Why Is My Belly Button Piercing Bleeding?

Last Updated on November 3, 2023

In my experience, one common concern for individuals with belly button piercings is, “Why is my belly button piercing bleeding?” Typically, some bleeding is normal during the initial healing phase.

Now that you’re here, you presumably have the following question on your mind: “Why, oh why, is my adorable belly bling seeping like a forgotten faucet?” 

However, if you’re worried about excessive or prolonged bleeding, there may be a need to address the issue. Understanding the reasons behind this occurrence and following proper aftercare measures is a must.

This article will explore common causes of bleeding in belly button piercings and provide solutions to ensure you won’t have to worry about this issue during your piercing’s healing process.

Belly button piercings hold significance as a form of self-expression and body adornment. They enhance the midriff’s aesthetic appeal and symbolize personal style and confidence.

These piercings often signify individuality and body positivity, making them a great choice for those seeking to showcase their unique personality and fashion sense.

As an experienced tattoo and piercing artist, I understand that getting a belly button piercing can be an exciting and sometimes nerve-wracking experience.

You’ve decided to enhance your style and express your individuality, but you might have questions.

Bleeding after getting a belly button piercing is a common occurrence, and it’s essential to know what to expect during the healing process.

When you first get your piercing, a small amount of bleeding is entirely normal.

After all, your skin has just been punctured, and your body’s natural response is sending blood to the area to aid in the healing process.

In fact, nearly everyone who gets their navel pierced experiences some degree of bleeding, along with pain and bruising in the days or even weeks following the procedure.

You should be concerned only when your piercing is bleeding exceptionally— more than the piercer had said would happen.

If you discover a large number of blood stains in the days after the piercing, visit your piercing artist right away and seek their assistance.

Credit: tattoocascais

RELATED: 8+ Spider Bite Piercing Ideas That Can Give You A Sensational Appearance

It’s crucial to remember that the development of a white or yellowish crust nearby or behind the jewelry item is a typical occurrence throughout the process of healing.

Typically, the cells that aided the piercing heal by developing a layer of scab around it make up this crust.

Credit: 148.official

As a result, don’t be alarmed if you notice a scab. This does not imply that the piercing is not recovering or that you have an infection.

A scab is a positive indication since it indicates that your piercing has begun to heal.

The healing process starts on the exterior, then progressively moves within. However, if you twist the jewelry or play with it during the process of healing, you may trigger the bleeding.

What Causes Bleeding From A Belly Button Piercing?

I understand that experiencing bleeding after getting a belly button piercing can be concerning, so let me shed some light on this common occurrence from my perspective as a seasoned tattoo and piercing artist.

The reason bleeding often occurs immediately after a belly button piercing is due to the use of a sterilized needle to puncture the skin.

This process naturally triggers some bleeding as the body’s response to the skin being punctured.

Credit: bodypiercingbysara

However, it’s essential to be aware that bleeding that starts several days or weeks after the piercing is generally a red flag and might indicate an infection.

Infections are typically caused by bacteria entering the piercing site. In such cases, antibiotics often treat the infection and allow the piercing to heal properly.

In more severe cases where the body is rejecting the piercing, it may be necessary to remove the jewelry and let the area heal naturally.

This is a rare occurrence, but it’s important to remember that your health and well-being should always come first when dealing with any complications related to body piercings.

Is Bleeding During The Process Normal?

Absolutely, it’s entirely normal for some bleeding to occur during the belly button piercing process. As someone well-versed in body piercing, let me clarify why this happens and what you can expect.

When you undergo a belly button piercing, a sterilized needle is inserted straight through the skin. This process naturally causes minor bleeding as the skin is punctured.

It’s a standard part of the procedure and nothing to be alarmed about.

In the days following the piercing, it’s common to experience some swelling and soreness in the area, similar to most other piercings.

The duration of these symptoms can vary from person to person and largely depends on how effectively you follow the aftercare instructions.

Typically, bleeding, swelling, and soreness may persist for a few days as your body works to heal the area.

What Should You Do If The Belly Button Piercing Hole Is Bleeding?

As previously mentioned, a minor amount of bleeding during the piercing procedure is perfectly normal and not a cause for concern.

What’s important is following the aftercare instructions diligently to ensure a smooth healing process. This typically involves refraining from touching the piercing and cleansing it with either salt water or an antibacterial soap.

If you notice the bleeding becoming more pronounced at any point, a helpful tip is to apply ice to the piercing until the bleeding subsides.

However, if these measures do not effectively stop the bleeding, it’s essential to take more serious action.

In such cases, you should promptly notify your piercer orseek immediate medical attention. Your health and well-being should always be a top priority regarding body piercings.

Credit: devils_arts_studio

A specialist will often recommend one or more antibiotics to treat the illness. In severe circumstances, you should have to remove your piercing to allow it to heal.

RELATED: Which Should You Get: Rook Or Faux Rook Piercing

What Are The Indications That The Belly Button Refuses To Accept The Piercing?

The initial point to keep in mind is that nature has endowed the body with defensive mechanisms. Your body works tirelessly to safeguard you from unforeseen dangers every single minute of your life.

Because of this inherent process, your immune system begins to work when it detects a threat to your health.

Credit: thebeautycloset.us

It will assist you in healing and recovering rapidly. With this in mind, the body will also send some signs if it is unable to accept a foreign item that may be harmful to your health.

It would be great if you watch out for specific symptoms when having your navel punctured as a result.

• If the jewelry represents a hazard to the body, it will reject the piercing in the resulting ways:
• You observe your jewelry sagging or hanging differently.
• Your piercing’s exit and entrance holes grow in size.
• You see the quantity of tissue between your entrance and exit holes, which is decreasing or shrinking. The amount of tissue between the perforations must be at least one-fourth of the tissue total.
• The jewelry is clearly moving away from its original position.
• The skin around the piercing may also show indications of rejection, like:
• The skin becomes virtually translucent to the point that the jewelry item may be seen over the skin.
• Skin that is unusually tough or calloused
• Redness or inflammation
• Peeling Dry skin

It is important to note that puncturing rejection does not have any time restrictions.

Your body can refuse the belly button piercing after some weeks, but it can also do the same thing after months, or even after years.

A fresh piercing may initially go fine, but with the passage of time, your body may become sensitive to having the foreign object there.

Additionally, an unintentional bump might curiously upset your previous piercing, allowing for infection and sending the immune system into hyperactivity.

In this situation, you want to look for signs of piercing migration and rejection.

What Is The Expected Healing Time?

Even though the piercing itself takes only a few minutes, the recovery time might range from six to twelve months.

Credit: salt.piercing.kassel

RELATED: 8 Stunning Nipple Piercing Ideas That Will Blow You Away

It is natural for the piercing to bleed while it heals and to develop a scab typically. Scabs can be big or little, but if they are thick and sticky or constantly break open and bleed, this may indicate that the area is infected.

The most effective technique to ensure a speedy recovery and low infection risk for belly piercing is keeping it as clean as possible.

How Can I Speed Up The Healing Of My Belly Piercing?

The healing period for belly button piercings is typically one year but can sometimes take more time. Due to the sensitivity of the navel, this is not surprising.

However, you can hasten and ease the healing process if you take good care of the piercing.

Credit: piercingsbymarita

Proper washing and regular treatment for openers will free the navel from inflammation and infection.

If you experience both of these following the piercing, your recovery time will be extended and may even worsen.

Keep in mind that you must adopt a deep cleaning program immediately post the piercing to expedite recovery and allow the piercing to heal more effectively.

Here are some actions you can take to recover more quickly

Wear Loose Clothes

It’s understandable that you want to show off the new diamond jewelry as quickly as the belly button wears it, but it’s essential to be careful in the starting days.

In order to give your belly piercing breathing room, you should wear loose, baggy apparel.

In addition, the fabric must not brush against or become tangled in the new piercing. The piercing will heal more rapidly and won’t feel irritated or disturbed with perfect space for air.

You may also get an eye patch which is vented from a pharmacy for extra protection.

This prevents the navel piercing from catching on your apparel and shutting off your oxygen supply.

Wash Your Piercing

Remember to clean the piercing with a saltwater solution on a regular basis. It will eliminate germs, limiting the spread of illness.

A tsp of salt or a quarter tsp of sea salt can be dissolved in eight ounces of warm water to create a saltwater solution.

Maintain Proper Hygiene

Body hygiene is equally crucial throughout the process of healing. You can consider things obvious, but you must be more watchful after the piercing.

Therefore, choose to take showers rather than baths after getting pierced, change your bed sheets periodically, and thoroughly wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap before touching the piercing.

Stay Hydrated

Proper hydration supports overall healing and skin health.To recover more quickly from belly button piercing bleeding, staying hydrated is crucial.

Proper hydration supports overall healing and skin health by ensuring adequate blood flow and tissue repair.

Drinking enough water helps maintain skin elasticity and may facilitate the body’s natural healing processes, aiding in the resolution of minor bleeding issues associated with piercings.

Be More Careful

Nothing can hurt the piercing more than an infection caused by carelessness and negligence. Maintain a regular check on your belly button for discomfort, swelling, or redness symptoms.

Also, a white or yellowish discharge is usual after the piercing, however, if the discharge lasts more than a week, the color changes or you have other signs, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Or, if you experience any unusual events or symptoms, you should get in touch with your piercing artist immediately.

Credit: salt.piercing.kassel

RELATED: 10+ Mind-blowing Shark Bite Piercing Ideas That Will Surely Catch Your Attention

Is Bleeding From A Belly Ring After A Year Common?

Our stomachs possess quite thick skin, and if you’re considering a belly piercing, it’s important to know that it can be intense.

As a result, the recovery process takes significant time, usually spanning a year or even longer.

The healing journey is gradual, starting from the outside and progressing inward, which is a crucial aspect to keep in mind.

It’s essential to understand that even if the outer or surface appearance seems fully healed, it doesn’t necessarily mean the interior of the piercing has also completely recovered.

The internal healing of the navel takes time, primarily due to the formation of new and additional blood vessels.

These vessels go beyond the typical tissue; the body naturally eliminates the excess blood vessels once the piercing has fully recovered.

Given all these factors, it’s not uncommon for bleeding to persist, sometimes even a year or more after the initial piercing.

In such cases, accidental disruptions can occur, like when bathing or if clothing becomes entangled with the piercing jewelry.

In most circumstances, you can dismiss this as a natural occurrence and effectively address it with ice or a soothing saltwater solution.

It’s crucial to remember that a belly piercing is a long-term commitment, and being patient with the healing process is key to ensuring you get the most out of your piercing without unnecessary worry or complications.

Should I Remove The Crust From My Piercing?

After a few days, the body will begin to discharge lymph as it forms the fistula inside the piercing. This lymph “crust” is likely to assemble around the piercing or on the jewelry.

Credit: ann_a_piercing

Please do not touch it or attempt to remove it since doing so will make the area bleed. The crust will naturally disappear as your piercing heals.

Be careful, though; if you wish to take it out, use a cotton ball dipped in warm water to gently wipe away any crust that has formed around the piercing.

Never use your fingers to remove the crusting since doing so can cause an infection. Some piercings swell more than others throughout the process of healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Do If My Piercing Begins To Bleed?

visit your piercing artist or you use some home remedies to cure the bleeding

If you notice bleeding from your piercing, it’s important to know how to handle the situation. Here’s what you should do:

First, if you’re worried about continuous bleeding, it’s crucial to take immediate action. You may want to visit your piercing artist for professional guidance, as they can provide valuable advice tailored to your specific situation.

In the meantime, there are steps you can take to address the bleeding:

• Applying direct pressure to the piercing site will stop any bleeding.
• To assist in minimizing swelling or bruising, apply a cold pack. …
• Wash the wound for five minutes, three to four times each day, with plenty of warm water.
• To help in reducing swelling, try to elevate the puncture location.

Credit: domestic_debris805

RELATED: 10+ Corset Piercing Ideas To Look More Sensational

What Is Causing My Piercing To Bleed After Months?

The piercer may not have been as hygienic as needed for such a body modification, which means that germs probably entered the body alteration or your piercing when the piercings were being done.

(Many experts believe it is absolutely irrational to think that a hole in your body can be completely repaired in 6 weeks.)

Also, keep in mind that freshly punctured cartilage bleeding is entirely natural. So don’t panic and follow the proper aftercare guidelines prescribed by professionals and let your piercing be fully healed.

One year after getting my belly button pierced, it still bleeds and scabs. What causes this, and how can I stop it?

Experiencing persistent bleeding and scabbing in a year-old belly button piercing is unusual and may indicate an ongoing issue. Consult with a professional piercer or a healthcare expert to assess the situation.

Potential causes may include jewelry irritation, allergies, or an infection. They can provide expert guidance and recommend appropriate solutions, such as changing to hypoallergenic jewelry, adjusting aftercare routines, or addressing potential underlying infections with antibiotics.

Prompt attention from an expert will help resolve the problem and ensure the health of your piercing.

How can I remove the blood from my fresh navel piercing?

To remove blood from your fresh navel piercing, proceeding with care and adhering to expert advice is essential. In order to avoid irritation, gently clean the area using a sterile saline solution, which is helpful to maintain proper hygiene.

Avoid rubbing or using harsh substances that could further irritate the piercing. If there’s dried blood around the jewelry, try putting a warm, saline-soaked cotton ball on the affected area to soften the blood, making it easier to wipe away.

Patience and gentle cleaning are all you need to maintain the health and appearance of your new piercing.

What must I do if I accidentally bump my belly button piercing?

If you accidentally bump your belly button piercing, it’s essential to remember that, generally, minor bumps are expected during the healing process.

However, if you’ve got concerns, the best things you can do are to clean the area gently with saline solution, ensure your hands are clean before touching it, and avoid rotating or twisting the jewelry. It’s generally a great way to prevent infection or irritation.

Yet, if you experience persistent pain, redness, or discharge, consulting an expert piercer or healthcare professional is advisable for proper assessment and guidance.