How To Clean A Belly Button Piercing With Dial Soap

Whitney is an expert on piercings and tattoos, with experience in the body modification world.

Healing a Belly-Button Piercing

Navel piercings (belly-button piercings), are a common body piercing among women and some men. They heal relatively quickly with few complications, like ear piercings. But at times they heal more like a surface piercing, with rejection and migration risks.

For the most part, if you follow proper aftercare and healing procedures, you can successfully heal the piercing, unless your body just refuses, which is always a possibility.

Healing a belly-button piercing can be complicated by clothing and friction. Because it's near the waistline, you have to take into account pants, belts, and shirts that could catch on or irritate the piercing, especially considering how often you bend at the waist.

Types of Navel Piercings

The belly button can be pierced at different angles and sides, but generally the more common navel piercings include:

Upper Rim: The standard belly button piercing, at the top of the navel ring.
Lower Rim: At the bottom of the navel ring.
Sides: Anywhere in between the upper and lower navel ring; typically the horizontal left or right sides.

Some people have been known to get their actual navel (outtie) pierced, which could be called a true navel piercing. However, in my opinion, piercing an outtie should never be done due to the numerous problems that can present themselves from healing, misplacement, and movement. It's not safe. Don't do it.

Some people get surface piercings around the navel to accentuate a standard navel piercing. These are not technically belly-button piercings.

Aftercare for a New Piercing

If you stick to proper aftercare and cleaning, you should have minimal problems with just about any piercing.

The proper aftercare for navel piercing is as follows:

After you get the piercing, make sure that you have a pack of miniature Dixie cups and saline solution: not "contact cleaner," but "saline solution" sold at a pharmacy. Or use a dilute solution of sea salt (1 teaspoon sea salt to 5 ounces water).
Clean the navel piercing at least two to three times a day.
Wash your hands first.
Make sure to use a NEW, unused Dixie cup each day, using just enough saline to fully submerge the piercing.
Lay on a flat surface with the cup turned upside down on your belly, in order to fully submerge the navel, allowing the saline to work its way through the piercing.
Afterwards, you can dip a Q-Tip into the saline solution and gently go around both holes of the piercing to remove any excess crust or dried blood or fluids.

There is NO other reason to touch the new piercing.

Continue the process for at least a month to make sure things are fine.

You may experience crust or dried fluid for some time. Whenever this happens, use the Q-Tip to remove the dried fluid.

Dos With a New Piercing

Wear loose-fitting clothing that allows the piercing to breathe: cotton works best.
Make sure your hands are clean.
Do use a new Dixie cup and Q-Tip each time you clean.
Ask your piercer if you have any problems or questions.

Aftercare Don'ts

Don'ts With a New Piercing

Do not use any type of ointment on the piercing—A&D, bacitracin, Neosporin, or Bactine— because it can smother a piercing.
Do not use hand sanitizer, Dial soap, or peroxide, as they are all too harsh for a piercing and can cause irritation.
Do not wear tight-fitting clothing that restricts the breathing of the piercing.
Do not touch your piercing for any reason other than to clean it.
Do not change the jewelry until you are absolutely healed. The best thing to do is to return to the piercer to make sure it's okay to change it, and perhaps to get him or her to change it for you. It's also good to buy the new jewelry from your piercer, so that you know you are getting high-quality jewelry.
Do not wear heavy barbells or barbells with danglies (things that hang) for extended periods. Danglies can catch on belts, pants, or shirts, which will irritate the piercing. The weight of heavy jewelry will pull on the piercing and irritate it. If you want to wear something gaudy and "bling bling'" to "da club" that's fine, as long as you replace it with a normal, lightweight piece of jewelry when you get home.
Don't go into a pool, hot tub, ocean, lake, or any other body of water until your piercing is healed. It is unsanitary, and submerging the piercing in unclean water is bound to cause you irritation.
Don't use a tanning bed with a healing piercing.

Read More from Tatring

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Sophie key on February 09, 2020:

Wow got my belly done yesterday ,they put a bigger bar in for the swelling so it looks sidewards my bar isn't sitting straight it's sitting in a curve inside

Jackie on January 09, 2020:

I pierced my belly button is it okay to put my eczema lotions on the outside but near the holes?

Shan on December 30, 2019:

I've had my piercing for 5/6 months and it's still not healed what do I do

C on November 27, 2019:

So I'm making a sea salt solution for my piercing and I was wondering how much I will make for a 32 oz bottle. It says to stir 1/4 of sea salt into 1 cup of warm water. How would I make that for a 32oz bottle because the original measurements is for a 8oz bottle.

A on August 07, 2019:

Hi . So i had my piercing for a year and it was healing and openung and bleeding for many months

I decided to take it off yesterday and now its like bruised by my naval and had lkke a dark colour its like kind of lumpy

What can i do to make it normal again ?

anonymous on April 17, 2019:

I lost my bottom of belly piercing can I buy the ball of a different jelwery just be bottom the big ball can I use another one

Ashlee on April 14, 2019:

I got my navel piercing yesterday(April 13 2019)it didn't hurt much ..just for a second... its still a bit tender and all .Thsnk u for the tips!

anonymous on April 13, 2019:

I got my belly button pierced today (13th April 2019) and it's really sore I was obviously expecting it ache but not this bad is there anything I can do to help it ?

Mykaela on March 29, 2019:

Is it normal for the skin around the actual bar to try to heal around it?

Anonymous on March 14, 2019:

Ok so I really want one but I only wear high waisted jeans, can I still get one?

anonymous on January 29, 2019:

Can i go clubbing the same day i get a navel piercing?

Kennady on April 22, 2018:

I got it peirced 4 weeks ago , and one of my balls fell of the pericing , if I take it out till the morning will it close ?

lacey on April 02, 2018:

when can i swim?

Lexi on January 29, 2018:

Sooo I just got my piercing and I read somewhere that they should of used a Bar kinda but instead they used a ring type because rings can be to heavy and possible cause problems..is it ok? Well it still heal ok?and can a Bar one still fit in it when it is healed enough to change?

Cara on October 05, 2017:

What food should I avoid?

Kiki on September 23, 2017:

I've had my belly pierced for three weeks now when can I take a sit down bath? And it peeling around the top ball what does that mean?

Concernedperson on July 25, 2017:

What food should you not eat

Erin on April 28, 2017:

Also, as for the pool questions, I swam every day in a chlorinated pool, day one it stung a little but after that nothing. The reason it stung was because it wasn't even 5 hours after it was pierced. I also went into lakes and rivers within a wk to two wks after I just cleaned it when I was done swimming. This new "advise" I see plastering the internet I truly believe is hogwash. Ever friend I have that for a naval ring followed my advise and had no issues, but no I am not a professional, but I am experienced. I have 5 piercings not including my ears.

Erin on April 28, 2017:

I have had my naval ring for over 15 years. I used sea salt, antibacterial soap, Bactine, and Vaseline. I had absolutely NO issues with mine, it healed great, so I don't along with many others understand why you say not to use these products.

Jessica on April 12, 2017:

I use contact cleaner and haven't got an infection yet soooooo I don't see the problem in using it after all it is the same and saline solution

Rebecca on January 14, 2017:

Can i use iodised salt for the salt water?

Leeanna on January 09, 2017:

De , you should probably wait until track season. I wouldn't risk it.

de on January 07, 2017:

Okay im getting mine done but im on the swim team so should i wait untill track season and get it or will i be able t get it now and work my way around it??

Amy on September 12, 2016:

I highly recommend to everyone wondering whether to get it done; WAIT UNTIL WINTER! That's what I did. It means your friends or school are less likely to ask you to go swimming and whatnot. This means by the time summer rolls around again, you'll be able to swim to your heart's content. DO NOT swim for at least 4 weeks at the VERY least!!!! Even if you think the water is super sterile and really clean it doesn't matter!

Victoria Barnes on September 08, 2016:

I just wanted to ask about my piercing... I had my belly button pierced Monday (labor day) and it still hurts. I wear lose clothing and clean it like I should, what could the problem be if it isn't infected? @whitney05

21 on April 02, 2016:

I peirced my belly 3 days ago and each day the red gets worse and it hurts really badly.... I've been putting ointment I was given to put on it and Bactine( lady who has her belly pierced said to use it)..

Is it getting infected ?

trisha on June 23, 2015:

Okay, so I got my belly button pierced last Monday night, and I've been pretty diligent with cleaning it and not touching. The only problem is that I have a pool in my backyard and my parents are extreme with cleaning it because of small kids coming over now and again; so my question is, can I go in the pool or not? Because while I've read that it's a huge no-no, I'm fairly certain the chances of an infection caused from the pool are slightly lower than the chances of an infection from not cleaning the excess shampoo from around the piercing. BUT I don't know anything for certain, and I'd rather ask and find out before I end up with a problem. If I was to go in the pool and clean it afterwards (like asap) would that be okay? Or should I steer clear altogether?

Aidan on May 21, 2014:

A lot of people are asking things like "I just got it done two hours ago and it still hurts, is that normal." Yeah, for the most part it is. You just had a 14g needle shoved through your skin. Be careful not to sleep on it, clean it religiously with non-iodized saline solution and do not touch it for any other reason. Wait as long as your piercer told you to change it. Get high quality jewelry to change into. Piercings are tedious and require a lot of care and if you won't give you're piercing that care, you're not ready to have it.

kt on August 07, 2013:

AnonymousGirlie - funny how you say young girls should not get it done and you aren't even 19 yet! And your parents don't want you to get it but you are anyway? Makes no sense. I agree with you that 6th graders should not get it done but you are not that old yourself! On this site it tells you not to use soap but mainly every piercing/tattoo place tells you to clean it with a Triclosan based soap with no fragrances in it, like liquid dial but remember NO FRAGRANCES that will irritate it and make it worst. Clean it with that and some form of saline spray like H2Ocean and you should be fine. I've had mine pierced 3 times now.

AnonymousGirlieXoXo on July 04, 2013:

The amount of stupid questions and ridiculous grammatical errors on this site are mind-boggling. I don't know how young YOUNG girls are getting this done and their parents are completely okay with it. I'm almost turning 19 years old and I had to save up my own money for it and basically tell my mother it's my body it's my choice I'm a legal adult and can do this if I want to. So I did. I got it done a little over a week ago and it's healing fine. Use antibacterial soap and sea salt to clean it. Taking vitamin C helps it to heal a lot faster (I know this because I've used it before for my cartilage piercings). Ask all your weird questions at the piercer if they don't already tell you before/after it's done. It hurts a bit when the needle goes through, the clamp doesn't hurt at all. I hope you people really didn't go swimming 2 days after getting it done, but whatever.

Haley on June 18, 2013:

In 6th grade, my friend at recess was climbing on the monkey bars and her shirt came up and I saw she had gotten her belly button pierced! I was so surprised and at the same time in LOVE because of the dangly stars that were hanging from her belly button. It looked so adorable!! Turns out I ended up getting mine pierced at the end of that summer! I love wearing short shirts and my bikini so I can show it off!(:

heather c on May 29, 2013:

I'm Heather and I have a huge problem with my navel piercing. It is extremely infected. There is green puss, nastey crust, bleeding, swelling, purple, fluids, pain, and skin rip. I got it pierced 6 days ago, and I was told that it shouldn't be that bad. My mom and dad don't know about the piercing, and I'm to scared to tell them.I have no idea on what to do, and don't have anyone to help me. I can't go to the doctor and have serious stomach aches. I just wanna say, don't get a piercing without permission and take really good care of it or else you will regrett it

selena on April 02, 2013:

heyy my dad wont let me get my belly done and my friend told me that she would do it for me should i let her do it for me ?

Courtney on January 10, 2013:

I've got mine done and I just got told to clean it every day with salt water for a while and leave it in for 12 weeks and not mess with it. It's fine it bled on the day which they said it would, I just cleaned it with salt water, it felt a bit sensitive for a couple of days, it's almost a week since I got it done and it feels fine I didn't get told to do all this stuff, they said don't buy savlon and that just use salt water.

olivea on July 17, 2012:

I got mine done 4days ago and its red and it hurts a little but i clean it 5 times a day but i also take care of a 2 yr old who always hits it so is it red becuz of him?

Jordan on July 08, 2012:

Hi I'm going on a school trip to Paris for a week next Monday and we are doing lots of activities involving swimming , I'm not sure whether to get it done now or wait til I get back? I'm also going to Spain in August with my friend and we will also be swimming! Ps in Paris we will swimming in aqua boulevard (public pool) although in Spain I will be going swimming in the sea so do you think it's a better idea to get it done in the winter?

j*ray (bodypiercer of 6yrs) on July 07, 2012:

my suggested aftercare...use only seasalt. the best way to heal a piercing is good hiegene and as naturally as possible. please do not "play with" or touch your new piercing as this will transfer bacteria and possibly cause infection. only touch when cleaning! do not use harsh soaps or ointments BC this will irritate your piercing. also no pools, rivers or hottubs which can harbor bacteriA.

Sarah on May 17, 2012:

I had my navel pierced for four months is healing great still crusty but I was told that's normal I find that a new clean shot glass works way better then a dixie cup just make sure to scrub it out after using it each time

jessicaa on May 16, 2012:

i had mine for a month and im scared that it will get infected puss comes out and its nasty. well i use soap, sea salt and bactine. Fist i wash it with antibacterial soap and i clean it then i put the sea salt water for five minutes and then i put bactine is this the right thing to do?

CollegeChick on April 12, 2012:

I have had my belly pierced for 3 years now. When I first got it done I was told to clean it with water everyday using a que-tip. While healing I used a cleaning solution that they sold that was H20 underwater something... had salt in it and something else. They said that I could also take lukewarm water and sea salt... and only sea salt nothing else... to keep it from getting infected. I haven't had any problems just make sure even after its healed to keep cleaning it because it is easily infected

south Africa on April 09, 2012:

Ok... So maybe things work different there... But I got my belly pierced two days ago (I'm 13) and the piercer didn't use a needle- he used a cathitur. I've just been using anti-bacterial soap, and got told NOT to use any salt or anything with fibres that could get into my ring. Also- I got pierced with a barbell (banana Bar) and I've had no problems. It hasn't been swollen or red the whole time. Its great. So, any anti-bacterial soap works brilliant. And salt causes it to become very tender. Hope this works:)

Kerri on April 06, 2012:

I just got my belly button pierced like 2 hours ago & it still hurts a little bit. The piercer said to use Dial soap on it but I've been looking on the web & almost ALL of them say not to use Dial soap so what should I use ? Should I use sea salt because my cousin used sea salt & her healed just fine . I'm 13 & a big baby & it really didn't hurt at all I mean it's just like someone pinching your belly button as hard as they can for like 10 seconds ! I'm just afraid that it'll get infected or something . The piercer said not to change it from the hoop to a banana bar until 6 months , but all my friends said that their piecer said to wait 6 weeks. How long should I wait ?

Daniella on April 02, 2012:

I got my piercing two days ago and so far so good. Looks great.

I stocked up on Dixie cups, but they can´t they the pressure. They just get soggy and crumple and I end up with salt water all over. Are there any special type of cups one needs to get?

rush on February 27, 2012:

I pierced my belly.. somehow I feel its not in the centre. Little bit on my right... Is it okay? Or should I re pierce it and when? It's the 5thday today. Please help.

Thank you.

Deborah Wright on February 23, 2012:

I got my belly button pierced yesterday and it hurts bending back and forth.

sn0wflake17 on February 13, 2012:

i just g0t mine 4 days ag0 and i been using bactine and i got a dangly ring so im scared that it is going to get infected today i noticed that it is like redish around n it hurts when i bend over or try to move it up and down is this normal?

Emmmz on February 11, 2012:

I had my top navel done about 3 years ago, nearly fainted when it was pierced and it took about 8 months to fully heal. Just had my bottom one done as well (didn't hurt half as much!) are there big chances of it rejecting because of the two bars rubbing together? Thanks :)

Starr on January 06, 2012:

I pierced my belly button myself two days ago. During this time I have sprayed a saline solution on it every few hours and it seems to be doing fine. The only thing is I would like to go swimming in our local chlorine pool. Is it okay to go Swimming but straight afterwards shower and then spray the saline solution on?

Whitney (author) from Georgia on December 04, 2011:

Until it's fully healed

smurf 16 on November 28, 2011:

after how long can i swim after getting a belly button piercing? help please!

Alexa on October 31, 2011:

ok, so i got my belly peirced like 9 weeks ago and i changed it recently since it wasn't going too well. It was so red at both sides and puss kept coming out and hurt every time i touched it, so i changed it and its soo much better. However, im worried that it will get infected since i changed it too early. will it?

Whitney (author) from Georgia on October 11, 2011:

Honestly, it doesn't sound like it's doing well. It shouldn't be red after two week, when pierced properly.

How are you cleaning it?

The chemicals that you used does not properly clean any piece of jewely. What type of bar did you use- straight or curved?

Rings are not ideal for navel piercings. Stick with a curved barbell.

tiasophia9 on October 10, 2011:

I pierced my belly button myself about 2 weeks ago. I'm 16, and mind you this isn't the first thing I've pierced on my own. I've double pierced my ears, and tried to do a thrid, but did not succede. My piercing is red and swollen, and there is some discharge, but not a lot. It's a little tender. But right now I still have just a bar that I disinfected in (1st) Hydrogen Peroxide for 15 minutes (2nd) Rubbing Alcohol for 10 and (3rd) Saline for another 15. Do you think it will be ok if I take it out and put in a proper ring? Or will that be bad for it?

samantha on October 07, 2011:

I just got my belly button pierced today and was wondering about sports juring the healing part is there anything i should try to avoid? Btw my sports are netball and softball.

Hailey on September 17, 2011:

I want one and I was wondering do they always use the clamps?

crazi4chu on September 17, 2011:

I went to get my belly button pierced yesterday, but the guy pierced it up a little too high (the end of the piercing doesn't come out of my belly button) It hurt a little but now it looks like its fine. I don't know what to do about it, if i should take the piercing out and let it heal and then get it re-pierced or just deal with the fact that its above my belly button

mari on September 08, 2011:

Can you use sea salt && water to clean it or would it just be better to get some after care spary at the shop I think its called H2O ocean spary? Idk what is the best way to take care of it?I just got this done yesterday. So I'm like mm. Which way is better.?

mkay on September 05, 2011:

I've gotten by belly button pierced for over 5 years now. Also I've been reading about a 12 year old getting it done, DONT DO IT YET! just wait. For everyone it hurts different and for some none at all so there is no point in asking how much will it hurt and will it, it really varies on the person. Make sure you clean it with WARM salt water! not regular salt! do this 2 times a day. Try not wearing tight clothes for a while and go swimming, I'd suggest not doing it summer time.

Brooke.xox on August 24, 2011:

heey, so i just got mybelly button periced 3 days ago, im currently cleaning it with sea salt which they gave to me at the tattoo place call Planet ink, they were very good and the place was very clean :), my belly button hasn't been red at all just a lil itchy which is apperently a good thing so if you want it done, its pretty good as long as you clean it, so far i've been cleaning it 3 times a day which i'll do for 6 weeks :) either way i was teffified to get it, no im not gonna lie it did hurt but it was more like a sharp pain for like 10seconds and that's all. Hope this helps !!! :)

Paaaaan on August 20, 2011:

I Got My Belly Done 5 Days Ago And I Have Had It Done Before I Really Want To Change It Can I?

annah on August 19, 2011:

igot my stomach peirced 2 days ago.

my friends want me to go swimming tomaro and i was wondering if it wud be okay that i went so soon?

amandaaa on August 07, 2011:

Okay, so I just got my navel pierced 12 days ago and it's healing really well. The piercer told me to use bactine unless it made it red so just to be safe I only use it right before I get in the shower then I use dial antibacterial soap (unscented). He also said to take a 50 mg Zinc supplement 3 times a day with meals to help boost your immune system and heal it quicker. I've only pulled it a couple of times which only hurt for like 2 seconds. I really think the Zinc supplement works well. So just something to try :) good luck.

Sherita on July 15, 2011:

Ive had my belly pierced for about 3wks so far. & haven't had no complications/difficulties nothing. I got it done in Ny. & my piercer put a ring in it for easier cleaning which make sense (so it can rotate) he said its best to use Dial soap (tha orange non-smelly kind] anti-bacteria soap. That's wut ive been using. Everynow & then i'll feel like a tingly kinda feeling but its bearable. haven't got in a pool, but if i do, i have thoese tegaderm things. To protect it while in tha water. I Hope this helps(=

Chelsea on July 13, 2011:

I just got my belly button pierced like 4 hours ago, it didn't hurt at all. They say the clamps is the worst part but its not. It feels like your taking your finger nails and pinching as hard as you can for 15 seconds. Its better to clean with saltwater or uncented anti bacterial soap. You will have bleeding for a little bit especially if you bend a lot but its okay. It'll only sting a little bit when cleaning to. I hope this helps!

Dallas on July 09, 2011:

many of my friends got their belly buttons peirced, and they all use different things, i use sea slt and bactine, is bactin ok to use? or should i use dial soap, but my mom doesn't know i have my peircing, so i want it to heal as soon as possible.

Molly on June 27, 2011:

I was wondering if it would be safe to go swimming in a lake? and if i could what would happen and what should i do about it?

shawna on June 15, 2011:

hi im going to get my belly done but im really nervous. My friend abbie is having hers done wednesday and i really want it done and dont want it get infected. What's best to clean it and how long dose it hurt for when the piercer is piercing it? i am a softy when it comes to injections but last time i had one it was fine but now i really want my belly done help!!!. xx

Sydney! on June 02, 2011:

I'm Going To Get My Belly Button Peirced Tomorrow & I Need to know how often I should clean it!

jess on May 15, 2011:

i got my belly button pierced two years ago at Primal Urge in New Hope, New Jersey. The place looked completely legit and the guy that did it made me get a ring not a bar, and told me to do most the things on the don't list including: use dial soap, use bacitracin, and twist the ring when cleaning. i had it pierced for six months before i realized how infected it was and i had to take it out. im 17 now and my mom finally said i can get it done again. if you're going to get it done, make sure you know the RIGHT way to take care of it :)

Adriana on May 13, 2011:

For everybody asking just ask your peircer when you get it done nd they'll answere all your questions for you, plain nd simple they know what's right for it

Taylor on May 03, 2011:

hi,I might get my belly pierced for my 12th birthday.Im not scared about getting it done but is this a bad idea, for my age? I just want it for me,and not anyone eles.

Thanks,Taylor.

britt b on April 12, 2011:

so i got my belly button pierced like 4 hours ago. when should i clean it for the 1st time? before i go to bed? also, i have a sea salt spray for it... do i just spray it on and leave it so it makes the dry blood soggy? how do i CLEAN it? just use a q-tip and scrape the dry blood away after i use the sea spra?

Natalie on April 09, 2011:

Im getting my belly done soon and I was just wondering wat the best way of sleeping ( on ur back, side etc.) was best for the piercing?

Rekam22 on March 10, 2011:

I have had my piercing for 3 wks n wen I clean it it sumtimes hurt a lil but it's not unbearable I can move it n it itches a lot is dis part of da healing process???

Becca on March 03, 2011:

I usually get keloid scars . I have on my nose and cartilage, will I get one on my navel piercing

mackenzie on March 01, 2011:

Okay so I got my belly button pierced 4 days ago. It says not to go tanning but some says its good for it. So I went today and put a napkin over the piercing. Is that okay? And also I'm a cheerleader and I need to know if its okay to tumble after getting it pierced? How long should I wait before putting a retainer on for cheerleading? Thanks (:

ellie on February 24, 2011:

i had my belly pierced yesterday, i went through all the pros and cons coz i've wanted one for ages, however i don't know whether i now regret having it, did anyone else feel this way? i can't bend over or lean forwards e.g i can't put my shoes on because i can't crouch because of this piercing hurting me, does that go away? and if i do decide that i really don't want it in anymore, how long will it take for the hole to close up and will it scar?

Bex on February 24, 2011:

I got my belly button pierced with my friend yesterday, mine really hurt and I nearly fainted but she said hers only hurt for a few seconds. After we got it done mine was still hurting unlike hers. Eventually it stopped hurting..until I got home and cleaned it, it was so painful! Mine is still hurting now(day after getting it pierced) is this normal?

Natalie on February 22, 2011:

I got my belly button pierced on Friday. It did hurt for a mintue but then the pain went away. MY piercer told me to wash it twice a day with Spectra gel (not spectro gel), he also said to move it around only while washing it so the soap can cleanse the piercing, and to do saltwater bath 2 times a week. just a tablespoon of sea salt in a cup of previously boiled water hold it over the piercing for about 5-15 minutes, it is said to speed up the healing process and it also works for when it gets infected.

Sherri on February 19, 2011:

Also be aware when your body is rejecting the navel piercing. Unfortunately there are just some people who's bodies just can't tolerate a foreign object. This is my 3rd attempt, I got mine re-pierced 4 weeks ago, I clean & care for it appropriately and & its not even trying to heal, so I give.

kat on February 18, 2011:

oh and im in karate will that affect my training

kat on February 18, 2011:

ok so i got my belly button pierced last night and my friend did it and her mom is a pro at piercing stuff but i wanted to know what i have to do. and i usually get infections but im not sure if im gonnna get it on my belly

Paige Bennett on February 17, 2011:

I got my belly button done about 5 months ago, it sometimes gets crusty and red under the bottom ball, but if you just clean it with care and try using cotton buds they really help getting under the balls and around the bar. I have got the top part of my belly done, and sometimes the ball gets stuck to my skin, but if you clean it about 3/4 times a day it will get better. Mine is almost healed. I sometimes get worried about it getting infected. After about four months I changed the bar, it was pretty easy to change and it never hurt. After that I went swimming a couple of times and it didn't change noting. It just needs time to heal, you need to give it time and it will get better, it's all worth it in the end. Good luck people :) xxx

Martha on February 09, 2011:

After you get it pierced don't touch it at all. After about two days clean it with anti bacterial soap and a salt water solution. DO NOT move it around or play with it, doing this irritates the piercing. Also don't listen to what your friends tell you, listen to the piercer dud or chick that pierced it but only if they're a professional and have certified proof. If you didn't get it done professionally go to a piercing salon and ask them!

Maria on February 07, 2011:

I have had my navel pierced for about 3-4 months now. It got infected and I treated it with salt water, that's what the piercer told me to use. Now the infection is gone but I keep having this liquid come out of it every day, it's yellowish, greenish. If I dont clean it it becomes crusty, so Im always using a toothpick and cleaning the liquid/crust. Is that normal? If not how do I make it stop?

hii on February 03, 2011:

use antibacterial dial soap! thats what your supposted to do

kaseytegg94 on January 28, 2011:

okay so i want to get my belly button pierced... i have a few questions... My biggest question is will it hurt? different people say it does but most people have said no. my second is... How long does it take to get it done?

Em on January 20, 2011:

I got my belly button pierced about a month ago and it seems to be healing well. However, I'm a little worried about the lower ball. It has a red, snot like piece of flesh surrounding it. Keep in mind its a very small amount of flesh but it is attached... is that normal? Thanks.

Jackieee on January 20, 2011:

so i swim competitively...and i have my belly botton pierced. is this a bad thing? considering all i see is that its not good to swim with one because its not clean and what not.

Whitney (author) from Georgia on January 15, 2011:

Ruby, Yes.

Ruby on January 14, 2011:

Hello does sleeping on your belly effect the heeling process ??

Kate on January 14, 2011:

I let my belly piercing for 3months(12weeks)

It has healed fully, but what i would like to know is, i recently changed it, once its healed can you keep changing as many times or is there risk of infection so best not?(l)

breeanne on January 05, 2011:

also dont move it around dont take it out unless you know wat your doing cause it will get infected that way cause you will push the crusties inside the piercing and it will get severly infected.. id recomend just changeing the balls to the ring if you dont like the color just change the balls not the barbel

breeanne on January 05, 2011:

i got the top of my bellybutton pierced when i was 16 and it pussed for like a day and then it went away. i switched the ring about a year after and my body rejected it got it pierced again about 4 times and it did the same i am now 18 and i got the bottem done and i cleaned it with antibacterial soap for about a week and left it alone and i havent had any problems but the piercer person messed up and had to pierce mine twice.. im not gonna change the ring untill its compleatly healed ive changed the balls on the ring but not the ring itself sometimes i take it out and get rid of the crusties on the top part of the ring and then put it back in and clean it but other then that i havent had any problems.

rahrah on December 30, 2010:

hey guys.. so I have many piercings including my belly button and everybody is different with what you should use for the most part don't listen to other people, listen to the people at the parlor (owners or piercers)

Hollie on December 27, 2010:

ok so im going to get my belly button pierced tomorrow and im so scared that its gonna hurt. i know that it will but idk im still scared. I also have no idea on what to clean it with? any advice?

rockwhatyougot on December 26, 2010:

ok so i just got my belly pierced on thursday and everyone is telling me to move it around so it does not heal on the bar but my piercing person didnt tell me do that and im scared that it will either get infected or heal on the bar...can you pleaseeeee help me;/

Meagan on December 21, 2010:

I qot my belly button peirced 3 days aqo. && my peircinq dude said to clean it with sea salt water stuff. Which I qot it at walmart near the jewerly section by the belly rinqs. They have a certain spray for it. && I clean it about 5 times a day. I haven't had any problems at all. && I qot it peirced over a scar && it didn't hurt. So if yuh just use the sea salt spray stuff it works well always wash your hands before you clean it or touch it. Well I hope that helps some of you.

Meagan on December 21, 2010:

madzo jay on December 16, 2010:

the person who said don't use salt water , because it infects it. is wrong all tattoo parlors say use salt water and paw paw ,

i do tend to play with mine and twist the bar around and i just got it 2 days ago all it does is make it red for a little while, i wash my hands every time before i touch my piercing and before cleaning it , the antespic spray DOES NOT WORK . it infects it i suggest tip it out , put rock salt or sea salt in the container with water and spary it 3 times after your shower , and when you are cleaing it in the morning and night use warm water seasalt/rock salt in a cup and soak . and wipe everything away, and put a little bit of paw paw on the holes , paw paw will draw the pus which is good to get all infection out, dont drink soft drinks or coffee when you first get a navel piercing . that can cause the healing process to take longer. if you have cats or dogs that sleep in your bed . then wash your sheets and pillow cases immediately and dont let the animals on your bed for the first 8 weeks because animals have a sweat that comes off , also fleas ticks and all that can make your navel piercing infected ,