You dove in, bit your lip, and braced yourself for the pain. Moments later, she had a shiny new piece of jewelry sparkling on her navel. You got your belly button pierced and now you’re ready to get on with your life and show it off at the club or by the pool. Unfortunately there is a problem. It’s red, it hurts and it’s a little swollen. He’s not ready for his debut yet, but don’t worry, he’s only got a few days. To get the most out of your new piercing, it’s important to take care of it. Just follow these simple steps and you will be looking sexy in no time showing off your new belly.

New Navel Piercing Care:

• Keep clean:

  Keeping your piercings clean is important and there are no exceptions when it comes to belly buttons. Your belly button, though often covered by clothing, can still collect bacteria. Clean your navel piercing twice a day to keep it free of bacteria. Be sure to use an antibacterial soap to kill any harmful germs that could cause an infection. While cleaning twice a day is a good rule of thumb, your lifestyle may require a little more cleaning. If you are involved in any of the following or similar activities, be sure to clean your piercing when you are done:

  • Spending time in a hot tub or pool
  • exercise
  • engage in sexual activities
  • Participate in intensive work activities. Elegant
  • working in a kitchen
• Use a sea salt soak:

  The healing process for a navel ring can be extremely long (6 to 12 months), but you can help speed up the healing process by soaking the area in a mixture of sea salts and distilled water. You can purchase the pre-made baths offered at many piercing shops, or you can make your own in a pinch using sea salt and distilled water. Use this soak 3 to 4 times a day for about 5 to 10 minutes. Keep this up until the piercing heals.

  (Note: Professional piercers suggest using a mixture of sea salt and water that is similar to your body’s. Get a gallon jug of water and add sea salt until you can taste it. Add a little at a time until it tastes of salt. It goes without saying. Remember to keep track of how much salt you are adding so you can remix if needed.)

• Try not to touch:

  It’s new and exciting and there’s something inside of you that draws you to touch your new navel piercing. Unfortunately, this is an impulse that should go unsatisfied. The more you touch your piercing, the more it irritates it and the more likely it is to transfer harmful bacteria from your hands to your sensitive belly button. If you do have to touch it, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap.

• Ask an expert:

  Some pain, discomfort, blood, and discharge are common with new piercings; however, if you are experiencing any or all of these things in excess, don’t hesitate to call or visit your piercer right away. If you feel that something is not right, it is better to be safe than sorry.

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