Body piercing as an art has played a significant role in our culture. And today, this artwork has become a fashion statement. If navel piercing fascinates you, go through the information given in this ThoughtfulTattoos article before getting yourself pierced.
The concept of body piercing has been around since time immemorial. This art was popular among the Incas and the Egyptians. In the ancient past, body piercing had nothing to do with fashion. It symbolized loyalty, bravery, royalty, warriors, and exceptional beauty.
Times have changed and so has body piercing. The art has found profound importance in the world of fashion. The piercing is not only restricted to areas like ears, but the fashion icons have crossed to piercing body parts like belly button, lips, eyebrows, nostril, tongue, etc. Navel or belly button, as it is called, is considered as one of the most sensuous parts of the body, and getting it pierced has caught the fancy of many people around the world. It involves a certain risk of infection and hence proper aftercare should be followed. There are some things that you should consider before getting a piercing.
- Get a professional to do the job: Never ever try to do it yourself. Puncturing your skin with non-sterilized needles can lead to an infection. There are plenty of salons that can do the job effectively. There are professionals who are trained to work on your body. Make sure that the piercer is registered with APP (Association of Professional Piercers).
- Choose the right jewelry: There is a wide variety of jewelry that can be worn on a navel. The jewelry comes in different shapes and forms: bars, ring, and gauge. They are usually made from metals like gold, silver, niobium, titanium, and stainless steel. Make sure that you just don’t go by the design and the attractiveness of the jewelry. Also, pay attention to the size of the metal as it should not be an irritant in your quest to be fashionable. Hypoallergenic jewelry made from surgical grade steel, titanium, and 14 or 18 carat gold are best when you are piercing for the first time.
- If left unclean, chances of a bacterial infection at the site is high, which can cause an abscess around the pierced site. If left untreated, it can form septicemia, which means infection of the blood.
- If you get the piercing done in a salon that has poor hygiene, then the risk of infection increases considerably.
- Transmittable diseases can infect your body through non-sterilized needles. The normal reactions are bleeding, swelling around the piercing site, and scarring.
- The first thing to keep in mind is to avoid touching the piercing area. The chances that you may transfer germs from your hands are high, which may lead to an infection.
- Use an antibacterial soap to clean your navel area.
- With the help of warm water, remove the crusting material from the belly.
- Refrain from tampering with the ring, and do not touch the piercing with dirty hands.
- Avoid wearing jeans, pantyhose, and belts that fit tightly on your waist. Wear only loose-fitting clothes that allow your skin to breathe.
- To speed up the process of healing, use lavender and tea tree oil.
- Do not use public swimming pools or spas until the piercing has healed.
- The healing process usually takes six months. If you want to go in for a change in the jewelry, do so only after the belly button has healed completely.
- Take care while sleeping. Avoid sleeping on your stomach, as it may hurt and cause the piercing to move.
Now that you have the required information, making a decision is easy. If you decide not to broach the topic of navel piercing, you know what is best for you. But, if you have decided to go for it, be sure to read through the information given above before running to your nearest piercing expert.
