Keeping your navel piercing clean is essential if you want it to heal quickly and want to avoid getting infections. The cleaning operation takes only a few minutes a day and ensures that the piercing will not give you any problems in the following months and years. Read this article to find out what to do and what not to do to clean a navel piercing, along with information on how to deal with any infections.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Cleaning the Piercing
Step 1. Wash the piercing with antibacterial soap once or twice a day
A new navel piercing needs to be thoroughly cleaned at least once, preferably twice a day.
- The easiest way to clean your new piercing is to do it in the shower. Basch your hands under the piercing and clean it, letting the lukewarm water run for a minute or two.
- Take a mild antibacterial soap (one that contains triclosan) and sprinkle a drop or two on the palm of your hand. Rub it a little on your hands and then apply it to the piercing and surrounding skin.
- Run the soap into the piercing by gently twisting the ring or moving the bar up and down. Let the soap sit in the piercing for about a minute, then rinse well with running water.
- Make sure you have removed all the soap from the piercing, otherwise the navel could become irritated.
Step 2. Make saline compresses:
they are ideal for cleaning the piercing, preventing infections and promoting healing. They should be done once or twice a day to make the piercing heal better.
- To make a saline solution, dissolve a teaspoon of sea salt in half a cup of boiled water. Let it cool slightly then pour it into a clean glass or sterile container.
- Do not use iodized salt, pure salt or bitter salt, as they can irritate the piercing. However, you can use a store-bought saline solution if you don't want to make it at home.
- Place the rim of the glass under your piercing, then quickly flip it over, pressing firmly to prevent water from escaping.
- Lie on the sofa or bed to allow the piercing to soak in the saline solution for 10 to 15 minutes. Place a towel under you if you are afraid of water coming out.
- Rinse the piercing thoroughly with clean water and dry it thoroughly with absorbent paper or a tissue. Do not use a cotton towel, as it may harbor bacteria.
Step 3. Clean the scabs with a cotton swab
As your piercing is healing, it will secrete some whitish liquid; it is part of the healing process and is perfectly normal. This fluid can form scabs around your piercing.
- To remove the scabs, soak the cotton in warm water and use it to gently scrub the scabs off your piercing. Never remove scabs with your fingers, as they could lead to infections.
- If you don't periodically remove the scabs that form, they could harden around the piercing, tearing the wound when you move it. it can be painful and delay healing.
Step 4. Apply lavender oil:
is a great natural product that promotes healing and reduces swelling and sensitivity around the piercing.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and apply a couple of drops of lavender oil to a clean handkerchief, rubbing gently around the piercing.
- Carefully rotate the ring or move the bar up and down to make sure the oil is getting into the piercing. Use a tissue to remove excess oil.
- You can buy lavender oil at the supermarket or pharmacy. However, make sure it is clearly indicated as a “medicinal category” - this guarantees the purity of the oil and reduces the possibility of irritation.
Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Knowing What to Avoid
Step 1. Don't clean your piercing too much
While it may seem like a good idea to clean it more than twice a day, cleaning it too much can actually strip the natural oils from the skin, making the piercing dry and irritated.
However, it is important to always clean the piercing after exercising or sweating (even if you have already cleaned it today), as sweat can irritate the piercing
Step 2. Avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
It is not a good idea to use them to disinfect the piercing, because these substances dry and dry the skin and can lead to irritation.
In addition, these substances hinder the growth of new healthy cells within the piercing and thus slow down the healing process
Step 3. Do not use bacitracin or other antibacterial ointments
These types of ointments are not made for puncture wounds (such as piercings), as they keep the wound from being too moist, removing oxygen from the tissues and slowing healing.
Step 4. Avoid moving the ring inside the piercing
Avoid twisting, twisting, or twisting the ring or bar for the first 3 to 4 weeks, as it aggravates the wound and slows the healing process.
If you play around with the ring, it also means that you are touching the piercing more than necessary, increasing the risk of bacteria on your hands transferring to it, causing infections
Step 5. Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes
For the first few weeks after the piercing is done, it is best not to wear tight, skin-tight clothing such as high-waisted jeans, skirts and tights. The piercing could get caught in your clothing and tug, causing pain in the wound and slowing healing.
You could also cover your piercing with a bandage, when playing contact sports or when you go to sleep, where there is more risk of jerking or pulling on the piercing
Step 6. Never remove the ring or bar during the healing period
Navel piercings can close very quickly, so if you take the piercing off (even for short periods), you may not be able to put it back on.
Method 3 of 3: Part 3: How to Treat Infections
Step 1. Learn to recognize the signs of infection
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the piercing may still become infected. When an infection develops, it's important to deal with it early to prevent it from getting worse. The main symptoms of an infection are as follows:
- Excessive redness and swelling around the piercing.
- Pain or tenderness every time you touch or move the piercing.
- Secretions of greenish pus or blood from the piercing.
Step 2. Make yourself a warm compress:
can help fight infection. Dip a clean cloth in warm water, remove excess and press on the piercing for three minutes. Repeat 3 or 4 times a day.
Step 3. Clean with antiseptic disinfectant and apply antibacterial cream
Before making the compress, clean the piercing well with disinfectant, remembering to rinse thoroughly with running water. Pat dry with a tissue, then apply a thin layer of topical antibacterial cream.
Step 4. Do not remove your piercing for no reason. If you do, then the hole will close, leaving the infection inside. This makes it really difficult to get rid of it. It is safer to leave the piercing in place until the infection has passed.
Step 5. If symptoms persist, see a doctor
If the infection hasn't improved after 24 hours or you start to feel chills or fever, it's important to see a doctor right away. He can prescribe an antibiotic to fight the infection.
Advice
- If it becomes infected, make sure you are not allergic to metal. Although your piercer SHOULD use stainless surgical metal, some may not follow this procedure. If this happens, go to a doctor and report your piercer.
- Take care of your new piercing and it will most likely not get infected.
- Moving the piercing while cleaning can hurt at first, but it is necessary.
- You can use neutral and non-colored liquid soaps.
- Seeing blood in the first few days is normal.
- Bactine (an antiseptic) is very good if you have an ongoing infection.
