Navel piercing probz

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i've had my navel pierced for exactly 9 days....it was a bit swollen because my little cousins hit me by mistake a few times. I've been seen white pus from it and I was told it was normal along with crusting during the healing process. Now some of the skin is peeling where the crusting occurs plus there is a red patch of skin on the right of my navel. It has some small bumps and it burns when I touch it. Could this be a sign of infection? I've been following my piercer's instructions:Wash twice a day with antibacterial soaplet it dryUse a q-tip to clean with SavlonAnother q-tip with A& D ointmentI took a picture but I cant upload it with this post. I also have herpes so Im basically wondering could it be an infection, a normal part of the healing process or could touching the navel piercing then my skin has caused a herpes outbreak???

I don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to herpes, that's just you being overly worried Its been about 11 years since I had my navel pierced (and still have it ). It all sounds pretty normal, and yes it does sound like an infection.. which strangly enough is part of the healing process. Just keep the area clean and watch touching the piercing without washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap.I would watch over doing the ointment, the area does need to "breath". I personally never used any antibacterial ointment, just the solution the piercist gave me.

u r right....i usually worry a lot about these things, especially wen im not sure..When I got my ears pierced again I cleaned them about 4 times a day. Im so scared of infections lol and its so unnecessary. Im thinking of just going to a pharmacist and have him look at it, see what I can take for the infection and then go to my piercer. Thanks

navel is one of the longest healing, common piercings (there are a number of less common ones that are worse)Mild infections will sort them selves out as along as you're not immune compromised. Herpes shouldn't be an issue in that regard. Bacitracin is a good ointment for piercings. I would also recommend Betadine because it's a liquid. It will clean you and the jewelery but not prevent air from getting to your skin.Make sure you have thoroughly decrusted the ring, spray with Betadine while working the ring back and forth through the pierced channel. This should kill any bacteria in the wound.If a topical infection persists (redness, swelling, puss) you may need an antibiotic prescription. Just bear in mind that body surface infections tend to require a fairly strong antibiotic (it has a long way to travel from your stomach to the surface of your skin)good luck!

thanks a lot. I went to the pharmacist first thing this morning, he gave me Bactroban, says that it works wonders and in a wk or so I should be infection free (Yay!)...Im actually thinking of taking out the piercing after the infection has healed tho I love it but it seems like so much pain and stress..and such a long healing process:(

I might have gotten lucky but mine was completely healed within three months. I think the piercist at the time told me normally 6 months (he seen me about three months after I got my navel pierced when I got my nipple pierced and was kinda surprised how fast it healed). I say stick with it, it'll be worth it in the end. Like everything else it just takes time to heal and adjust to having jewelry on the tummy. Just follow the instructions from the piercist and you'll be fine