I got my belly button pierced about 5 months ago. Everything was going great until a couple weeks ago it seemed to be getting infected so I began cleaning it 2 or 3 times a day.
The only problem I had before this was a small red bump underneath the bottom hole which went away in about a week. After reading your page, I realized my problem was most likely overcleaning. I stopped cleaning it completely about 2 days ago, and I now just run hot water on it in the shower.
I'm afraid it might have already started to migrate a little bit, and there is a reddish purple bump on the right of the top hole which formed about 3 days ago. I'm hoping it won't turn into a keloid.
Since I stopped cleaning it now, will further migration occur and will the bump go away?
Thanks
What makes you believe that the migration process has started? Has the length of the piercing changed? Do you see the barbell through the skin? If you have none of these issues, then its probable that no migration has started.
You have just irritated it by overcleaning. We are glad that you have stopped cleaning it, but the damage is done and now the body has to deal with the irritation and then it can heal itself.
So please just use warm water compress on the piercing for about 10 minutes a day. Then take a Q-tip and remove any crusties that may have formed. Other than that, please just leave it alone.
You did not state whether or not you have a barbell or a ring. If you have a ring, then please insert a barbell to reduce any movement of the jewellery may have on the piercing. If you have a barbell, then do not move the barbell as best as you can. We also want to remind you to use a Q-tip inside the navel as water may get trapped inside and give you some problems later on.
I have a barbell,and a little bit more than usual is showing from the piercing, but I can't see the barbell through the skin. I've been doing what you said running warm water on it, and wiping the crusties off with a Q-tip.
It seems to be getting better! I think the bump is almost gone, it is just a small crusty-ish place now.
Thanks for all your help!
Keep an eye on the tissues, you may have had some inflammation because of the overcleaning and irritating that you caused it.
Glad the read that the bump is going away. It will soon be completely gone and your piercing will start to heal itself.
Keep in touch
Well, I thought the bump was going away, but whenever I wipe the crusties off after the shower, there is another little bubble underneath!
I run the warm water on it, and wipe the crusties with a Q-tip. Am I doing something wrong, or is just taking longer than I thought it would?
Do you notice a difference in the size of the bump? If so, then the process is working and it will take some time because you have done a lot of damage to the tissues.
If not, then you are irritating the piercing somehow, maybe even when you using the Q-tip. Be careful when removing the crusties.
As long as the bump appears to shrink, then it will eventually go away. Just be patient.
Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes
We hope that the piercing is doing well now.
