My Belly Button Piercing Is Red Around The Top Hole

While most belly button piercings heal without complications, bacteria can infiltrate the area before healing is complete. In most cases, infections are small. Pain, redness, and swelling are common symptoms, and better hygiene can help.

It can be difficult to maintain a belly button piercing clean and free of inflammation, especially when clothing friction. This makes belly button piercings more susceptible to infection than other piercings.

What are the warning signs?

Infected belly button piercing symptoms include:

extreme pain or a burning feeling at the place, bright red skin surrounding the piercing or red streaks emerging from it, fever drainage from the piercing that may smell awful
swelling near the piercing
If symptoms like discomfort gradually improve, the piercing will likely heal normally.

If a person develops new symptoms unexpectedly, especially after a time of little or no symptoms, this may indicate an infection.

Complications

The piercing process can spread blood-borne illnesses like HIV and hepatitis B and C. When piercing equipment and jewelry are not sterile, the danger increases, especially if the piercing needles have been shared.

Always go with a reputable piercer. Anyone unsure whether their piercings were sterile should consider having these infections examined.

An infection can spread throughout the body from a piercing. In some situations, the infection might lead to fatal complications.

Anyone with a weaker immune system should consult a doctor before getting a piercing, and anyone showing signs of infection should seek medical attention right once.

If a person has diabetes, HIV, AIDS, another chronic condition, or is undergoing chemotherapy; their immune system may be compromised.

Causes of belly button piercing discomfort

Pain or discomfort around a belly button piercing can be caused by factors other than infection. Consult a doctor if you are experiencing any new or odd symptoms, as the cause may be difficult to determine.

Allergic reactions

Nickel-containing jewelry is highly prone to causing an allergic reaction. The Professional Piercers recommend using metals less prone to produce responses, such as surgical steel, titanium, or nickel-free gold. They also advise wearing jewelry that is smooth and free of bumps or nicks that could irritate the skin.

Allergic responses usually begin when the jewelry is inserted into the piercing. The reaction might be severe, with a painful rash or swelling, or it can be mild but gradually worsen.

Injuries

Clothing or other things that grab on navel jewelry can cause skin injuries and tears.

A person may have been injured if the jewelry got snagged on anything and the new piercing looks larger or feels painful.

Infection is more likely as a result of these injuries. They can also cause the piercing to change shape or heal inappropriately. Consult a doctor about the damage and a competent piercer to determine whether the piercing needs to be redone.

Skin conditions

Pain and discomfort near a piercing might be caused by a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis. A prior skin disorder could cause a rash, redness, peeling, or irritation. A piercing is one type of skin injury that can provoke various illnesses, such as psoriasis.

Infection detection

A doctor can typically tell if you have an infection by looking at your piercing. When there is no infection, but the skin is irritated, a doctor will inquire about recent modifications to the piercing, such as using a new cleaning solution or jewelry made of a different metal.

After an examination and a thorough medical history, the doctor can typically determine the source of the irritation. However, the doctor may also want blood tests or a skin sample.

When should you see a doctor?

A significant piercing infection can spread to other parts of the body.

If symptoms of infection do not resolve immediately, it is critical to be cautious and consult a doctor.

They have an immune-suppressing condition, acute pain, and a fever.

The piercing site has been damaged, and a foul odor emanates from it.
There is redness and warmth at the piercing site, or there are red streaks on the skin.
Infection symptoms are not improving, and an allergic response did not go away after the piercing was removed.

Infection symptoms are worsening, or new symptoms have appeared.

What are the available therapy options?

A mild infection could be treatable at home.

It may be beneficial to:

cleanse your hands before touching the piercing.

Use a piercing cleaning solution to clean the region.
use an antibiotic ointment to treat the infection

Unless advised by a doctor, avoid removing the piercing.
Infections may necessitate medical attention, and antibiotics are usually successful.
A doctor may advise removing the jewelry and allowing the piercing to heal or replacing low-quality jewelry with something made of metal less likely to irritate the skin.

Cleaning hints

Infection can be avoided with proper piercing care.

To lessen the possibility of infection:

Choose a piercer who sterilizes their equipment and never reuses needles. When inserting the piercing, the piercer should take time and wear gloves.

Consider asking your doctor for a recommendation to a reputable piercer.
Wear only high-quality piercing jewelry.
Keep the piercing clean by following the piercer’s instructions. This usually entails washing the piercing regularly and only handling it with clean hands.

Allow no one to touch or kiss the piercing until it has healed completely.

If a person has a condition that affects the immune system, or if a person has a history of infected piercings, it may not be advisable to receive a piercing.

Conclusion

If a piercing becomes infected, seek treatment as soon as possible.

Receiving timely treatment increases the likelihood that the piercing will heal well and not need to be removed.