Belly button

[Gilly : )]

Hi had my belly button pierced about 2months ago but it is still very sore,red and slimmy. I clean it every day but it doesnt seem to be getting any better im not too sure but i think it may be the actual bar as i already have the top of my belly button pierced and i have never had any problems with that one

Any advice anyone

[Briar_x]

blergh!

remove it?

[Gilly : )]

I no i should but i think it will look nice when its callmed down

[loobie]

Hey Gilly,
Try filling up a glass with really salty water. Then carefully balance it over your belly button, leaning back slightly as you put it over it. This gives it a wonderful bath and it gets right into the area. Do this morning and night for as long as it takes. If ever mine starts playing up (I've had it for about 6 years) I do this and it works a treat. Be prepared for a bit of spilt water the first few times but once you get the hang of it, it's easy as can be!! Hope it heals up hun xx

[4getmenot]

May look nice when its calmed down but will look even worse if it spreads and the whole of your belly rots, it is an infection why would you want to keep it in.

[Gilly : )]

Dont scare me like that!

I dont think its bad enougth to rot my hole belly button but it is sore

Will try the salt water tonight hun cheers

[RATTER15]

Make sure the bar is titanium, only use salt water, most antiseptic creams and lotions are too aggressive, most importantly, ensure that your waist band is not going to irritate the piercing, this where most of these belly button piercings fail.

Good luck

[4getmenot]

Sorry. Well try the saltwater but I say if it gets any worse take it out, better to be safe than sorry. :-) I have lots of piercings which luckily have been fine but I know if they got sore I would take them out.

[Gilly : )]

I have got quite a few myself thats why im a bit concerned this one hasnt healed properly yet.
Considering buying a gold Bar and seeing if that makes any difference

[crete]

2 months seems a long time and not healing properly best to remove it just in case it is infected, is there an unpleasant odour from the area ?

[4getmenot]

Oh didnt notice the 2 months. I would remove it, you dont know what is infected under your skin that is not showing. A bit like if you had an ingrowing toenail for two months you would get it removed wouldnt you, especially if its sore too. If you go for the gold bar just be very careful when swapping them over, its gonna sting like a b1tch

[Gilly : )]

Nope no smells it is just abit slimmy and then it keeps crusting over

[RATTER15]

Do not use a gold bar use Titanium, its the only metal that is guaranteed to be 100% safe!!

[crete]

slimy and crusting over ,,,,,,,,after 2 months remove it and allow the area to heal up.

[Philtaz]

2 months is a bit of a long time, it should have been sorted by now. As one who works in an Operating Theatre and have seen what happens when these things become infected I'd recommend you go to your local A&E Dept and get it checked out, just to be on the safe side. If left too long these things can turn into something a little more nasty.

[Briar_x]

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.

[Briar_x]

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 � 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!

[stylinsam]

iv had my belly button peirced for about 6 years now and thats how myn was at first and i had an allergic reaction to titanium yes titanium i have to wear gold bars now!!! try using a gold bar!!

[Gilly : )]

Hi hun did you just swap it over because i think thats the case her as i think the one i have in is a titanuim one.

[saanen]

Can't understand why you are all even having this conversation. If something rots your flesh, you get rid of it. The human body has enough parasites to cause problems. Why introduce more?

[RATTER15]

Very clever Saanen, shame you have no idea what you are talking about, if you had read the postings you would have seen that removing it is a bad idea indeed!!