Required fields are marked with *. Will the tattoo definitely be ruined or infected if a client goes to the gym afterwards? Also, if your tattoo is in an area that will be stretched or flexed a lot during exercise, it's smart to put exercise off until the wound is fully healed. Ask the 1 piercing u: Be sure to go to a licensed and highly qualified expert on piercing, and ask them how long to wait before swimming in the ocean. Be sensible with the temperature of the water. Choosing to get a new tattoo or body piercing is an exciting endeavor, and something to celebrate. Watch what you wear as clothes may rub against the new piercing. The typical and most popular jewelry choice for belly button piercings is a curved barbell, which slightly curves outward to pop against your belly button and generally fits better with the natural shape of your body. You should have the opportunity to confirm the placement or discuss the possibility of piercing a different area. Piercings heal on the outside first and then on the inside. This being the case, how long before you can go swimming after belly button piercing? Tips To Heal Belly Button Piercing Faster? If youre still unsure and not willing to skip a gym day, don't be shy about asking your tattoo artist for guidance. Last medically reviewed on December 21, 2018. Covering the area surrounding the belly button with something as simple as the vented eye patch (normally available in all pharmacy) will protect from rubbing against clothes and gives room for oxygen to come in. Some of these include: There are a lot of ways through which a navel piercing can get infected. This will also help to relieve discomfort and pain on the area. Word of mouth is often the best way to find a reliable and reputable shop. However, its important to note that not everyone can get a belly button piercing. Page last reviewed: 8 October 2021 Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. This is because piercings can be susceptible to infection, and hot tubs and baths can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. According to NHS, "you should avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after having a piercing, and ideally until it has healed properly." Hi! Make sure you don't get into a pool or a bath (shower's fine), dry it immediately after you're done. Here's What You Need to Know, The Complete Guide to Industrial Bar Piercings, Rook Piercing 101: Everything You Need to Know, This Is How to Clean a Nose Piercing the Right Way, Tattoo Aftercare Is CrucialHere's How to Do it Right, Why You Should Soak Your New Body Piercing in Sea Salt, Michele Farber, MD, FAAD is a New York-based board-certified dermatologist practicing at. While it may be tempting to relax in the bath for a long time, limit your piercings exposure to soap and chemicals from shampoos or conditioners by only bathing as long as you need to. Considering the piercing is fairly painless due to a fleshy placement and easy to take care of since you dont have to look in a mirror to see it, theyre a great choice that has endured the test of time. No, you shouldnt swim for at least 24 hours after getting your belly button pierced. Never go swimming after a new piercing. To avoid this, take good care of the piercing. The piercing should be cleaned no more than is necessary to keep it clean, as over-cleaning can irritate the skin and delay healing. The following sections will give you some tips on how to swim with a belly button ring. Well Help. According to Figueroa, clients should consider the long term effects working out has on a new tattoo and says its best to continue, avoiding any possible complication that may arise from having an open wound that is not properly taken care of.. Any initial itchiness and localized tenderness is normal. about Want to Know How to Hide Ear Piercings? You may experience a little bit of bleeding. When getting instructions from your piercer, one of the things they should tell you is that you should not go swimming with your piercing. For more advice, like how to shower with a new piercing, read on. Not necessarily. If the shop uses piercing guns, cancel any appointment you may have made. Family Medicine 32 years experience. As tempting as it would be, crusts should not be picked with our hands. For more info, read on for everything you need to know about the popular piercing. How long do you have to wait to go swimming after getting a monroe piercing? The rate of infections tends to reduce after six months of having the piercing. Manage Settings Things You Should Know Before Getting a Double Helix Piercing, Want a Genteel Look But Dont Know How to Hide Ear Gauges? Belly button piercing is one of the most popular types of body piercings. Last Updated: January 29, 2023 The placement is then marked; you should have agreed on location with your piercer beforehand, but now is the time to double-check that its marked in the correct spot. Sabrina Crews is a copy editor and fact checker. Although they disinfect the area, they do not promote healing. I suggest coming to the studio for the first change, says Valentini. Placement: Pierced through the skin right above the naval, with a true belly button piercing centered directly above the navel. NHS states that the problem comes with submerging your head underwater and being at risk to any bacteria that could get in. If you've got it done, you must have gotten a [Read More] about Swollen Tongue After Piercing. You can go swimming now as long as the piercing doesnt get wet. Talk to your doctor to make sure you don't need antibiotics. Cycling might be a better choice than running, because there's no jiggling in the chest area. And, as mentioned, while six to eight months is the typical healing period, it could take up to a full year. Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water before you touch your piercing with your fingers. The Answer May Surprise You. Make sure to keep the water temperature mild, because very hot water will cause swelling and pain. Handle your piercing with clean hands. This means six to eight weeks for a simple ear piercing, and up to 6 months for nipple/navel piercings and at least two weeks for a tattoo. According to Outland, the top of the jewelry usually comes unscrewed, allowing for the jewelry to be slipped out and easily replaced in the same manner. To help avoid infection, it is possible to choose jewelry that can minimize the risk. In severe infections, you may experience nausea. (Fun To Read!). Though sweat doesnt irritate a new piercing, it can still introduce germs and bacteria. Neosporin is an antibiotic product that is used to prevent infections and speed up the healing of wounds. How to Swim? Reusable piercing guns can transmit bodily fluids across customers. A belly button piercing, also known as a navel piercing, is a piece of jewelry thats typically inserted through the skin, directly above the belly button. This smaller jewelry style is perfect for those who lead a very active lifestyle or don't feel the need to show off their navel piercing all the time. For ear and facial piercings, you can exercise immediately, though Brooks advises you to do so with care, and avoid contact sports. so ideally, you should not swim for 6 months to let it heal to 60 to 100%.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'outdoorfavor_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',668,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorfavor_com-banner-1-0'); These piercings take longer to heal due to the constant movement of the area where the piercing is and the fact that clothing can rub against it nearly all the time. Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject. He also has the vision to travel the whole world and share it with all readers of Outdoor Favor. When well taken care of, the piercing heals off without issues. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Minnesota. This ThoughtfulTattoos article tells you how to swim with a belly button ring. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This will help to prevent infections as piercings can quickly regress if mistreated or not well taken care of. Then, if your piercer is using tools, the area is held taut with a clamp. 1. In this stage, the body starts to react to the healing wound. A belly button piercing will most likely take anywhere from six months to a year to fully heal depending on how you care for it and your day-to-day lifestyle; however, the most common time frame is between six and eight months Regardless, its important to check with your piercer when you believe its healed before stopping aftercareif it's still healing, the site could become infected. Only get rid of them when cleaning the area as at this time they will have soaked and softened up to get off the area when wiped off. Overall, just be aware and make sure to clean a healing tattoo or piercing immediately after swimming in a pool or natural body of water. Although many pools today are foregoing chlorine because of the toxins and are using sea salt instead, salt can still sting and burn a wound. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) advises, " After having a piercing, it is important to keep the area clean and dry." In regards to swimming after having a piercing, the NHS states,. While many simple piercings, like the ears, take only around 6-8 weeks to heal, the healing period for a navel piercing is much longer a belly button piercing takes 6 months to 1 year to heal completely[ source]. Knowing what to expect and how to care for the piercing can help you avoid complications. Make sure that you avoid spas and hot tubs until the piercing heals completely to avoid infection. To emphasize, it's important that you shower and clean the piercing well after your workout is complete. Infections are pretty easy to treat (u. Approved. Choosing to get a piercing is a big decision that requires a lot of aftercare. Take the cotton bud and rub it lightly to form a lather. I would say around a 4 or 5 with my clients based on their feedback; I would rate my own at a 4 or so, says Kristina Outland, a body piercer at Deep Roots Tattoo & Piercing. Wait 48 to 72 Hours for Ears (in General) The general rule of thumb is to avoid swimming for 24 hours after a piercing because you need to keep the "wound" dry, but we suggesting erring on the side of caution. It can take anywhere from nine months to a year for a belly button piercing to fully heal. He will share his passion for outdoor life and brands or products we use outside our homes. During that time, you're at risk for infection. Assuming that everything went smooth, wait 48 to 72 hours, contingent upon whether or not you experience irritation in the affected area. How to Shower in the Locker Room without Feeling Nervous. This is the same kind of infection you are likely to get if you accidentally scratch the area. Along with making sure to wash your piercing and wait for it to heal, there are a ton of dos and don'ts when it comes to making sure your piercing heals probably (via NHS). Ideally, you shouldnt swim for the entire healing period. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The full breakdown, according to NHS, is that ear piercings take six to eight weeks, belly button piercings take six months to a year, and nose piercings take up to six months. You could also settle for jewelry made from PTFE material. Later on, you can follow the tips so as prevent an infection and enjoy your splash in the pool. Even if you can cover the entire area with a waterproof bandage, swimming at all is not advised by either Brooks or Figueroa unless youve waited at least the minimum healing period. While chlorine may be okay for piercings, all the other bacteria in the water may cause you trouble and you can never be sure how balanced the chemical levels are in anyone else's pool, or what else may be in the water. The first thing to note is that you should wash your hands before touching your piercing to ensure youre being as sterile as possible and to avoid passing any bacteria. Basically theres no winning here. Answer #1 Hi boredom410, Piercers recommend you wait a month after your piercing to go swimming in chlorinated pools. Always follow the instructions given by the piercer when taking care of the piercing. During the healing process, you should do the following: Its normal to see an off-white fluid coming out of the area in the first few days after your piercing. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg\/aid7373968-v4-728px-Take-a-Bath-with-a-New-Piercing-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"