What can I do about the inflammation?

Once the navel piercing is inflamed, action should be taken as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading. If it is initially a slight inflammation, in which the navel area is “only” reddened and somewhat painful, you can first try to counteract the inflammation on your own: The navel area can be slightly cooled, regularly and carefully cleaned and disinfected. If the skin tissue of the navel swells up due to the inflammation, it should be paid attention to the fact that a longer piercing should be inserted if possible.

This will avoid squeezing and tension of the inflammatory skin. Furthermore the fingers should be left off the inflamed navel piercing. Under no circumstances it is allowed to play around with the piercing, to push it around and to push it around.

The danger that just because of this more pathogens get into the wound is high. In the same way self-applied, healing-promoting creams and ointments should be avoided, because they can block the canaliculus and provoke the inflammation. If the inflammation is very severe, if pus or even blood leaks out, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible: perhaps even an antibiotic ointment or a proper intake of antibiotics is then unavoidable.

In the worst case the removal of the piercing and the healing of the canaliculus can be inevitable in some cases. Before one buys an ointment in the pharmacy or at the piercer one can try to treat the inflamed piercing with home remedies. A good and simple treatment possibility for inflammations is cooling.

For this you best put a towel with ice cubes on the reddened skin. The ice should not touch the skin directly, because otherwise it can come to burns. Furthermore, aloe vera can help to improve the inflammation as it has an antibacterial and soothing effect.

If you have an aloe vera plant, you can extract the gel from a cut open leaf and apply it to the inflammation. After 20 minutes, the gel is washed off with cold water. Alternatively, aloe vera gel is also available for purchase.

Another natural remedy for wound healing is tea tree oil. After the area has been cleaned, 6 drops of tea tree oil can be mixed with virgin olive oil and applied to a cotton wool pad. After 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly with water.

Another well-tried household remedy is a saltwater solution of 250 ml lukewarm water and 1 teaspoon of salt. You can apply this solution on the inflamed piercing with the help of a cotton pad soaked in it or you can drop the salt water directly on the wound. This procedure should be done two or three times a day.

Meanwhile you can turn the piercing gently so that the solution can reach the canaliculus from inside. A good possibility to get the inflammation under control are antibiotic ointments. These can be bought without prescription in the pharmacy and are especially suitable in case of a purulent inflammation.

You should use the ointment several times a day for several days. If this does not bring any improvement, a doctor should be consulted. This can decide whether a cortisone ointment is necessary or the piercing has to be taken out.