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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Inflamed And Red With Sticky Discharge, Got Belly Button Pierced. Cleaning With Sea Salt. Treatment?

I had my belly button pierced and have been cleaning it twice daily with sea salt and water but it has become inflamed and red with sticky discharges. (No pain or smell though) But horrifyngly it looks like my piercing has become rotten on the bottom hole with white skin and an angry open dark inside. I'm concerned about it.
Fri, 3 May 2013
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to HCM.
It appears from your query that you got irritation and infection by belly button piercing. This might had been either trivially or by the metal used in the ring.
Now the very first thing is to take the ring out for a while as other wise it can lead to further spread of the infection.
Do not use sea salt just clean the area thoroughly with simple luke warm water followed by diluted antiseptic lotion. Do it for 3-4 times a day.
Do not apply anything which is oily or greasy or having irritant potential- so no self medications. You can apply mild potency steroid cream such as hydrocortisone or fluticasone mixed with antibiotic preparation which will help you out in reducing inflammation.
Take pain killer tablets round the clock. There will be formation of scab/ crust over the area, do not try to touch or pull the areas. If you feel more of burning and irritation or redness in next 24 hours then would be needing oral antibiotics by the advise of the doctor.
Hope this information will be helpful.
Dr Sanjay K Kanodia
MD ( Dermatology and STD/ Venereology)
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Inflamed And Red With Sticky Discharge, Got Belly Button Pierced. Cleaning With Sea Salt. Treatment?

Hi, Welcome and thanks for posting your query to HCM. It appears from your query that you got irritation and infection by belly button piercing. This might had been either trivially or by the metal used in the ring. Now the very first thing is to take the ring out for a while as other wise it can lead to further spread of the infection. Do not use sea salt just clean the area thoroughly with simple luke warm water followed by diluted antiseptic lotion. Do it for 3-4 times a day. Do not apply anything which is oily or greasy or having irritant potential- so no self medications. You can apply mild potency steroid cream such as hydrocortisone or fluticasone mixed with antibiotic preparation which will help you out in reducing inflammation. Take pain killer tablets round the clock. There will be formation of scab/ crust over the area, do not try to touch or pull the areas. If you feel more of burning and irritation or redness in next 24 hours then would be needing oral antibiotics by the advise of the doctor. Hope this information will be helpful. Dr Sanjay K Kanodia MD ( Dermatology and STD/ Venereology)