How Dangerous Is It To Pierce Your Own Belly Button and What Is the Risk of Infection?

Here are some facts you might want to consider before proceeding with piercing your belly button.

There is always risk when you have any part of your body pierced. It is minor surgery and should be treated as such.

With navel piercings, you are at a higher than average risk for infection for two reasons.

First, the area you’re perforating naturally receives a certain amount of friction. An earlobe, by contrast, doesn’t rub against clothing or other people on a regular basis.

Friction often leads to irritation of the wound and prevents proper healing.

Second, the navel is a receptacle for sweat and dirt from the upper body. Navels are already prone to infection even without holes, because they sport wrinkles, crevices, and a certain amount of depth, making them prime real estate for multiplying bacteria.

When you pierce your navel, you statistically have better than a 40% chance of getting an infection in the time it takes for the wound to heal.

Even after the piercing has healed the first time, you are still at risk for future irritation and infection.