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Dangers of Belly Rings

Belly button ring piercings generally take about six months to a year to fully heal, and there are some risks involved with getting one. While they are normally fine when cared for correctly, it is important to know what can happen if something does go wrong. Most dangers of belly button rings are not serious but they can be if ignored.

  1. Infection

    • When you get your belly pierced, you should make sure all equipment and jewelry has been sterilized. There is more of a chance of serious infection if it is not, as the equipment will come in contact with your blood. Hepatitis and HIV are transferred this way. Also, you should care for the piercing as you are instructed. Wearing loose clothes can help along with the healing process. If you do get an infection, you should take the jewelry out and wait for the infection to go away. Otherwise it can develop into a much more serious tetanus infection. If it is a bad infection that takes a long time to heal, the hole may close up, in which case you will need to get repierced after the infection is completely gone.

    Jewelry Rejection

    • Sometimes the body rejects certain metals in jewelry. There is no real reason why, but since it happens, there is a chance that it could occur with your piercing. When the belly is pierced, scar tissue builds up under the skin. Over time this scar tissue may rise to the top of the skin, pushing the piercing out with it. This is more common in overweight people and pregnant women.

    Snagging

    • Even after your piercing has healed, snagging can still occur. If snagged, your piercing can rip out. However, if the piercing healed well, it may just hurt for a little while. Avoiding belts and pants that sit where the piercing is--as well as tight shirts--can help you avoid snagging the piercing.

    Bleeding

    • Bleeding can occur at the site where you were pierced at the time of piercing. It may be minimal, or it may be heavy bleeding, but either way you need to be prepared that it can happen. Eventually the bleeding will stop, but you should wear a shirt you do not care about or bring tissues with you when you get your belly button pierced in case it does happen.

    Allergic Reactions

    • You may be allergic to the types of metal that are used in the jewelry. Gold, silver and stainless steel are common metals used in belly ring jewelry. Gold and silver are good options if you are allergic to metals because they are more refined and contain less allergens. However, if your body still has a reaction to these metals, you can try using a nylon belly ring. If you are still having a reaction to the metal and nylon, then you should take the piercing out.

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