What does an infected belly ring look like

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A healing belly button piercing is when the normal process of repair of tissue occurs, while an infected piercing is one where bacteria have invaded the pierced area, causing infection. A normal healing process is important after you have had a piercing. The process involves a number of steps. The first stage of healing is inflammation, which is normal after the skin has been injured. The inflammatory response includes immune system cells arriving at the site and working with growth factors to help in healing. The proliferation stage occurs next and is when new connective tissue and blood vessels are laid down, and the wound contracts.

What does an infected belly ring look like

Belly button piercings are a popular way to modify your body and show off your personal style, but they come with the risk of infection. Infected belly button piercings can be painful, unsightly, and dangerous if left untreated. That's why it's best to take good care of your piercing to prevent infection in the first place. If your belly button is freshly pierced, it's normal to experience some redness and swelling around the piercing, says Howard Sobel MD , board-certified dermatologist at Sobel Skin and Clinical Attending Dermatologic Surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital. However, if the swelling becomes severe and is accompanied by pain that feels like soreness, this may be a sign of infection, Sobel says. Other symptoms that signal you may have an infection include:. To treat an infected belly button piercing, it's important to keep the piercing in. You may be tempted to remove it, but if that happens, you risk the wound closing up and trapping the infection inside your body, Sobel says. Keeping the piercing in also allows any pus to drain. You also need to make sure the area stays clean. Sobel says you should also follow these three steps which will work together to care for the infection:. If the infection persists even after following these care tips, or if you're experiencing the more severe symptoms such as fever, chills, and upset stomach, you should see a doctor. Sobel says that in this case, you might need oral antibiotics to help clear up the infection. If you leave infected piercings untreated , it can lead to a more serious infection, an abscess, or the infection spreading.

Remember not to rub or scrub at your piercing since this can dislodge new skin and slow healing. Just be sure that the cloth and water are clean and that no part of the washcloth gets caught on the piercing.

Bacteria can infect a belly button piercing before healing is complete. Symptoms can include pain, discoloration, and swelling. Improving hygiene and using antibiotic ointment can help. Complete healing can take 9—12 months. In the meantime, a piercing is technically a healing wound, and it may be sore, red, or irritated. Intense pain, swelling, or a fever , however, can indicate a severe infection. It can be challenging to keep a belly button piercing clean and irritation-free, especially when there tends to be friction from clothing.

I had a piercing on my navel and am not sure if it is developing an infection or not. How do you know if your piercing is infected? Here are pictures, treatment and how to heal an infected belly button piercing with including home remedies and antibiotics. Poor piercing care is one of the major causes of infection. Infections can occur on fresh piercings as well as on old ones. Some people report to have infections years after or 6 months after healing. The rate of infection, according to statistics, is also quite high compared to other forms of piercings. How do you know your belly button is infected? What does it look like? There are signs and symptoms to look for.

What does an infected belly ring look like

Last Updated: June 7, Fact Checked. Sarah has over 10 years of experience teaching and practicing phlebotomy and intravenous IV therapy using physical, psychological, and emotional support. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed , times. The easiest way to treat an irritated belly button piercing is to keep the area clean.

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Keep the piercing hole open. Belly button piercings take months to heal completely, and your piercing could close up quickly if you remove the jewelry. Using a warm compress is one strategy for reducing pain or irritation from an infected or inflamed body piercing. An infected belly button piercing is often red, swollen, and has a foul discharge. Style Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Discover possible causes of belly button odor, such as infection. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Keeping the piercing in also allows any pus to drain. These symptoms should get better over time. That's why it's best to take good care of your piercing to prevent infection in the first place.

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First, remember to wash your hands with antibacterial soap. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. What are the treatment options? Epidemiol Infect. Pat the area dry with a clean towel. It symobilizes a website link url. This can help the pus drain and cause the swelling to go down. We avoid using tertiary references. However, you only need to avoid going in those bodies of water or tight clothing that may irritate the piercing for about three months, says Sobel. How to prevent a tragus piercing becoming infected. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service.