you have an infectious disease, the symptoms will increase over time, particularly if medications aren’t assisting in reducing the fever.
How to Take Care of Infected Belly Button Piercing?
The good thing about a diseased belly button piercing is that you are able to treat it at home if it has not gotten too extreme. However, regardless of which symptom you notice first, it’s best to contact a health care professional or your doctor. Best Healthful can advise you on what you should do next and determine whether this is an emergency situation.
Clean it Daily:
Cleaning a diseased belly piercing at least one or two a day is the greatest method of care for it. A saltwater mixture of saline solution would be necessary to wash your belly piercing.
Wash it Gently with Saltwater Solution:
To make the saltwater solution, certainly, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in 5 ounces of drinking water. Dip a clean cotton swab in the way to solve and gently rub it along the piercing.
Submerge your Piercing in Sea Salt Solution Twice:
You could also start leaving the cotton in place for 10 minutes. Submerge your piercing inside the solution for maximum impact. However, doing this twice a day will be extremely beneficial.
Use Antiseptic Soap:
When you’ve determined that you’ve got a belly button piercing infectious disease, wash your hands with antibacterial soap to avoid being able to infect your piercing further. You should also apply an antiseptic cream to the piercing for mild recovery.
Use Creams:
If you leave the cream on the piercing for much too long, it may attract the most bacteria, complicating the infectious disease. A hot compress is also a common way to treat an infected piercing, particularly if pus is seeping from the area.
Compress it With Hot Water:
A hot water compress improves blood circulation inside the piercing area. Tea tree oil could also assist in reducing skin damage and redness.
If you follow the following guidelines, avoid trying to remove your piercing jewelry before even consulting your piercer. If your symptoms worsen over time and none of these treatments helps.
Final Verdict:
With the assistance of the Best Healthful experts, you should now be certain of what to do when obtaining a belly piercing and how to care for it. If you have an infectious disease, it is best to see an expert and require medical attention as soon as you can!
FAQs:
Is it possible for a healed belly piercing to become infected?
While the majority of belly button piercings recover without complications, bacteria can penetrate the area before recovery is complete. In most instances, infectious diseases are minor. Pain, redness, and swelling are common symptoms, and trying to improve hygiene can help. Complete recovery can take 9 to 12 months.
What’s causing the pain in my old belly piercing?
Bacterial infections occur when bacteria from dirt and foreign objects enter an ability to heal the open piercing. Keep in mind that piercings are open wounds that must be regularly cleaned. Infection symptoms include severe irritation, pain, and redness.
Why does my belly button piercing still hurt after all these years?
Pierced areas, extremely sensitive areas such as the navel, can become diseased years or even months after they are pierced. But infectious diseases, more often than not, occur immediately just after piercing because the portal door is completely open.
What is making a comeback from my old belly button piercing?
The sebaceous glands in the skin produce oil. A cyst could form under the skin when one of the glands in or near the belly button becomes backed up or clogged with oil and dirt. If the cyst is damaged and leaking, this should frequently produce a thick off-white to yellow release.
FAQs
Belly Button Piercing Become Infected After Years? ›
Pierced areas, especially sensitive areas like the navel, can get infected months and even years after they were pierced, though infections most often occur very shortly after the time of piercing, as that is when the portal door is wide open.
Why is my belly piercing infected after years? ›However, incorrect aftercare or unsanitary conditions can lead to bacterial infections. It can take from 9 months to 1 year for a belly button piercing to heal completely. During that time, you're at risk for infection. Even an injury to an old piercing may lead to infection.
Can a healed belly piercing gets infected? ›It can take up to a year or longer for the “wound” from a belly button piercing to fully heal, explains Dr. Hodes. That's a lengthy timeframe that extends your risk of eventually getting some sort of infection.
Why does my old belly button piercing have pus? ›Bacterial or fungal infections
A common risk factor for bacterial infection is a belly button piercing. An open wound such as a piercing is the ideal way for bacteria to get under the skin and cause an infection. Bacterial infections cause a discharge that has a disturbing smell to it.
Although many people don't have any problems after they get a body piercing, you could have: Infection. A piercing on your belly button is more likely to get infected than other body parts because of its shape. It's easy for bacteria to hole up inside it.
Why is my fully healed piercing infected? ›If the earrings are on too tightly, not allowing room for the wound to breathe and heal, an infection can develop. A piercing can also get infected if there's too much handling of the piercing or the post of the earring is rough.
What to do if piercing gets infected after years? ›To treat an infection in an old piercing, people should clean the earring and both sides of the ear with saline solution, and handing it with clean hands. If the infection does not improve, spreads, or fever occurs, a person should seek medical attention.
Why is my healed piercing infected? ›Causes of Infections Later After the Pierced Ear has Healed
Examples are a heavy earring or a rough area on the post. Reason: any break in the skin can become infected. Putting the post in at the wrong angle also can scratch the channel. Use a mirror until putting the earring in becomes routine.
To treat infection, apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment to the pierce. Remove all excess ointment to make sure that the pierce is well-ventilated. Application of warm compresses may also soothe the irritated pierce. Severe infections may require oral antibiotics, which must be prescribed by your doctor.
Why is my old piercing pussing? ›Your piercing might be infected if: the area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour) there's blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellow. you feel hot or shivery or generally unwell.
Why is my old belly button piercing red? ›
Share on Pinterest Red skin around the piercing could indicate an infection. Some signs of an infected belly button piercing include: intense pain or a burning sensation at the site. bright red skin around the piercing, or red streaks coming from it.
Can you put Neosporin on a infected belly button piercing? ›Gently pat dry the affected area with clean gauze or a tissue. Then apply a small amount of an over-the-counter antibiotic cream (Neosporin, bacitracin, others), as directed on the product label. Turn the piercing jewelry a few times to prevent it from sticking to the skin.
Can you put Neosporin on an infected piercing? ›DO NOTapply any ointment such as Bacitracin, Neosporin or any other “triple antibiotic” ointment on your piercing. These prevent oxygen from reaching the wound and form a sticky residue, which can cause complications. They are NOT designed for use on healing piercings.
Should I take out my piercing if it looks infected? ›When you have an infected piercing, your first thought might be to take your jewelry out. While that might seem like the best thing to do, it's best to leave this to your doctor. If your piercing is actually infected, and you remove the jewelry on your own, you may spread the bacteria.
Why is my old piercing crusty? ›Crustiness, on the other hand, is the buildup of seepage that results from the body trying to heal the piercing as it would any other wound. Typically these are light or near-colorless and should reduce as the piercing, and healing process, matures.
Why has my piercing not healed after years? ›Often it's not so much that the piercing isn't healed because technically it is, but it just needs to settle. There is a foreign object inserted into your body. Your body knows this and tries to either assimilate or reject the object. This process takes time, different lengths of time for everyone.
Should I clean the crust off my piercing? ›DO NOT pick the crusties off—that's just introducing your dirty hands to a healing piercing and can increase your risk of infection. The best way to clean them is to soak the piercing in warm saline solution, softening the crusties which then come off easily.
Why do my old piercings hurt? ›The most common cause is simply increased friction between the ear hole and the earring. This is most easily remedied by putting petroleum jelly on the earring post and then inserting it into the ear. The petroleum jelly will lubricate the earring to reduce friction.
Why is my piercing leaking clear liquid? ›The new piercing will weep lymphatic fluid. It is a clear, yellowish discharge that would come out of any wound. THIS IS NOT A SIGN OF INFECTION AND IS NOT PUS. In actuality, it's a good sign, it shows your body is doing what it should and fighting the good fight.
Why does my belly button piercing take ages to heal? ›It can take anywhere from nine months to a year for a belly button piercing to fully heal. This is because of the constant movement associated with the location. Keeping the area as bacteria-free as possible is essential to healing.
What color pus is bad for piercings? ›
A clear indication of an infected nose piercing is the presence of pus. While white pus points towards a minor infection, green or yellow pus is usually associated with a more serious infection.
When should you give up on a piercing? ›- You've tried to have the area pierced a number of times, but it just won't stick. ...
- You start to feel uncomfortable wearing your piercing. ...
- You can't stick to the aftercare period. ...
- Your piercing constantly gets in the way. ...
- Your piercing is causing health issues.
A piercing is infected if it is red, swollen, bleeding, and producing pus. To treat it at home, use topical antibiotics, a saline solution, and don't remove the piercing. See a doctor if the piercing is worsening, as it can lead to scarring or serious infection .
Why is my belly button piercing itchy after years? ›As the swelling fades your body may attempt to remove the jewellery. To do so, the connective tissue around the piercing jewellery slowly moves towards the surface of the skin. This results in an itchy feeling that is essentially the body's attempt to get you to scratch the piercing and remove the jewellery.
Why is my belly button crusty? ›A navel stone is sometimes called an omphalolith or umbolith. It is a condition where substances like sebum, or skin oil, hair, dead skin cells, and dirt can accumulate and form a hardball. The stone is usually a dark color and firm to the touch. They may resemble a large blackhead in the opening of the navel.
What does an infected belly button look like? ›Infected belly button symptoms
Red, itchy skin around the navel. Foul smells. Swelling. Yellow, green, or dark-colored discharge.
To treat an infection
Keep the skin of your belly button clean and dry. Use an antifungal powder or cream to clear up a yeast infection. For a bacterial infection, your doctor might recommend using an antibiotic ointment. Some infections may require oral antibiotic treatment, incision and drainage of the cyst, or both.
Conservative treatment of minor local infections includes warm compress and over-the-counter or prescription topical antibiotics such as bacitracin or mupirocin. Oral antibiotics such as cephalexin or clindamycin provide coverage for streptococcus and staphylococcus.
Does salt water help belly button piercing? ›One way to help your new piercing stay healthy is to soak it in a sea salt or saline mixture. Doing this can keep your wound clean and promote healing. Some piercing experts tell their customers to consider a sea salt soak to help your piercing heal.
Is Tea Tree Oil Good for infected piercings? ›Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties that make it a triple threat in piercing aftercare. Not only can it be used to care for certain piercings during their initial healing process, but it can also be used long-term to minimize irritation and prevent infection.
Is it OK to put triple antibiotic ointment on a piercing? ›
Do NOT Use: Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol or witch hazel. They can be exceptionally drying and can kill new cell growth, prolonging the healing process. Ointments such as Bacitracin, Neosporin, triple antibiotic ointment or any other petroleum based products.
Can your belly button piercing get infected years later? ›Pierced areas, especially sensitive areas like the navel, can get infected months and even years after they were pierced, though infections most often occur very shortly after the time of piercing, as that is when the portal door is wide open.
What causes old piercings to get infected? ›Most commonly, an infected ear piercing is caused by bacteria entering the wound, which can happen in several ways. Handling with unclean hands. If you clean your ears without washing your hands first, you run the risk of exposing your piercings to bacteria. Not cleaning the piercing enough.
Why is my belly button piercing rejecting after years? ›Rejection usually happens in the weeks and months following a new piercing, but it can also happen years, even decades, later. If you bump your old piercing in an odd way or have an infection that kicks your immune system into overdrive, you might suddenly see signs of migration and rejection.
Why is my piercing infected after 10 years? ›An infected ear piercing can also develop years after a person got the original piercing. Usually, the infections are minor, and people can treat them at home without complications. Touching the piercing too often with dirty hands or not cleaning the area can lead to infections.
Why is my old belly piercing hurting? ›While most belly button piercings heal without issues, bacteria can infect the area before healing is complete. Infections are usually minor. Symptoms can include pain, redness, and swelling, and improving hygiene can help. Complete healing can take 9–12 months.
Why does my belly button piercing have a bump after years? ›Keloids are overgrowths of scar tissue that form at the site of skin injury. They're a common side effect of piercings and some people are more prone to keloids than others. They're harmless, but can be annoying and occasionally painful.
Can a piercing get infected at any time? ›Most infections happen in the first few weeks or months of having a piercing. An infection at the time of piercing could be from bacteria on the piercing tool, the jewelry, or the piercer's hands. Bacteria can more easily enter a raw wound compared to healed skin.
How do you tell if an old piercing is infected? ›Signs of an infection
Your piercing might be infected if: the area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour) there's blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellow. you feel hot or shivery or generally unwell.
“That said, emu oil is one of the most foolproof ways for preventing scar tissue. Also, tea-tree oil, properly diluted, works to make a post-healed piercing less visible.” He recommends those oils for scarred belly button piercings, too. that trick also helps it hold longer.
What does a rejecting belly piercing look like? ›
Symptoms of piercing rejection
more of the jewelry becoming visible on the outside of the piercing. the piercing remaining sore, red, irritated, or dry after the first few days. the jewelry becoming visible under the skin. the piercing hole appearing to be getting larger.
If the skin is looking thinner or tighter around the piercing, or above the jewellery, it's a possible sign of rejection. As well, the colour of your skin changing around the hole is another potential sign. Transparent/near-transparent skin is a very likely sign of rejection.
Is Neosporin good for infected piercings? ›Gently pat dry the affected area with clean gauze or a tissue. Then apply a small amount of an over-the-counter antibiotic cream (Neosporin, bacitracin, others), as directed on the product label. Turn the piercing jewelry a few times to prevent it from sticking to the skin.