What Is the Aftercare For a Naval Piercing?
Harris explained that aftercare is actually quite easy for a new belly button piercing. He recommended cleaning it twice daily with some fragrance-free soap and water (I always go for Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby Soap). Do your best to leave it alone, and don't overclean or touch it with dirty hands. Until it's fully healed, you want to be careful of snagging it on a towel or rubbing it with your clothes (tread lightly around high-waisted jeans!). "Try not to do anything that has you laying on it or putting a lot of pressure on it," Harris said. "Be careful with those loofahs in the shower, too."
Since I was eager to get back to my regular yoga practice, I also asked Harris how long I should wait before working out. Thankfully, he said, "I would say if it's comfortable enough for you to work out, then it should be OK. Just be mindful of it."
One common concern is getting "the bump" near your navel area during the healing process. The main thing to know: don't freak out. "The bumps are usually temporary, cosmetic, and will eventually clear up with a little extra care and caution," Harris said. "Normally, I have clients start with a daily hot compress to the area, which helps draw out the irritation and shrink the bumps down. If that's not working, sometimes changing up the jewellery you have in can help." Before taking drastic steps like taking out the jewellery yourself, let your piercer take a look and give you a plan of action.
Harris said that oftentimes, irritation is confused with infection. "More often than not, piercings become irritated, not infected," he said. "If you are having concerns about what is happening with your piercing, it's always best to go see your piercer in person so they see exactly what is going on. Everything is fixable, so there's nothing to stress about if your piercing gets irritated." Your piercer can let you know if you really do have an infection and advise when to see a doctor.
How Long Does a New Navel Piercing Take to Heal?
Keep in mind that everyone heals differently, and some people's bodies react differently to a piercing than others. Generally, the healing process takes between three and six months, but it could take longer. "I tell clients to wait a minimum of three months before changing out the jewellery, but waiting longer is always better," Harris said. "When you want to change it out, check in with your piercer to see if it's actually ready. Don't get impatient and change it too soon! It could cause problems you won't want to deal with in the long run."
If you have a closed hole from a previous piercing, the aftercare looks a little different. "If it can be reopened, it's pretty easy to do, and you don't have to deal with all the aftercare of a new piercing," Harris said. "You can also put in a more fitted piece of jewellery right away."
Even though it's not ready for the teeny-tiny hoop of my dreams just yet, I'm already so excited about my new piercing. Just, um, please don't send this article to my mom!