Redness Around a Belly Button Piercing: Causes and Cures

Have you noticed redness around your belly button piercing? This can be alarming, especially if you are just beginning to care for your new jewelry. There are several reasons why the skin around your belly button piercing might be red, and this article will explore some of the common causes and provide guidance on how to address the issue effectively.

Common Causes of Redness

The most common reason for redness around a belly button piercing is inflammation or irritation. This can occur due to several reasons:

Metal type incompatibility: If you are using saline daily, it might be that the metal type in your piercing jewelry is not suitable for your skin. Piercing post not kept clean: Poor hygiene can lead to bacterial infections and inflammation. Piercing recently done: If your piercing is new, your body is likely still adjusting to the foreign object, which can result in redness.

Treatment for Redness

There are several things you can do to help reduce redness and inflammation around your belly button piercing. Here are some effective steps:

Saline Soaks

Use saline soaks: Saline soaks are an excellent way to help reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process. I recommend doing saline soaks twice daily for 5 minutes each. This should help reduce redness after a few days. If the redness persists, give it a week of daily soaks and then consider changing your piercing jewelry to titanium, which is much more skin-friendly and allergy-friendly.

General Care Instructions

Saline soak solution: To create a saline soak solution, place a pinch of sea salt in a clean small container, such as a juice glass, and fill it with very warm or comfortably hot water. Soak your piercing for 15 minutes three times a day until the piercing is completely healed. Depending on the location of the piercing, 4 to 6 weeks is usually sufficient, but your piercer can give you more specific instructions.

Keep the area clean: Clean the piercing area with a saline soak solution. Dampen the end of a Q-tip in the solution and lightly clean all accessible areas. Be sure to keep the area clean to avoid infections.

Avoid Harmful Practices

It's important to avoid any practices that can worsen the condition or lead to infection:

Do not tug, pull, or injure the site: Avoid any actions that could damage the healing skin or jewelry. Do not touch or play with the area: Touching the piercing without clean, sanitary hands or medical latex gloves can introduce bacteria. Avoid using table salt or other irritants: Avoid applying table salt, rubbing alcohol, Neosporin, peroxide, or Vaseline, as these can impede healing and lead to infections or scarring. Do not rub the piercing when drying: Gently dab the area with a clean towel or allow it to air dry. Avoid covering the piercing: Do not allow makeup, lotion, toner, or acne medication to clog or cover the piercing, as this can lead to trapped bacteria and infections.

Further Considerations

If the redness persists or spreads, or if you notice signs of infection such as pus, swelling, or a fever, it is important to seek medical attention. Your piercing might have become irritated due to the removal of the jewelry during the healing process. Keep the area clean and dry by washing it at least twice a day in the shower and drying thoroughly after. The piercing will close up over time, but be patient and monitor the area for any signs of infection or complications. If any concerning symptoms persist, consult with a healthcare professional or your piercer.