A member asked:
Infected navel piercing? recently, i had my belly button pierced by a relative. it looked fine the first night, but now it's red and a little bloody around the holes with white puss. is that normal? i do not have a barbell or ring in. we had to suffice wi
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Michael Bryananswered
Dermatology 34 years experience
Very : Very frequent to get minor infections an inflammation in navel piercings. Apply topical antibiotic (polysporin, bacitracin) with bandaid covering. If redness or tenderness begin to expand outward, you may need oral antibiotics. If does not clear up with above, may need to remove earring completely.
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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 27 years experience
Pus is not normal.: Check for signs of infection: ^'ed redness, warmth, swelling. ^'ed tenderness, pus, red streaking, swollen lymph nodes or fever. Recommend keeping piercing in place unless directed by Dr (if removed – drainage tract will close up w ^'ed risk of abscess formation). Call Dr for medical evaluation. Your Dr may prescribe oral antibiotics or antibiotic ointments to apply to piercing site.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Related questions
A member asked:
Got my belly button pierced 3 months ago. Recent hard bump below piercing just oozed out squishy red flesh-like skin or tissue. It's attatched & hurts?
Dr. John Chiuanswered
Allergy and Immunology 59 years experience
Infected: The body tissue really dislikes foreign body like piercing and the area is thus more prone to irritation and infection. You really need to see a docto... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Took out navel stone, belly button has odor clear/a little yellow oil or discharge that form crust. No redness or pain. Will mupirocin work? Just started using it. Do I put it deep inside belly button? I only put some on the outside ring area
Dr. Marcela Riojasanswered
Family Medicine 18 years experience
Navel Stone: Yes mupirocin can help if there is an infection and you can apply it deep into your belly button twice a day for 7days. If your skin becomes indurates... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
603 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
I got my belly button peirced 4 days ago and it's been itching it's a little red and swollen now it's bruising , is this normal ??
Dr. Padmashri Rastogianswered
Internal Medicine 39 years experience
Infected?: No, it's not normal.to have redness, swelling and bruising of area after piercingAre you uptodate with tetanus toxoid? Keep area clean and dry. It sh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
678 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
My two week old belly piercing isred and hurts a little. People say its infected but its not creating a yellow or green puss and doesn't smell, is it?
Dr. Martin Raffanswered
Infectious Disease 58 years experience
Possibly: The cardinal signs of inflammation are warmth, redness, pain, swelling. You have at least 2 of these and should get this looked at by a doctor before... Read More
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5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
View all answers
A 19-year-old female asked:
I got my belly button pierced a week ago and the entrance where the piercing is in my skin, its white and kinda reddish. Is that normal?
Dr. Silviu Pasniciucanswered
Internal Medicine 29 years experience
Normal/abnormal: At least inflammation is to be expected with any foreign body that comes in contact with a wound. Sometimes the healing process may go towards an inf... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 3, 2016
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