Copyright Black Widow Unlimited

Suggested Piercing Aftercare

Care For Navel Piercings

Your piercing was performed professionally and appropriately. Follow these simple suggestions, and your healing period should go smoothly. Although not physicians, Black Widow Unlimited piercers are available whenever you have questions about aftercare. Please call us any time!

A Normal Piercing
- May be tender, itchy, or bruised for a few weeks.
- May be slightly red. Redness may persist for several months in a navel
- May bleed a little for the first few days.
- May secrete a whitish-yellow fluid which crusts on the jewelry. This is not pus.
- May tighten around the jewelry as it heals, making moving the jewelry difficult when dry.

How Should I Clean My Piercing?
- You will need an antibacterial soap, such as Provon (chlorexylenol).
- Always wash your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap before touching your piercing.
- Navel piercings should be cleaned thoroughly twice a day EVERYDAY for the entire healing time. Prepare the area for cleansing by removing the NORMAL secretion of Blood Plasma and Lymph (crusties). This is easily accomplished by soaking the piercing in warm water for 1 to 2 minutes. When the crust has softened , use a Q-tip to Gently remove the matter. NEVER pick at the crust with your fingernails.
- Work a small amount of soap with water and apply to the piercing. Gently push the curved barbell up and down a few times making sure the soap is entering the piercing. Allow the soap to remain in the piercing for one minute. Keep all other soaps, shampoo, and conditioner from entering the piercing. Remember, the soap does not have to lather to be effective.
- Rinse the area thoroughly under running water, while pushing the jewelry gently up and down a few times to remove ALL traces of the cleanser. Never put any kind of soap on your piercing without rinsing it off.
- Gently pat the area dry with a Kleenex or other disposable paper product. Use a Q-tip to dry the inside of your navel.
- Apply Bacitracin ointment at least twice a day to help in the healing process. If your piercing becomes dry you can apply as needed.
- Clean the piercing no more than twice a day. Cleaning more frequently may damage the delicate skin cells, and cleaning less frequently may invite an infection. When you're not cleaning your navel piercing Leave It Alone.

What Else Can I Do?
- Many piercees have found that Vitamin C (3ooo mg in mineral ascorbate form), Multivitamins, and a zinc supplement (women:60 mg, men :120 mg), for about two weeks can accelerate healing and regeneration of tissue.
- Avoid wearing belts, tights, tight pants, or any restrictive clothing for the entire healing time.
- EVERYDAY, thoroughly wash your hands with an anti-bacterial soap and check the tightness of the ball on your curved barbell. If this is not done you may lose your jewelry.

When Can I Remove or Change The Jewelry?
Your piercing will not be completely healed for several years. Even after the piercing has healed, reinsertion can be difficult and sometimes impossible.
- Jewelry should not be changed during the initial healing period. In addition, many piercees want to hang charms from their navel jewelry. Although this is aesthetically pleasing, the charm can cause serious problems if hung too early in the healing process.

Do I Have An Infection?
Infections are caused by contact with bacteria, fungi, or other living pathogens. Piercing infections can usually be traced to one of the following activities:
- Touching the piercing with unwashed hands, or letting someone else touch the piercing.
- Oral contact with the piercing, including your own saliva.
- Allowing body fluids to contact the piercing
- Contact with hair, cosmetics, oils, infrequently washed clothing or bedding, or other agents.
- Going into a pool, hot tub, lake, ocean, or other body of water. Baths are OK if you bleach your tub frequently.

How Can I Tell if I have an Infection?
While these symptoms may also indicate other problems, look for the following indications of infection:
- Redness and swelling (after the first several weeks)
- A sensation of heat at the piercing site.
- PAIN, especially throbbing or spreading pain.
- Unusual discharge. May be greenish or yellowish.

I Think I have an Infection. What Should I Do?
- If you think you have an infection contact your piercer right away.
- Do not remove your jewelry. This may aggravate the problem by closing off the drainage for the matter.
- The piercers at Black Widow Unlimited are not physicians and we never discourage anyone to contact a physician if you think you have an infection.
- Please understand that most doctors have little training in body piercing, and may have no experience with piercings. As a result they may offer inappropriate advice.

I Think My Piercing is Growing Out!
Navel piercings tend to migrate toward the surface somewhat as they heal. If the piercing is too shallow, the jewelry is inappropriate, or improper aftercare is occurring, the piercing may reject (migrate all the way out of the body). If you suspect that your piercing is rejecting please call your piercer. The solution may be as simple as changing your cleanser. Also something as simple as a large belt buckle can cause a piercing to migrate to the left or the right. In most cases this can be easily corrected. If you suspect that your piercing is migrating please call your piercer immediately.

Things To Keep In Mind
- How your piercing heals is up to you!
- Treat your body with respect and it will respect your new piercing. Get plenty of rest, Eat healthy, and don't subject yourself to heavy stress during the healing process.
- Remember, your piercing may look and feel like it has completely healed in a short amount of time. Clean your piercing continuously for the suggested healing time. Most piercings go through a series of ups and downs during the healing process, always be patient.

Healing Time for Navel Piercings:

6 - 9 months

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING BLACK WIDOW UNLIMITED AS YOUR PIERCER AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW PIERCING!