how long to wait before swimming after belly button piercing

If you must swim, we recommend covering your piercing with a waterproof Band-Aid. Avoid swimming. This mainly includes application of ointments that will help speed up the healing process. Many medical professionals recommend not swimming for a minimum of three weeks after getting a belly piercing. When the urge to get a piercing comes along, many people give right in. Because they are very anatomy dependent, some piercers may deny you service or suggest a different type of belly button piercing (like a floating navel piercing) or location over the traditional style and placement. Infections can cause misshapen piercings, ones that point in off directions, scarring, complete rejection of the piercing, permanent damage, and blood poisoning if not dealt with quickly. Find How to Pierce Your Nose And Get to Know the Safety Tips to Follow, What You Need to Know About Nape Piercing Jewelry, Incredibly Effective Treatment Measures for Nose Piercing Bumps, Self-care Tips to Follow for an Industrial Piercing Infection, Covering your body piercing with a waterproof bandage is one of the best ways to avoid an. This is why choosing your piercer is so important. Heavier design elements will be featured up top, however, the great thing about this style is that you can wear the jewelry however you like, hence the name. But the more the aftercare deviates from the recommendations of the artist the lesser the chances of having an easy and successful healing process, she says. Take a look. Later on, you can follow the tips so as prevent an infection and enjoy your splash in the pool. While it's still healing, it's important to keep the piercing dry as there's a risk of infection. Your email address will not be published. Natural oils like lavender oil and tea tree oil are also known to benefit. At times, there may be movement from stage three to stage two for a number of times before it heals. He has good research skills, and thats why you can see why his articles are packed with info that is factual and not readily available. Make sure you clean the area very slowly and thoroughly including the piercing jewelry. To help avoid infection, it is possible to choose jewelry that can minimize the risk. It is recommended to avoid swimming with a new belly button piercing, and hence, three weeks is the duration that you need to consider as the time to strictly stay away from the pool. Even before putting into place regular care procedures, there are some basics that should not be ignored. When there are infections, pus which is a thick drainage that is yellow or green will be produced. Make sure you keep the area clean and dry now until it is fully healed. Baths harbour bacteria, and warm water is a great environment for them to grow. DOI: health.clevelandclinic.org/are-your-earrings-or-body-piercings-causing-a-nickel-allergy, safepiercing.org/docs/APP_Initial_Web.pdf, youngwomenshealth.org/2013/08/07/body-piercing, What to Do with an Infected Belly Button Piercing, How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Piercing Aftercare, Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC, What's Really in Tattoo Ink? Can you use it on infected piercings? Avoid straining the area and get enough rest. Think of this as your body coming to terms with the new object in your navel. She also recommends wearing loose-fitting clothing and pants that have low-rise waistbands to ensure you dont irritate the piercing site or cause further complications. This way the possibility of complications resulting from negligence is minimized. Soak the piercing 2-3 times per day in a mixture of warm (not hot) water and non-iodized salt. This will be totally dependent on an individuals rate of healing. If you experience any discomfort or tightness, its recommended that you remove the jewelry thats currently in place. Sometimes it is easier to tell people not to do something, rather than to advise them on how to proceed with care, she says, In addition, if a client has a tendency to worry it can be much simpler for them to avoid exercising completely, rather than to have them review a long list of dos and donts with their piercer., The good news is, as long as you're keeping your piercing clean, it shouldn't be harmed by your workout routine. Ultimately, it's best to skip the gym for a day or two after getting a new tattoo the most important reason being to avoid bacteria, which can impact the full healing process. The piercing forms scar tissue. 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]. Manage Settings In case you have none. Family Medicine 32 years experience. Her work can be seen across the web on Backstage Magazine, Merry Jane, Vulture, and more. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. However, its important to note that not everyone can get a belly button piercing. Get enough rest to avoid straining the area. Ensure that any sweat is cleaned out properly. Not necessarily. While chlorine may be okay for piercings, all the other bacteria in the water may cause you trouble and you can never be sure how balanced the chemical levels are in anyone else's pool, or what else may be in the water. These are: This is the first stage of the healing process. Approved. Well Help. Stages of a Piercing's Healing Process After the procedure has been carried out, the piercing will take at least six months to heal. Its important to not share needles. Also, if your tattoo is in an area that will be stretched or flexed a lot during exercise, it's smart to put exercise off until the wound is fully healed. Knowing what to expect and how to care for the piercing can help you avoid complications. Also ensure that the piercing is done by a professional. You should ideally not have a soaking bath until the piercing is through the initial healing stages, and oozing, bleeding and scabbing have all stopped. It could cause the area to get infected, result in migration and even rejections. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 159,697 times. Swimming is one activity that needs to be avoided for a certain duration of time. With this jewelry, size is everything. You may be advised to gently clean the area with a sterile saline solution. Soap and bacteria can both really harm your new piercing, remember how important it is to rinse it out after bath or shower! So what can you do If you just can't stay out of the pool? Will the tattoo definitely be ruined or infected if a client goes to the gym afterwards? These swimming places are known to be unsanitary. Have you recently got a belly button piercing? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 3. Neosporin is an antibiotic product that is used to prevent infections and speed up the healing of wounds. The one thing to keep in mind is to always wash your hands before touching the piercing in any way to avoid irritating it or transferring bacteria. Wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap, and dry them with a disposable towel before touching or washing your piercing. 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. These are yeast and bacterial infections. Wet the area using plain warm water. Halloran L. Body Piercing: Avoiding Complications. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! At this point, the piercing is an open wound. When I bend over or lean downward it start to hurt bad. Anna Harris is an experienced fact-checker and researcher and a beauty writer and editor. According to NHS, "you should avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after having a piercing, and ideally until it has healed properly." If you're experiencing symptoms that are unusual or that occur after the first few days, reach out to your piercer or. (Everything You Need To Know), Can You Swim After Getting Ears Pierced? Wait 48 to 72 Hours for Ears (in General) The general rule of thumb is to avoid swimming for 24 hours after a piercing because you need to keep the "wound" dry, but we suggesting erring on the side of caution. You may also want to choose exercises that won't result in a repetitive motion, as rubbing the area of the piercing isnt advised. Its common practice to ask around for recommendations when looking for a piercer. There will also be production of pus in the initial phase of infection. This will make it hard to. To prevent these, there are some belly button piercing healing rules that should be followed. Apply a small amount of soap on the new piercing and the area for about 30 seconds. They may contain bacteria that could cause infections on the piercings. Answer #1 Hi boredom410, Piercers recommend you wait a month after your piercing to go swimming in chlorinated pools. But you might want to slow down and plan your piercings out more strategically. If you are wondering whether one can actually swim with a belly button ring, the answer is yes, you can! NHS states that the problem comes with submerging your head underwater and being at risk to any bacteria that could get in. Brooklyn tattoo artist Carmen Figueroa breaks it down for us, including why its important to follow the artists aftercare instructions to the best of your ability. 1. Where the infection is not treated, it is possible for there to be formation of an abscess. 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.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'outdoorfavor_com-leader-2','ezslot_6',673,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorfavor_com-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'outdoorfavor_com-leader-2','ezslot_7',673,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorfavor_com-leader-2-0_1');.leader-2-multi-673{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while your piercing is healing. Michael is heavily inclined towards traveling to natural places and documenting cultures/people from different parts of the world. Belly Button Piercings. Everyone heals differently, so they may provide you a range. Here's a breakdown so you can plan your piercing accordingly. This is because of the constant movement associated with the location. Generally, piercers use an autoclave to kill any possible bacteria or other pathogens on the equipment. "Thanks for the info. Due to its placement, the navel piercing takes a minimum of 6 - 9 months to heal. So now that you know that swimming isnt recommended until your piercing is fully healed, you may want to take a deeper dive into why that is. If your dip into the water is a bit more premeditated, you'll want to wear"a wound sealing waterproof bandage over the piercing" (via Koox Diving). Brooks says nipple and navel piercings, need a few months of healing time before resuming the types of workouts that will irritate the piercing area because of the constant stretching and bending that is involved.Though cardio workouts are okay and are less likely to result in direct rubbing of the piercing area, Brooks recommends this exercise to, those people with recent nipple and navel piercings who dont want that break from the gym. she says. Belly button piercings are done either with tools or freehand by a professional piercer. However, the healing process can take upward of. Brooks says nipple piercings, in particular, dont do well in a sports bra, as it rests in a way that is equivalent to sleeping on the piercing, which is never good. If youre still unsure and not willing to skip a gym day, don't be shy about asking your tattoo artist for guidance. That means that summertime and vacation might not be the best time to add another hole to your body. The healing of a belly button piercing can go to beyond six months. Brooks advice for a new piercing is as follows, If youre going to clean it with anything outside of showering regularly; clean it with saline. she says, Otherwise dont twist, turn, or rotate the jewelry and do your best not to sleep on it. This doesnt change if you prefer to be at the gym every day, or not, as keeping a new piercing clean is always the best course of action. Plus, try to keep in mind that body fluids shouldn't be shared with others. As the infection advances, the infected area will become swollen. Since its 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. Very hot water will cause your piercing to swell and hurt. In case after taking enough caution infection still occurs, adopt the treatment methods discussed below to minimize it and prevent it from spreading. If the piercing needle wasn't sterile, there . This smaller jewelry style is perfect for those who lead a very active lifestyle or don't feel the need to show off their navel piercing all the time. Considering the piercing is fairly painless due to a fleshy placement and easy to take care of since you dont have to look in a mirror to see it, theyre a great choice that has endured the test of time. If youre still interested in a belly button piercing, the best place to start is to find a licensed, experienced piercer who will work with your anatomy to give you the best piercing. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. Pus is not to be confused with sebum which is a normal secretion. These are: The Inflammatory Stage This is the first stage of the healing process. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Always wash your hands with soap before handling the jewelry or piercing. Here are the piercings its safe for, how to use it, side effects to, New research highlights the lack of oversight and regulation regarding the production of tattoo ink in the US and suggests some ingredients may carry, After getting a new tattoo, the outer layer of skin will typically appear healed within 2 to 3 weeks. It is recommended to avoid swimming with a new belly button piercing, and hence, three weeks is the duration that you need to consider as the time to strictly stay away from the pool. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Sabrina Crews is a copy editor and fact checker. https://ironbrush.com/about/piercing-aftercare/, https://almostfamouspiercing.com/tea-tree-oil/, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/household-advice/a657043/bathroom-cleaning-tips-sparkling-bathroom/, https://www.byrdie.com/body-piercing-aftercare-new-piercing-care-to-common-piercing-problems-4077438, https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/can-i-go-swimming-after-a-piercing/, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-piercing/, . Although some might see the belly button piercing as a simple process, it requires to be carried out by a professional using the right tools. This normally is produced by the body, can be foul smelling as well but is not an indication of an infection. Assuming that everything went smooth, wait 48 to 72 hours, contingent upon whether or not you experience irritation in the affected area. After having a piercing, it's important to keep the area clean and dry. Consider the kind of clothing you wearif you normally wear yoga pants, it might be time for sweats.. Belly button piercings can take longer to heal. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Following the correct aftercare during the healing process is super important, both because it will help the piercing heal properly and because not doing so could slow down the process. This is not to be confused with flexible plastic jewelry. Because youre ultimately dealing with a raw wound, it needs to be protected at all costs. But, make sure that you dont forget to follow the instructions mentioned below before stepping inside the pool. If you have body hair around your navel, they may remove this with a new disposable razor. Dont worry if you experience slight bleeding, swelling, or redness immediately after the piercingthats completely normal and should subside quickly. As far as intensive exercising goes, Figueroa says its not recommended because its not good to have bacteria sitting on top of an open wound. Even in case of redness or pus, you must completely avoid swimming. Of course, this price tends to include a very basic jewelry option (if its included at all). How long does it take for your belly to heal after piercing? Better to wait until fall or miss a dip in the ocean rather than suffering with an infection. Avoid pools chlorine kills white blood cells on site. It may have a lot to [Read More] about Do Nose Piercings Leave Scars? If you're looking for a quick answer, then no, you should not swim after getting a piercing. Do it in your own, clean bath. Do not allow any soap, shampoo, conditioner or any other chemicals to get on the piercing. Should I use just the saline water and nothing else? Pricing: $30-$75. If you're wondering what effects exercise could have on a new tattoo or piercing, you're not alone. What Type of Jewelry Is Used for a Belly Button Piercing? Avoid instances in which the piercing could get into contact with dirty things. I would say around a 4 or 5 with my clients based on their feedback; I would rate my own at a 4 or so, says Kristina Outland, a body piercer at Deep Roots Tattoo & Piercing. Choosing to get a new tattoo or body piercing is an exciting endeavor, and something to celebrate. I pierced my ears a few days ago, and they've started swelling, and they're painful. To clean the piercing, rinse the area with saline solution. And, as mentioned, while six to eight months is the typical healing period, it could take up to a full year. The full breakdown, according to NHS, is that ear piercings take six to eight weeks, belly button piercings take six months to a year, and nose piercings take up to six months. Although you may think a belly button piercing wouldnt hurt that much due to being on your stomach, it will hurt slightlyjust like any other piercing. This involves observing cleanliness with the aim of keeping the piercing clean and avoiding passing microorganisms to the area. Laser Tattoo Removal Can Cause Blisters Here's Why and How to Treat Them. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Heres our process. Ear piercings among others can get you in trouble at school, with parents, or while [Read More] about Want to Know How to Hide Ear Piercings? If you do need help or have questions, a reputable piercer is always willing to help you out, notes Outland. According to Healthline, you should at least cover your piercing with protective bandages when working out and must clean it afterward to avoid infections and irritations. Karen L. Hudson is a tattoo artist and contributing writer for Byrdie. There is no timeline for this since the healing durations for each individual vary. 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. Then, if your piercer is using tools, the area is held taut with a clamp. Clean the bath thoroughly first. Were all for embracing our individuality, but something weve been wondering lately is, can this modification affect our daily workout routine? Next, theyll mark the spot on your navel they wish to pierce. The design of this piercing is said to put less stress on the navel area. After the procedure has been carried out, the piercing will take at least six months to heal. Belly button piercings have been popular for a long timeand for good reason. Also, I learned this was key: Make sure you get the belly ring with a post instead of an actual ring. How much a piercing costs is entirely dependent on the studio you go to, your geographic location, your piercers experience, and how complicated your piercing is. Most hot tubbers have a hard time waiting this long to re-enter a hot tub. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. During this time, the piercing goes through three stages of healing. Have you recently got a belly button piercing? To keep your new piercing clean, try taking showers instead of baths while the piercing heals. Make sure that you avoid spas and hot tubs until the piercing heals completely to avoid infection. You should have the opportunity to confirm the placement or discuss the possibility of piercing a different area. You need to clean the piercing daily using a sterile cotton bud or other disinfected material. To ensure that the piercing heals faster and you get to enjoy swimming much sooner, you can follow these tips to accelerate the healing process. Wear loose clothes to reduce friction around the area. Required fields are marked with *. Avoid swimming whether it is in chlorine treated pools, in the sea, river, ocean or lake. If the area is red, swollen, and leaking pus, it may be infected. Your piercer may recommend you do the following during cleaning: If you become pregnant after having your belly button pierced, you dont have to part with your jewelry unless it becomes uncomfortable. The healing time for a body piercing can vary depending on which part of your body is pierced and how well you look after it. Other placements of belly button piercings include the lower rim, upper rim, and sides of the navel. I did tried neosporin but like you said it didnt work. JNP. Is it okay to apply it to new piercings to avoid infections? This information helped. You'll most likely find 14- and 16-gauge offered for this style, which hugs the navel and lays outward, so the side of the ring is showing. It's best to wait at least a month, but preferably 2-3 months. Try pure aloe gel for new piercings. Once the hole has been made, they may use forceps to hold the area of skin taut while they insert the jewelry. Each day, clean the piercing with a mild soap and warm water daily. Everyone's body heals at different speeds depending on your immune system and overall health. Cartilage piercings heal from the outside in, which means that they may look healed on the outside long before the process is truly done. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)right to your inbox. This article has been viewed 159,697 times. Page last reviewed: 8 October 2021 2015 Jan; 11(1):142-43. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2014.10.004, What to Know Before Getting a Forward Helix Piercing, The Complete Guide to Industrial Bar Piercings, Dermal Piercings: Everything You Should Know Before You Commit, Hip Piercings: Everything You Need to Know, What to Know Before Getting Your First Snug Piercing, The Complete Guide to Getting a Septum Piercing, How to Treat Infected Ear Piercings, According to Derms, Considering a Daith Piercing? Jason | April 16, 2022. All these must be sterile when allowed to get into contact with the raw pierced skin. While sweat is naturally produced by the body, and is just a sign of your body taking care of itself, make sure to take a shower after exercising as a clean body tends to be a healthier body. Brooks says. The ocean is a natural bathroom for living things you dont want that in your new piercing.. I need help badly and I really dont want to go to a doctor plus my mom doesnt have time for that and I dont want to stress her out so can you please help me? According to Figueroa, clients should consider the long term effects working out has on a new tattoo and says its best to continue, avoiding any possible complication that may arise from having an open wound that is not properly taken care of.. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg\/aid7373968-v4-728px-Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"