Body piercing has been a popular form of self expression since centuries. In ancient times, Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, used body piercing as a means to impose one's importance in his herd or clan, or as a protection from an evil entity. Today, body piercing has become one of the most followed fashion trends. Amongst different types of body piercings, belly button piercing or navel piercing is the most sought after. Being located on such a sensuous part of the body, it is needless to guess the reasons behind its popularity. However, while getting this sort of body piercing, one must also be aware about the pain and healing process, as well as all the dangers and risks of belly button piercing.
Belly Button Piercing Pain Level
Is belly button piercing painful? Well, as with any piercing, pain is the key factor which is associated with belly piercing. The level of pain depends totally on the level of pain tolerance of that individual. Some people have high pain tolerance and hence, they get the belly button piercing done with utmost comfort. While some people find it excruciating, that comes with the aftermath like navel piercing infection and sore, runny and itchy belly button. For the people with low pain tolerance level, the time of piercing can be quite uncomfortable. Many people also say that the pain is caused more with the clamps that are used for holding the skin, rather than the actual 'piercing pain'.
How to Reduce the Pain
Getting the piercing done from a reputed piercing parlor, and by an experienced piercing artists are two important things to adhere to. This will ensure that there are no unpleasant incidents like infection and all the other kinds of belly button piercing infections. Selecting the right kind of jewelry which is resistible to rust, corrosion and varnish is important. Understand, that the belly button jewelry will get into contact with body fluids and hence, it must be totally sterile. You can use materials like surgical stainless steel, Tygon plastic, 14K gold, titanium jewelry, etc. While materials like sterling silver, bamboo, nickel, bones, electroplated silver and gold, should be avoided.
Managing the Pain
Apart from getting the belly area numb for piercing, there are a few common things that are used in order to alleviate the pain of belly button piercing. Some artists use the cryogesic sprays like ethyl chloride to avoid pain and discomfort. However, belly button piercing info is incomplete without knowledge about proper piercing aftercare. Once the piercing is done, you are likely to experience a sore belly button for a while, since it is a fresh wound. Since belly button is that part of the body, which is prone to irritation due to contact with clothes, you are likely to suffer with pain, soreness, swelling and redness of the belly button and the area around it. You can take over-the-counter pain killers, in order to avoid the pain, along with the mentioned tips:
- Avoid using products that contain benzalkonium chloride, since it can irritate your wound.
- Cleaning belly button piercing at least once a day with unscented soap, which is also dye free will aid in preventing infection.
- Using salt water soaks with 1/8 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt to and 8 oz water reduces the belly button piercing healing period.
- You need to avoid wearing tight, figure hugging clothes and, basically, all such clothes that can irritate the belly piercing wound.
- Also, avoid all sorts of antibiotics, tanning spray, sunscreen lotions, etc. You also need to avoid swimming and tub baths.
- Lastly, never finger your belly button piercing without washing your hands, since hands are the easiest mode of getting an infected belly button piercing.
