How to Clean Navel Piercings

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Last Updated: October 31, 2023 Approved

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Keeping your navel piercing clean is essential if you want it to heal quickly and avoid infection. The cleaning process only requires a few minutes out of your day and will ensure that your piercing looks good in the months and years to come. Read on to find out the do's and don'ts for cleaning a navel piercing, along with information on how to deal with infection.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning Your Piercing

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Wash the piercing with antibacterial soap once or twice a day. A new navel piercing needs to be cleaned thoroughly at least once, and preferably twice a day.^{[1]
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- The easiest way to clean your new piercing is in the shower. Cup your hand under the piercing and allow clean, warm water to run over it for a minute or two. Try to avoid getting soap or other cleaners into or around your piercing as this can lead to infection and drying of the skin around the piercing.
- Take a gentle basic liquid soap with no dyes and squirt a drop or two into the palm of your hand. Lather it up, then apply the lather to the piercing and the suing, preventing infection and promoting healing. They should be done once or twice a day while the piercing heals.
- To make a salt soak, dissolve a teaspoon of sea salt in half a cup of boiled water. Allow the water to cool slightly, then transfer it to a clean glass or medicine cup.
- Do not use iodized salt, kosher salt or Epsom salts, as these can irritate the piercing. However, you can use a store-bought saline solution instead of the sea salt.
- Rest the edge of the glass beneath your navel piercing, then quickly flip it over, pressing firmly to prevent any water from leaking out.^{[2]
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- Lie down on a sofa or bed to allow the piercing to soak in the salt solution for 10 to 15 minutes. Place a towel beneath you if you're afraid of spills.^{[3]
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- Rinse the piercing thoroughly with clean water, then dry completely with paper towel or tissue. Don't use a cloth towel, as these can harbor bacteria.^{[4]
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2
Clean any crusting with a cotton swab. As your piercing heals, it will secrete a white to off-white fluid. This is part of the healing process and is perfectly healthy and normal. However, this fluid may build-up and cause crusting around the piercing. If you do see crust around your belly ring, do not panic as this is perfectly normal.^{[5]
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- To remove the crusting, dip a cotton swab in some warm water and use it to gently rub away any crusting from the piercing. Never pick the crusting off with your fingers as this can lead to infection.
- If the crust around the piercing is left to build up, it can harden around the ring, tearing at the wound when the ring moves. This can be painful and delays the healing process.
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Apply lavender oil. Lavender oil is a great natural product which promotes healing and reduces swelling and tenderness around the piercing.^{[6]
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- Thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial soap, then apply a couple of drops of the lavender oil to a clean cotton bud and rub gently around the piercing.
- Gently rotate the ring or move the barbell up and down to make sure the lavender oil reaches inside the piercing. Use a tissue to wipe any excess oil from the skin.
- Lavender oil can be purchased at the supermarket or chemist's. Just make sure it is clearly marked as being "medicinal grade" -- this guarantees the purity of the oil and reduces the chance of irritation.

Part 2

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Knowing What to Avoid

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Do not over clean the piercing. Although it may seem like a good idea to clean the piercing more than twice a day, over-cleaning can actually strip natural oils from the skin, causing the piercing to become dried out and irritated.
- However, it is important that you always clean your piercing after exercise or periods of intense sweating (even if you've already cleaned it that day), as sweat can irritate the piercing.
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Avoid using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. It is a bad idea to use either rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean your piercing, as these substances dry out the skin which leads to irritation.^{[7]
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- In addition, these substances prevent the growth of healthy new cells within the piercing, which slows down the healing process.
These types of ointments are not meant for puncture wounds (like piercings) as they keep the wound too moist, which cuts off oxygen supply to the tissue and slows down the healing process.^{[8]
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Avoid moving the ring around inside the piercing. Avoid turning, twisting or rotating the ring or barbell for the first 3 to 4 weeks, as this aggravates the wound and slows down the healing process.^{[9]
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- Twisting the ring also means that you are touching the piercing more than necessary, which increases the risk of bacteria from your hands being transferred to the navel and causing infection.
5
Avoid wearing tight clothing. For the first few weeks after a navel piercing you should avoid tight clothing such as high-waited jeans, skirts and pantyhose. The jewelry may get caught in the clothing and tug at the wound, which is painful and slows down healing time.
- You may also want to cover your navel piercing with a large bandage when playing contact sports and in bed, when there is an increased risk of tugging or pulling on the wound.
You should never remove the navel ring or barbell while the piercing is still healing. Navel piercings can close up very rapidly so if you remove the jewelry (even for short periods of time) you may be unable to get it back in again.^{[10]
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Part 3

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Dealing with Infections

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Identify signs of infection. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the piercing will still become infected. When an infection develops, it's important that you deal with it immediately, to prevent it from becoming worse. The main symptoms of an infected piercing are as follows:^{[11]
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- Excessive redness and swelling around the piercing.
- Pain or tenderness whenever the area is touched or the jewelry moves.
- Green or blood-streaked pus seeping from the piercing.
A warm compress can help to draw infection from the piercing. Soak a clean washcloth in warm water, wring out the excess, then press against the piercing for three minutes. Repeat 3 to 4 times a day.^{[12]
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After applying the compress, clean the piercing with an antiseptic cleanser, remembering to thoroughly rinse with running water. Dry completely with paper towel, then apply a thin layer of topical antibacterial cream.
Do not under any circumstances remove the jewelry from the piercing. If you do, the piercing may close up, thus sealing the infection inside the navel. This makes it very difficult to treat. It's much safer to leave the jewelry in the piercing until the infection has cleared.^{[13]
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If the infection has not improved after 24 hours, or you begin to develop fever or chills, it is important that you see a doctor immediately. They can prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection.^{[14]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Is it normal for a navel piercing to be red and sore after the first week, even if it is washed daily?

Community Answer

Yes. At one week, your piercing is still a fresh piercing. The redness is just your body reacting to an open wound. The piercing will be red and sore for about two weeks at most. If it extends past two weeks, see your doctor.

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Is there an herbal remedy for keeping the piercing clean?

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Try using chamomile. Prepare one teabag of chamomile and 100ml of water. Let it turn golden in color, then wash your navel with it. It's relaxing and it doesn't dry out the area.

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How can I tell if my belly button piercing is infected or just healing?

Community Answer

A healing piercing will come with a small amount crust, while an infected one will come with a lot more. Also, a healing piercing may secrete a white or off-white fluid. An infected piercing may secrete yellow, green, or red fluid.

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Bleeding for the first few days is normal.

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If it does become infected, check to make sure that you are not allergic to the metal. While your piercer SHOULD use surgical stainless steel, some may not follow regulation. If this occurs, see a doctor and report your piercer.

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Take care of your new piercing and it most likely won't get infected

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