Belly Button Facts

Body piercing is when a needle is put through part of
the body and then a foreign object is inserted as jewelery.
Eventually, the skin around the jewellery heals and a hole
is left. The hole is the piercing. It is perfectly safe when
done by professionals who are careful. DO NOT pierce
your own belly button. The piercing needs to be done
with a sterilized needle, gloves and other sterilized pieces
of equipment.

Belly button piercings may migrate within about five to
ten years, and then they will fall out. Belly piercings take
time to heal - approx 4 months to 1 year Belly piercing is
a big decision. The following information will help you
make a decision that's best for you. Make sure you go
to a reputable piercer and see your doctor if you have
symptoms of an infection!

What kind of jewellery should you buy?
Only jewellery made of a non-corrosive metal, such
as: surgical stainless steel is safe when you first have
your piercing done. It is least likely to produce a foreign
body reaction or infection in the skin. Other choices for
when you first have your piercing done are metals like
solid gold (at least 18k), titanium, or niobium. All of these
cost more than surgical steel. For people who are extremely
sensitive to metal, Teflon or nylon piercings may be used.
Gold plated jewellery should NOT be used.

Regulations
Since the law is different in each country, you will need
to find out what the law in your country says about:
. Minimum age for belly piercing
. Whether or not you need parental permission to have a
piercing
. What qualifications and regulations the salon should have
and should be displayed

How is it done and does it hurt?
Immediately before piercing, the piercer should wash
and dry his or her hands and put on latex gloves. The
gloves should be worn at all times during the procedure.
If the piercer leaves the procedure and touches something
or returns later and you haven't seen everything he or she
has done, ask them to put on new gloves.

An experienced piercer uses a hollow needle to create a
hole by passing the needle through the body part you
want pierced. The body jewellery is then inserted through
the hole. Sometimes there can be a small amount of
bleeding. You should not take aspirin or any pain medication
that contains aspirin the week before any piercing is done,
since these medicines may cause you to bleed a little bit
more than usual. As for the 'pain' issue. It's going to vary
from person to person as different people perceive pain
in different ways. Everyone has a different tolerance
level, so really you just have to experience it for yourself.
The piercer should give you instructions about cleaning,
maintenance, etc., if they don't, ask questions (it's your
body, you deserve to know how to take care of it).

What are the risks?
The most common piercing problem is infection. Infection
is quite common and is easily cured with the proper care
and attention. Another risk with a piercing is that your
body might reject it. If it does, this may cause swelling
and pain. If your piercing is causing you a lot of pain or
continually gets infected, you may want to remove your
piercing and get it re-pierced once it has healed. Infections
may be caused by hepatitis, HIV, tetanus, bacteria, and
yeast. If the piercer washes their hands and uses gloves
and sterile equipment and you take good care of your
piercing, the risk of infection is lowered (but still exists).
As with other piercings, the belly button piercing is going
to be swollen, red, and have pus. It could be painful. If
the piercing does not improve in the next couple of days
pull out the piercing. Some bodies do not like piercing. It
will not heal properly and it has nothing to do with the
piercing itself or the piercer. It has to do with that
particular person's body. The belly button piercing can
be rejected by the body. There is no real danger by the
piercing itself, but it is important to take care of it. The
dangers are once it is in. The reason is that it is on the
front of the body with clothing constantly rubbing against
the piercing. People have a tendency to touch the piercing
and transfer germs from their fingers to the ring. Once
it rotates into the piercing a few bellybuttons can get
infected. Infections caused by bacteria getting into the
puncture of the piercing may also happen later, even
after the piercing has healed. Another cause of problems
from piercings is the wrong kind of jewellery for the area
pierced. If the jewellery is too small, it can actually cut off
the blood supply to the tissue, causing swelling and pain.
If the jewellery is either too thin or too heavy or if you are
allergic to the metal, your body can sometimes reject the
jewellery (your body reacts against the jewellery because
it is a "foreign object").

How to take care of the piercing
Clean the piercing at least twice a day until it has healed.
This is done by;
. Always washing your hands with soap and water (or
antibacterial soap) before cleaning
. Removing and crusty skin from the piercing and from
the jewellery with warm water
. Gently washing the piercing with a saline solution (sea
salt mixed with water) or antibacterial soap
. Gently rinsing the area to remove the solution or soap
. Gently drying the area with a paper towel (do not use
cloth towels as these may contain bacteria)
. Do not over wash or scrub as this can irritate the piercing
Check your jewellery while cleaning it to see if any parts
have come loose. Do not use alcohol or peroxide or any
other strong solution as this will cause irritation and/or
discolour the jewellery. Do not let anyone touch the
piercing until it is healed. If you are not cleaning the
piercing then do not touch it!! Avoid taking baths, take
showers instead to avoid sitting in bacteria. Do not use
hot tubs, swimming pools, lakes, seas as these are
breeding grounds for bacteria. Always clean the piercing
after exercise or playing sport as bacteria love damp
moist spots. Do not use antibacterial cream as these
trap bacteria. Always wear clean loose clothing while
the piercing is healing to allow the air to circulate around
the piercing. Clothing should be made of soft fabric and
should not cling or rub the piercing. Avoid jeans, leotards,
belts, body suits and tights until the piercing is healed.
Change your bed sheets once a week to help avoid
infection. Do NOT attempt to change the piercing during
the healing process. When you get it pierced ask the
piercer how long you need to wait before you can. Always
look out for signs of infection; bad smell, discharge,
redness, soreness, swelling, rash around the piercing.
If you think you have an infection always go and see
your doctor. Be careful with your piercing - it will take
time to heal and for you to get used to it.