:: Navels ::

Very often you will see navel piercings with a red or purple ball of skin on the top or bottom hole. This is a type of scar tissue caused by the jewelry cutting at the surrounding skin as it moves around in the hole. The body keeps adding extra skin cells in an effort to protect itself from the irritation, much the way an oyster builds a pearl of mucus around a grain of sand. Such scarring is usually the result of playing with your piercing, wearing clothes over it, slouching or lying on it.
Once your navel is pierced, the jewelry needs to be able to stick straight out from your body at all times. It should not be pressed or held to one side, even "just this once." This means you must keep all waistbands well below your navel (low enough that they will not ride up even when you sit), and no bodysuits, stockings or one piece bathing suits for at least a year. (Thigh-highs are sexier anyway!) You will also need to avoid sleeping on your stomach, and sit up straight enough that the piercing is not squished. Wearing your waistlines above the piercing is not a viable option--it still puts pressure on the jewelry. If you are not committed to this kind of care, you should not consider this piercing! Most of the nasty looking navel piercings you have seen were ruined by clothing.

The other big problem people have with navel piercings is keeping them clean. For complete aftercare instructions, see our [Aftercare] section. But more than anything, keep your hands off it! This is not a toy! We know you want to touch it and play with it, and your partner wants to put his/her mouth on it, but it can get infected very easily. Consider that this piercing is an open wound for 6 - 12 months. This is a huge window of opportunity for germs to get in there and wreak havoc. If you put dirty hands on it, or let your partnerÕs body fluids get in it, you are taking chances. Even if you just washed your hands in a public restroom, if you then touch the door handles, can you be sure everyone there before you washed their hands before touching that handle? Multiply that times everything else you touch in a day (money, phones, etc.). Pretty gross! If you keep it clean, you will go a long way towards successful healing.

A navel piercing can be very sexy with low-slung clothing, and can make you feel that extra bit sensual, even when no one else can see it, when it is your little secret. But it does need extra care to ensure that it looks good and heals well, and doesnÕt cause you unnecessary pain and inconvenience. If you get informed ahead of time, and give yourself the best opportunity to heal properly, you will be assured of the most pleasure from your piercing. And that, of course, is our whole goal. Please feel free to consult with a piercer if you have any questions about your navel or your healing.

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