i have had my belly button pierced for a week now and about 2 days ago it started to get really red and hurt.
It's now starting to puss and i have no idea what to do? I started to clean it with some Dial antibacterial soap! I was wondering if that would help?
Also one of my friends told me to try Tea Tree Oil? would that help at all? Or iodine?
What products are were you using to clean your piercing? How often?
After peak swelling which is on day 3, you will notice that it will become a little red around the edges of the piercing. This is not a bad thing because the healing process is starting. Its like a cut on your hand and as the healing is progressing, you will see a redness around the entire cut. Its not infected but the skin around the edges is healing and slowly shrinking. Its similar with a piercing except for the shrinking part. What happens is that there is granulation tissue forming inside the piercing and eventually will form new skin so that you can remove the piercing without it closing. This takes about 1 1 2 years to be complete.
Please do not use any iodine or tea tree oil on the tissues, this will only irritate and cause more damage. Tee tree oil is used for parasites (like lice) and iodine is used to prepare the tissues before surgery and can sting when it gets into the piercing. Its a disinfectant and is harsh.
Check out or aftercare listed under Blackstar Aftercare and follow it from where you are now. By the end of the second week, you should no longer be cleaning the piercing even in the shower. At that point, you let the body do its job and heal the piercing.
Im still cleaning it with Dial antibacterial soap. It seems to be helping alot, but i think its getting dry!
Is there something that i could put on it?
Please stop cleaning the piercing, if you continue, you will develop problems and will take even longer for the piercing to heal.
If the piercing is dry, take a Q-tip and put a water based moisturizer (we use St Ives) and apply it to the surrounding tissue. Do not put on the ring or inside the piercing, as you will feel a stinging sensation which can irritate the delicate tissues.
Apply this only when the tissues are dry or chapped. Otherwise, LEAVE THE PIERCING ALONE. This means no cleaning or turning when showering. Soap around your navel and let the warm water run over the piercing.
Keep in touch.
