Thu, 02/02/2012 - 16:20
I got my navel pierced about 3.5 months back and it is doing fine however I do have a concern that I would like to pose.
First of my piercer, she said for me to use H2O Ocean to help it heal. I did use that product for about a month and than after that I used sterilized saline solution once every 2-3 days for about 10-15 minutes. I also sprayed Bactine occasionally in the evening for its so called anti-bacterial properties. And every time I took a shower I let the water spray on it and I did move the piercing up and down to make sure it moved freely without any obstructions.
I always kept telling myself that I should not use any products as the body is a great healer. In Ancient Egypt and the like they did not have fancy products for their piercings and the body would heal their piercings.
Well in any case maybe like 2-3 weeks ago I saw a blood blister/pimple on the right an left side of my lower piercing. I was not sure what it was and I continued to use the saline solution and run the water over my piercing in the shower. However, everyday in the evening, I noticed dried blood all over my navel. I did nothing about it at that time. In the morning when I had finished my shower I would take a Q-tip and run it through my navel to collect all the dried blood which was liquified now. I did this after every shower but every morning those blood blisters/pimples are still there.
Currently I just do the shower thing and soap around the piercing and use Q-tip to get the water and blood out of my navel area. Are these blood pimples/blisters something I need to be concerned about or is it a normal stage in the body's healing process?
Thanks much for your feedback.
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Sorry to take so long to respond.
We keep trying to get people to avoid saline, bactine and other 'healing' products because we have seen too many problems develop as a direct result of their use.
These problems usually begin as dried skin at the margin of the piercing, which cracks and admits bacteria to the underlying tissues. The resulting infection is localized and manifests as a little red bump. Even at that stage, the recommended course is to stop the rigorous cleaning, and to apply a little moisturizer to prevent the skin from cracking.
By the time the bump becomes a blister, the tissue damage has become self-perpetuating. You may not any longer be able to reverse this.
The bleeding means that the lining of the piercing has broken down, and has exposed damaged tissue. It is like a fresh piercing, except the tissue is not healthy. Short of removing the jewelry and letting it heal, I am going to recommend that you back off from heavy cleaning, and rely on plain warm water irrigation to clear the blood. A little aloe vera jelly might help protect the tissues while they regain their health.
Good luck, and keep me posted.
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Thanks very much for the feedback.
I have stopped with the other items and have just been using the warm water from my showers when I take my showers. In addition I have used some anti-bacterial soap around the area. I am not rubbing the soap or anything, just letting it flow around the piercing.
I am not seeing anymore dried blood. All I am seeing now is a very light colored discharge which doesn't smell or anything. I have been just getting rid of that with a q-tip after I have showered. Just letting the warm water go around the piercing seems to be helping. I am sure it will take quite a bit of time for it to heal which is what I expect.