I got my belly button pierced for the 2nd time in October of 2006, and things seemed to be fine up until maybe January. I have a bump at the top of the piercing that looks like a zit. Some days it's huge, and other days it isn't. I called the place where I got it pierced and they said it could just be that the ring/barbell may have a high nickel content in it. I clean it with saline solution (what they told me to use), but should I use something else? Could it be a keloid? Infected?
Also, I don't know if this is important or not, but my 1st piercing ripped out because it wasn't pierced too deep, and the piercer said I just had scar tissue that he was able to get past.
2007-03-28 09:59:36 · 8 answers · asked by ut_krystle 1 in Beauty & Style ➔ Skin & Body ➔ Other - Skin & Body
By saline solution, do you mean what is marketed for contact lenses, or a sea salt solution? If you are using contact solution, STOP NOW. Use 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt to 8 ounces of warm water instead.
Far too many people mistake hypertrophic scarring for keloiding - people's first response is usually, "OMG! It must be a keloid!" In actuality, few people's piercings actually get keloids - many more get hypertrophic scarring. Check out this link to read more and to get various remedies: http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Hypertrophic_Scarring
2007-03-28 10:42:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you're wearing good quality jewelry. If you have doubts about what you're wearing, change it for surgical steel or titanium right away (you need to remove the source of irritation before anything will get better) If you know the jewelry is the right material, then look to the size. Is it snug without being tight? You don't want it to pinch the skin, but you also don't want half an inch of jewelry outside the piercing.
It sounds like a boil (hard to tell for sure since I can't see it). Keep up with the sea salt soaks (also referred to as saline solution - but not the stuff for contacts) and try a hot compress twice daily (heat your saline solution to a point where its hot - not burning, but comfortably hot) and dip a piece of sterile gauze in it, hold it gently on the piercing for about 10 mins (keep dipping it in the solution to keep it hot), If it is a boil, this will encourage the fluid inside to come out, and it should clear up in about a week. This is safe to do, even if it's not a boil.
Go to your piercer to get his/her opinion on it, it's easier to tell what the problem is if you can see it
2007-03-29 10:23:10 · answer #2 · answered by nymphetamine1978 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Keloids only get larger in size and are usually hard lumps of scar tissue.
It could be a boil or just irritated scar tissue from the jewelry rubbing on it.
What I suggest is making sure you have high quality jewelry and use hot compresses and sea salt soaks on the area. Hopefully in about 2-3 weeks it should go down.
2007-03-28 12:03:15 · answer #3 · answered by 4eyed zombie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get some sea salt and mix it in a glass with warm water and bend over put the mouth of the glass around your belly button and tip it up so the water is covering it. That should make it go away
2007-03-28 11:18:39 · answer #4 · answered by MyOpinionMatters 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
im not sure what the problem is but i did have the same exact problem. i had mine done once before but it ripped out because it wasnt pierced through enough skin. so i let it heal for a few months and then got it done again. but maybe try using some type of ointment or something (like maybe neosporin or something...or maybe even peroxide) well i hope everything works out well for u...
good luck mama!!
2007-03-28 10:09:41 · answer #5 · answered by thasexxyone 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think it may be keloid if its slighty raised off the skin but if your really worried go to your gp let him see if you have any sort of infection also i could be your allegic to nickel like i am try titium mine automatically went down
2007-03-28 10:05:29 · answer #6 · answered by hunni_b21 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that happened to mine too, my roommate just got her nose pierced and the same thing happened to her. i'm not sure what it is but it goes away. as long as it's not secreting green fluid or anything i wouldn't think it's infected. just make sure you clean it often and keep you eye on it.
2007-03-28 10:23:21 · answer #7 · answered by meggy_b_63 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It more then likely is infected. I would have it seen just to be sure. It's an easy fix, just antibiotics and some special cleaning procedures. But have it looked at.
2007-03-28 10:07:40 · answer #8 · answered by odd duck 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋