Here are a few suggestions:
- Wear a wound sealing bandage over the piercing
- Wear waterproof clothing over your belly button or nipple piercings – and a swimming cap to protect your ear piercings – for short periods of time
- Limit the time you spend in the water to avoid submerging the piercing for too long
- Clean the piercing as soon as you can after leaving the water
Can you swim with a belly button piercing?
If you are wondering whether one can actually swim with a belly button ring, the answer is yes, you can! Getting a belly button piercing does not mean that you cannot swimming with it on. But you need to essentially wait for the piercing to heal off completely before you start swimming with it.
What should I avoid while having a belly button piercing?
While having a new piercing, avoid bathing in tubs and swimming in pools, lakes and other open water areas as these tend to harbor bacteria which can cause infections. Avoid using waist bands until the new piercing heals. Infections in the belly button are common. Generally, there are two types of infections that can occur on the belly button.
What should I do if my belly button piercing is infected?
Any infection that does not get better after three days should be checked by a doctor. While having a new piercing, avoid bathing in tubs and swimming in pools, lakes and other open water areas as these tend to harbor bacteria which can cause infections. Avoid using waist bands until the new piercing heals.
How to prevent belly button infections?
Avoid using products such as alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, bactine and rubbing alcohol to clean the piercing as they irritate the piercing and make it worse. While following the instructions discussed above goes a long way to prevent belly button infections, you may follow them to the letter and still end up with an infection.
How to care for belly button piercing?
After the piercing has been done, some care you can give it involves adopting the correct lifestyle to facilitate healing. Get enough rest to avoid straining the area. Eat healthy and ensure your meals are balanced.
How to heal a belly button piercing infection?
To help heal and get over the infection with ease, wear loose fitting clothes. This will ensure that trauma on the area is minimized. Ensure that the area remains dry as excess moisture will worsen the area. It is important to note that during pregnancy, belly button piercing infections are common.
What are the infections on the belly button?
Infections in the belly button are common. Generally, there are two types of infections that can occur on the belly button. These are yeast and bacterial infections. The fact that the area is warm and dark ad can easily retain moisture makes it vulnerable to infections as these conditions are favorable for the growth of micro-organisms. Belly button piercing infections are as a result of bacteria. This is the same kind of infection you are likely to get if you accidentally scratch the area.
How long does it take for a belly button piercing to go unnoticed?
Generally, persons with deep belly buttons are at a higher risk of getting infections. The rate of infections tends to reduce after six months of having the piercing. When you are having an infected piercing, it is unlikely for it to go unnoticed. Some of the telltale signs of infection include:
How to avoid infection after piercing?
To avoid the infections, you should follow the aftercare instructions given to you by the piercer. Also ensure that the piercing is done by a professional. Let the establishment be a clean one to minimize the likelihood of infection. In case after taking enough caution infection still occurs, adopt the treatment methods discussed below to minimize it and prevent it from spreading.
How long does it take for a piercing to heal?
Stages of a Piercing’s Healing Process. After the procedure has been carried out, the piercing will take at least six months to heal. For some, this may be as long as 12 months. During this time, the piercing goes through three stages of healing.
Can belly button piercings heal?
The belly button piercing gives you a chance to don magnificent jewelry. When well taken care of, the piercing heals off without issues. However, this is not always the case. At times infections will occur. We look at belly button piercing aftercare and how to deal with any infections that may arise.
How Long Does It Take For A Belly Button Piercing To Heal?
While many simple piercings, like the ears, take only around 6-8 weeks to heal, the healing period for a navel piercing is much longer— a belly button piercing takes 6 months to 1 year to heal completely[ source]. Wow!
When Is The Best Time To Get My Belly Button Pierced?
Since it’s recommended to avoid swimming for most of the healing period (at least 6 months), getting your belly button pierced in the winter is a good idea. That way, it’s healed and ready to be shown off at the beach, the lake, or by the pool!
Why Is Swimming So Risky?
Bodies of water, especially stagnant ones like lakes, harbor tons of microorganisms that can cause infection in your new piercing. An infection can be painful, cause scarring, and increase healing times. In very serious infections, it can also be detrimental to your overall health.
Is It Okay To Swim In A Pool?
If the concern with swimming around lakes and rivers is developing an infection, is it okay to swim in a pool? Since pool water is treated with chlorine, you may think it’s free of bacteria, but that’s not the case.
How Can I Clean My Belly Button Piercing After A Shower?
There may be some times when it’s necessary to expose your piercing to water, like taking a shower. In that case, pat your piercing dry to avoid retaining moisture (bacteria love moisture and need it to grow!) and gently clean your piercing with sterile saline. Be sure to wash your hands before cleaning, and don’t rotate the piercing!
Wrapping It Up!
So, you can swim after getting a belly button piercing if you take all the measures mentioned in this post however for the best of your well being, I truly recommend that you should not swim at least for a few weeks after the navel piercing but it would be much better that you wait till the complete healing before jumping into a pool, river, or lake..