[huny15]

Hi I got my belly button dun on the 15th December and its been ine I've cleaned it 3 times a day but now I took it out yesterday and there is a lump on the top bar its crusty and oozes sum times is it infected and if so how can I help it

[nauticalstar420]

What color is the ooze that comes out of it?

It may not be infected now, but it might be on the road to being infected if you do not care for it properly. Signs of infection include severe redness, severe swelling and a yellow or greenish discharge that smells bad. If you have any of those symptoms, see a doctor for some antibiotics.

The crust you are talking about is probably white blood cells and if that is the case, it is normal. The white blood cells try to patch the hole that was created during piercing. It is your body's natural defense mechanism.

You have only had this piercing for 3 weeks, which is way too early to change the jewelry. It is recommended to wait 6 weeks before changing the jewelry so the piercing is stable enough to handle the changing of the jewelry. Since you changed it too early, this could be the reason for the irritation.

What do you clean it with? I would recommend cleaning it with antibacterial soap 1-2 times per day. After the piercing gets over this little incident, reduce cleaning to just once a day. Leave in the piece of jewelry you have in for 3-4 more weeks. Don't touch it unless it is to clean it, and never touch it without washing your hands first.

Good luck and I hope it gets better! :)