I got a navel piercing about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and am supposed to be done my cleanings now, approximately.
However, while cleaning it last night, this sort of thick yellowy tinged white pus came out of it. It doesn't hurt, and is look quite good in terms of healing, well, appearance wise anyway.
I am just wondering if this is sign of an infection, and if I should continue to clean my piercing?
Oh, if this information is needed, I am using the aloe-based soft soap that was recommended to me on the sheet given to me after the piercing was done.
Thanks :)
Pus is a sign of enthusiastic microbes living the good life in a space which provides them with food and shelter. While it may signal an infection, if the other signs like redness and swelling of irritated tissues are not present, it may just be trapped organic matter and the condition might be alleviated with a gentle warm water irrigation.
No matter what soap you use to clean, the piercing should be thoroughly rinsed so no soap remains after the cleaning. Even dish detergent, when mixed with perspiration, will support bacterial growth.
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Be very careful about sanitizing your piercing, as it can end up with nasty infections which can cost more than checking it up with a doctor. There are articles discussing that our belly button harbors a lot of bacterias (New belly button bacteria furthers study of evolution), so getting an infection in the navel is high when the piercing is still fresh and not well-maintained. If you notice something wrong or painful then it's better if you get it checked, it might be an infection or perhaps the cleaning agent you're using is not right for your skin. But it doesn't mean that you should over-sanitize yourself, as it can make make your skin more prone to irritation and besides, your body is more than capable of fighting off a little bugs.
