How do I make sure my bellybutton piercing does not get infected?

ShadesOfMellow: How do I make sure my bellybutton piercing does not get infected?
I just got it pierced last night and I am very new to everything about bellybutton piercing. Is the occassional sharp pain on the piercing normal? And how do I keep it from becoming infected?

Answers and Views:

Answer by SuperMommy
Yes. It’s normal. I have my tongue peirced, my belly, my nose, and my monroe.

I’d buy some Neosporin, it helps it to heal better. But first use some Peroxide on it. 🙂

Keep it moisturized! If it doesn’t stay like that it will scar!

=] Good luck.

Answer by GOT PLAGUE?
Did you know that most navel piercings get infected in the process of healing?
My sister has hers pierced and she felt pain for about a week.
Just do what the piercer told you to do and you’ll be fine, don’t move it around or change the jewelery for a few months that’ll irritate it, some can take up to a year to heal!
And don’t clean it more than twice a day for the first 2-3 months then just clean it once, cleaning it too much will irritate it.
(:

Answer by Toxic Tears
the pain is normal for a brand new piercings, just stick to your regular cleaning routine and try not to touch it, wear loose clothing for a while until it heals a little

Answer by not my president
Take it out, use antibiotic ointment, let it heal up.

Answer by Cam_LS
pain is completely normal, its going to be sore for a while. buy a gentile soap like cetaphil and a saline wash spray (you can find both at like a cvs or a walmart pharmacy or something). the easiest time to wash it is in the shower. try to clean it with the saline one or two times a day.

the best way to avoid infection is just keep it very clean. if you think its starting to get infected (a little swelling and warmth as its first healing is normal but if it gets hotter, more swollen or feels stiff to the touch, or feels like its getting worse) you can use an antibiotic ointment like neosporin or bacitracin.

obviously if it gets much worse you’ll want to get some sort of precription antibiotics, but i’ve had 8 or so piercings and i’ve never had it get that bad ever. just makes sure you keep it really clean and you should be perfectly fine.

Answer by ♥ purrlvr ♥
got my belly button pierced in october, the best thing you can do is get a shot glass or a small cup and fill it with hot water and add some sea salt (it doesn’t contain iodine), table salt does not work the same. Lay on your back with the cup over your belly button, swish it around some and leave it there for 10-15 minutes, do this twice a day. It works wonders seriously. My belly button was getting sticky and nasty looking and i thought it was infected but it wasn’t, i did the sea salt soaks and its nearly healed.

please do not use peroxide or alcohol this will dry out your piercing and it will delay the healing process also neosporin and bactine are not good for it either.

the pain is definitely normal it will be tender for a long while, and the more you stand up and bend over the longer it will take to heal.