Belly button piercing and working out?
mrsvanderpool
Posts: 133 Member
in Chit-Chat
I am wanting to get my navel pierced now that I'm close to my goal, however I'm worried about infection, etc. I do Insanity 5-6 days a week and wondered if ill still be able to do that if I get it pierced. I've googled, but I've found so many different things. So will I have to wait to work out? Will it make it more likely to get infected or to reject? Thanks in advance.
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As a person who's had a navel ring since the age of 17 and a dancer (think cardio at least 6 times a week aside from lifting) I'd say you can. The first couple of weeks (about 2 or longer depending on your sensitivity) you will have to sort of be on top of it. Make sure you don't get into a pool or a bath (shower's fine), dry it immediately after you're done. Keep it moist with a mild disinfectant such as Bactine. Alcohol and peroxide are too drying. Also, I learned this was key: Make sure you get the belly ring with a post instead of an actual ring. The ring is more sensitive to pressure and thus, prone to keloids (bumps inside the pierced area) because of its odd angle. Also, with the post you can wear tights and spandex without it being uncomfortable. It's not a difficult thing to maintain at all. It's just the first couple of weeks you have to be extra careful. Again, the kind of ring makes a HUGE difference.0
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Wait to get it pierced until you've reached your goal and will feel comfortable taking two weeks off from vigorous exercise.0
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Just go to a reputable place to have your piercing done. It should be cleaner than a doctors office. They will prep the skin as if they were doing a surgical incision. If you follow the instructions for cleaning and caring for your piercing, exercise should not increase your risk of infection.0
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I had my belly button pierced at age 16 (i still have it now at age 22). I was pierced with a ring because I was told that it would be easier to keep clean and it was easier to move around to prevent scar tissue formation. I found that I was sore my first few days, but I did not have any issue with an infection. You must be careful to keep it clean when you first get it. I played volleyball and practices started about three weeks after I got pierced. I was able to dive on the floor (with my ring, not a post) without an issue. I was also told by my piercer that piercing with a post makes it easier for the piercing to slip out.. but I'm not a professional, so I would ask your piercer before you commit!0
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I got mine pierced 3 years ago and that was a major concern for me as well. I was fine doing exercise but had to be careful for anything that 'crunched' my stomach for the first week or so. After that, I was fine doing anything. Keep that baby clean though!0
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I was told not to work out when i got mine done but i decided not to listen and mine got infected =( i'm still upset about that. lol0
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I would say be careful with it. When I had mine done I wasn't working out regularly at that point in time so I can't tell you how it was for me in that sense, but I was still in school, active and having regular PE lessons twice a week. So nothing intense, but I can't recall having any problems.
I was told by the piercer, salt water is better than any of the fancy cleaning stuff. I used this religiously, I think twice a day for the first week or two, and once a day after that until 6 weeks. I changed it for the first time after 8 weeks. Never had any problems or infections with it. Just be very careful and keep notice of how it's healing. Don't overdo it and if you see any unusual redness or swelling, especially after the exercise, I'd just leave it out for a couple of weeks.0 -
When I got mine pierced it kept getting infections, being swollen and sore for about 6 months. Then, for entirely unrelated reasons, I went without working out (and having sex- that can be a big irritation to the piercing, too!) for a couple of weeks, and it healed up immediately. So if you can, I'd try to avoid working out while it's healing.
If you do choose to exercise while it's healing, avoid wearing clothing that might rub on it (that means no leggings, tights, or tight shirts) and make sure to do saline soaks every day to keep it clean without irritation (this is recommended over using alcohol, soap, etc). I found the easiest way to do a saline soak is to put the saline (this can be storebought solution or just sea salt dissolved in distilled water) in a shot glass, hold it against your belly button, and lie on your back for 15 minutes.
Good luck!0 -
If you have a friend or friends who are into piercings, find out where they got theirs done. It's best to go to a piercer with years of experience. Also make sure the place is really clean. If in doubt, don't go ahead. I had mine pierced with a bar a few years ago, I kept it clean with salt water (only need to clean once a day, too much and it will get irritated or slow the healing process) I avoided exercise for a week until the initial healing had completed. Unfortunately, I had to take it out as I did not have enough skin around my navel, and so the constant tension on the skin was causing it to migrate (Another reason to go to an experienced piercer, as they will not go ahead with it if you are not suitable.)0
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I got mine pierced at 14 and still have it to this day (I'm 22). At one time, I had 3 navel piercings at one time (one on top, two on bottom. Think the points of a triangle). Like a lot of people on here mentioned, make sure to get it done at a reputable place. I got my top one done with a ring and it was super easy to keep clean, however it was more sensitive to pressure. Make sure to wash with UNSCENTED antibacterial soap, and when you wash, slide the ring/post up and down when there is soap on it, and also when you rinse. You want to make sure ALL of the soap is out. You can also use hot salt water (using sea salt at a low concentration) to help it heal as well. I used to do this once a day; mix the water and salt in a shot glass and let it sit on my belly button for about 10 minutes. Pat dry. I was told to never use neosporin, vaseline, etc. but I'm sure if you ask your piercer, they will be able to give you a more definite answer. Finally, when it comes to rejecting; even if you follow all of the rules to a tee, there is still a chance it could reject. It all depends on your body. One of my piercings on the bottom actually started to reject, but since I refused to take it out, I delt with the infection, pain and swollenness of a rejecting piercing. Eventually, I got the infection cleared up and took the piercing out and let it heal. I now have two yucky scars
Anyway, you should be fine getting your belly button pierced and working out. I was a dancer for 15 years (and got my belly button pierced a few days before recital) and a diver for the swim team in high school and never had a problem with the top one to this day. Good luck! 0 -
Get it and just be sure to wash it after you workout with something like unscented liquid dial. If you want it, get it, just know that you'll have to be mindful of the pain when you exercise. I got mine done at a very active time in my life and I've never had any real problems with it. It hurt when I did crunches but that's about it. Just be sure you go to a reputable place with autoclaves and sterile techniques and you should be good! Good luck!0
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Thanks everyone!1
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I've had my belly button pierced for several years and never had a problem - or took a break from working out.0
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You might want to take a couple days off when you first get it... I was pretty sore for the first few days.
Otherwise, I started on here and started exercising about 2 weeks after I got mine, and never had any problem with infection. It does take about 6 months to FULLY heal. I'm glad mine was healed before I did a mud run.
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I have had one for 8 years and never had a problem. Just make sure you do the sea salt scrubs and everything will be fine. To be honest I am quite shocked that people are still getting them.0
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I have had one for 8 years and never had a problem. Just make sure you do the salt water scrubs and everything will be fine. To be honest I am quite shocked that people are still getting them.
Why shocked? Just curious : )0 -
I have had one for 8 years and never had a problem. Just make sure you do the salt water scrubs and everything will be fine. To be honest I am quite shocked that people are still getting them.
Why shocked? Just curious : )
Because nipple rings and monroe piercings have become more acceptable in mainstream society.0 -
Basically just the first few weeks will be sore. I also agree with the above poster who said the belly ring definitely matters. I had mine pierced with a ring and had problems with keloids until I replaced it with a curved barbel. MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE.0
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I got mine when I was a freshman in high school. At the time, I was playing field hockey 5x/week, and I had no problems.
A friend who recently got his nipple pierced said that his piercer advised keeping the piercing totally dry (even while showering). I don't know if this is a more effective way of healing, but it's something to look into.
I've also heard that Bactine is not the way to go -- an RN told me that it Bactine goes bad fairly quickly and loses its antibacterial properties.0 -
Basically just the first few weeks will be sore. I also agree with the above poster who said the belly ring definitely matters. I had mine pierced with a ring and had problems with keloids until I replaced it with a curved barbel. MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE.
Yes This! I forgot to mention that when I got it done the barbell was too short. I did an internship on a boat and we sailed into a town that had a salon. The owner told me that it was not healing because it was too short and the ball from the top of the barbell was preventing it from healing. I bought a retainer to tide me over until the end of the trip . I also did some sea salt water scrubs (since I learned that H2Ocean was actually banned) and ordered a 7/16 surgical steel ring when I got home and have not had a problem in 8 years.:happy:0 -
I had my belly button pierced at age 16 (i still have it now at age 22). I was pierced with a ring because I was told that it would be easier to keep clean and it was easier to move around to prevent scar tissue formation. I found that I was sore my first few days, but I did not have any issue with an infection. You must be careful to keep it clean when you first get it. I played volleyball and practices started about three weeks after I got pierced. I was able to dive on the floor (with my ring, not a post) without an issue. I was also told by my piercer that piercing with a post makes it easier for the piercing to slip out.. but I'm not a professional, so I would ask your piercer before you commit!
Definitely don't get a ring for initial healing as it doesn't allow for adequate swelling, and it moves around too much which irritates the healing piercing (and can pull those icky crusties in/therefore can be more prone to infection). Why would a bar with balls on both ends slip out? (:
Like a lot of other people have said, try and take it easy at the beginning because your stomach will be a little bit sore and you want to treat it gently. But you won't need long to get used to it and you'll be doing your normal stuff soon. Also make sure to only soak it in sea salt solution (1/8th tsp sea salt to a cup of water) and nothing else (no tea tree oil or anything) twice a day and then leave it alone! (:0 -
^^ here^^I had my belly button pierced at age 16 (i still have it now at age 22). I was pierced with a ring because I was told that it would be easier to keep clean and it was easier to move around to prevent scar tissue formation. I found that I was sore my first few days, but I did not have any issue with an infection. You must be careful to keep it clean when you first get it. I played volleyball and practices started about three weeks after I got pierced. I was able to dive on the floor (with my ring, not a post) without an issue. I was also told by my piercer that piercing with a post makes it easier for the piercing to slip out.. but I'm not a professional, so I would ask your piercer before you commit!
Definitely don't get a ring for initial healing as it doesn't allow for adequate swelling, and it moves around too much which irritates the healing piercing (and can pull those icky crusties in/therefore can be more prone to infection). Why would a bar with balls on both ends slip out? (:
Like a lot of other people have said, try and take it easy at the beginning because your stomach will be a little bit sore and you want to treat it gently. But you won't need long to get used to it and you'll be doing your normal stuff soon. Also make sure to only soak it in sea salt solution (1/8th tsp sea salt to a cup of water) and nothing else (no tea tree oil or anything) twice a day and then leave it alone! (:
Listen to this person0 -
I just got mine done this past Sunday, it's still sensitive/tender and red.... I've been wanting to excercise to kill off a lot of my weight. I have read everyone's comments and responses. but my question is... how long will it stay tender and have the redness0
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I've had mine for about 20 years (wow I'm old!), had it done with a ring though I usually wear a barbell. LOL I had to look to see what was in there since I haven't changed in in probably 5 years. One of the poster above mentioned putting salt water in a shot glass and laying it on your belly button to soak, that is what my piercer recommended too. The only problem I had was the waist of my jeans hit directly on my bb and it hurt, so I didn't wear jeans for a week or so. Other than that, no issues.0
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I've had mine pierced twice, both times it got infected and the first time I took it out because I got pregnant and didn't want to deal with it. The second time I dealt with the infection and its been fine ever since. You will need to be careful for a few weeks and it is sensitive at first so having it rub or get caught isn't good.0
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I've had mine for years. It did take a long time to heal in the beginning.0
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