A question for Professional Piercers

[wilomn]

A friend of mine has had her belly button pierced three times now in the last three years.

She has a big scar above her bellybutton that the current ring is going through but it has taken a looooong time to heal. It is still oozing, not much and she said really only when she squeezes it. She washes with dial soap and soaks it in, I think, brown listerine. I know she keeps it as clean as she can.

Now I've heard that bellybuttons are the worst for healing and she seems to prove this point.

Is this typical? Any suggestions on what she could do?

This one is outside my personal realm of experience so I told her I'd ask the guys who knew, knowing that some of you were Pros.

Thanks in advance.

[Freakie_frog]

Wes, I would imigane due to the lowed blood flow to a scar that yea it would take longer to heal.

[twistedtails]

The alcohol in the Listerine could be causing a yeast infection. I know it sounds wierd, but, it true. I would tell her to use either Bactine or Dr. bronner hemp soap. I'm not a piercer but a good buddy of mine was at Electric Chair in Riverside and Huntington Beach for a long time. I hung out there a lot.

[starrlamia]

ugh well, she isnt taking care of it properly, i would highly recommend using salt water and ditching the soap and listerine.
Belly buttons can take months to heal, mine took about 6 months before it stopped oozing.

[Patrick Long]

No listerine....sugars...alcohol...yuck...bad news.


I also would suggest bactine.

The scar tissue may actually be the culprit in this whole ordeal...and it may NEVER heal...


I have/had numerous peircings that when re-pierced...it takes FOREVER to heal.

[wilomn]

I'll tell her about the listerine thing. Her piercer said the brown was good the green was bad. I'm out of my realm here but appreciate the help.

[wilomn]

ugh well, she isnt taking care of it properly, i would highly recommend using salt water and ditching the soap and listerine.
Belly buttons can take months to heal, mine took about 6 months before it stopped oozing.

I forgot, she's doing salt water twice a day.

[Aleria]

Yeah, I'd have to agree with everyone else here, between the listerine and the scar tissue, that is most likely why it is taking so long.
I used a good organic soap, don't remember which brand any more, and sea salt spray(h2ocean), to clean mine and nothing more. Squeezing it is not helping, if the entrances are cleaned properly and GENTLY with the soap and sea salt water then the sebaceous build up will be pushed out of the body on it's own. Squeezing it out is only causing further irritation.
Being that her piercer recommended using listerine outside of the mouth for a piercing, I'd say drop him immediately and get one that actually knows what they are doing.

Note:
Also, there is a difference between regular iodized salt water and sea salt water. The iodized salt can actually have a more drying effect on the piercing, especially on scar tissue and cause it to take infinitely longer. If she cannot afford to buy some h2ocean, which is sold at most piercing/tattoo parlors and even hottopic, then she should be able to find some natural sea salt at any grocery store.
With some of my first piercings I attempted to use regular iodized salt for soaking or cleaning and found this flaw after a long battle with an un-healing lobe piercing. So definitely go with the natural sea salt. There are some amazing care guides available on www.bmezine.com also

[Capt._Howdy]

okay i used to do body piercings and i always told my customers to use ether bactine or sea salt also keep in mind most piercers try to AVOID SCAR tissue for the mere fact that 50% of the time the piercing doesnt heal right or not at all and just gets worse and some times the third time isnt a charm when it comes to this. She has two choices take it out and leave it out and think of another piercing or have a nasty looking piercing i would go with the first one if i was her

[wilomn]

My mistake on the listerine, that was the last piercing.

Thanks for the help, I'll pass on the info.