Navel Piercing Infections

A Few Facts about Navel Piercing Infections

It will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever had any body part pierced, the risk of infection is great. Seems obvious, I know, but many people engage in body piercings without any clue at all about the potential health risks they may face.

While it is true that the “health risks” are certainly not life threatening or dangerous, they can be troublesome and cause lots of temporary discomfort, even some pain. After all, piercings involve penetration of the skin … an invasive procedure almost like surgery, but on a much, much smaller scale, of course.

So, what are the most common types of Navel Piercing Infections that tend to victimize those who “invade their bodies for the sake of fashion?” One of the most common results of a navel piercing is called “Granulation.” A Navel Piercing Granulation is essentially the development, over a relatively short period of time, of scar tissue. It happens, of course, because the piercing “breaks the skin” and causes what amounts to “an injury” that needs to heal. Healing in this sensitive body area frequently results in the development of a scar or scar tissue.

Does it hurt … no!! But, if the idea of the Navel Piercing was to make yourself look better and more attractive, it’s hard to see how a scar will help you achieve that result. It won’t … fortunately the scar will be on your navel, an area of the body not normally exposed unless you like baring your midriff.

There is another somewhat negative effect that results from a Navel Piercing. It is a rash. If you’ve ever had a rash, and just about everyone has, you know how uncomfortable and annoying it is … a persistent problem that stays with you for days, maybe longer. The rash doesn’t occur automatically, simply because you pierced your navel with jewelry. No … it occurs when, after piercing, you treat the sensitive area with liquid soap – too frequently. While you may believe that liquid soap or some other mild soap is a sensible and safe treatment for your healing navel, you would be right … and wrong. It is a sensible treatment, but it can be overdone. And if you “cleanse” your navel too often, you will almost certainly get a red, flaky, itchy, irritating and very annoying rash.

Will it kill you? Of course not, but it may drive you a little crazy until the inflammation calms down, the itching stops and the rash clears up and disappears. You can avoid the risk of getting a rash if, after piercing your navel, you read, understand and carefully follow the instructions you’ll receive about treating that body part until it is fully healed.

It requires a bit of discipline on your part … a level-headed approach … and patience. In time, and not too much time, perhaps up to six months, often less – your pierced navel or belly button will heal and, if you’ve done everything right, you will not have had to endure the discomfort of an itchy rash.